Recent public records received from the office of Miguel Gabela, and reflected in documents provided in response to a public records request, show that nearly a quarter million dollars in taxpayer funds have been paid to a little-known communications vendor over the past several months.
According to the records, payments totaling $249,000 from the commissioner’s office were made to Atlantis Solutions for what are described as “expert services in the communications field.” The payments vary from month to month and appear to be ongoing, based on the most recent entries included in the records.
Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela was elected in November 2023. He serves as the City of Miami Commissioner for District 1, representing Flagami, Allapattah, and parts of Little Havana.
Atlantis Solutions lists its address as 2222 NE 2nd Ave., Apt. 835, Miami, FL 33137. Corporate filings identify the company as being owned by Gaston Rico and Eva Manusia.
Beyond basic registration information, little else is publicly available about the company or its principals. Atlantis Solutions does not appear to maintain a public website outlining its services, prior work, or client base. Similarly, limited information is available online regarding Mr. Rico’s professional background or experience in political or governmental communications.
Efforts were made to contact Mr. Rico directly to request comment and additional information about Atlantis Solutions’ role, scope of work, and qualifications. As of publication, those attempts were unsuccessful and no response had been received.
The records describe the services provided as communications-related, but do not provide detailed descriptions of deliverables, performance metrics, or how the monthly payment amounts were determined. It is unclear from the documents alone whether the services included media relations, digital strategy, speechwriting, crisis communications, or other consulting work.
The expenditures raise questions about procurement practices, oversight, and transparency—particularly given the size of the payments and the lack of publicly available information about the vendor.
City of Miami residents routinely scrutinize how taxpayer dollars are spent, especially when funds are directed to outside consultants. As more details emerge, additional clarification from the commissioner’s office may help explain the necessity of the contract, how Atlantis Solutions was selected, and what outcomes the city has received in return for the nearly $250,000 expenditure.
Commissioner Gabela did not respond to our request for comment
