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>>The authority is controlled by a board of nine members, eight of whom are local business and civic leaders appointed by the governor and the county commission. In other words, the politicians created an entity that is accountable only to them, not the residents of Miami-Dade.

If you look at major cities, this is happening at several levels, not just in transportation.

Houston has outsourced operation of parks and venues to a private entity. The private yet publicly funded convention center bureau was getting $20,000,000 a year with no review of how that money was being spent (something like 60& of employees were receiving $100,000+ a year).

http://abc13.com/politics/city-created-secret-company-to-pay-houston-first-employees/3118766/

In December, ABC13 requested pay information for Houston First employees, including overtime and bonus amounts for each employee. A representative responded and told ABC13 no information existed because the tourism company employed no one.
Upon further investigation, ABC13 uncovered CCSI and asked it for the same pay information. There is no mention of CCSI in Houston First budget documents this year or its annual outside audit.
The same representative from HoustonFirst, but this time on CCSI letterhead, told ABC13 that the information was not public and the company would appeal to the Attorney General to keep the pay information secret, claiming the employees did not work for the city of Houston. Those employees sit in government-owned chairs, at government-owned desks, doing government jobs, despite CCSI’s claim they are not government employees...
CCSI employs 232 people. Sixty of them make more than $100,000 a year. Ten make more than $200,000.

Those traffic light cameras were also a public-private partnership (where half of the ticket money went to the connected interests, sometimes with private kickback for the members of the police who were bought by lobbyists).

https://www.thenewspaper.com/news/52/5205.asp

Speaking publicly in favor of red light cameras is earning favors for Texas police officers. Garland Police Lieutenant Pedro J. Barineau appeared in a political advertisement generated on behalf of the red light camera industry in full uniform.
“Any legislation that would outlaw the use of automated red light enforcement sends a dangerous message,” the officer intones. “Let's not send that message, keep red light cameras in Texas.”
As Texas is one of the four most lucrative markets for automated ticketing, Redflex Traffic Systems of Australia and American Traffic Solutions (ATS) have poured a great deal of cash into lobbying in Austin. In some cases, however, taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for the lobbying.

And the stadium revenue from concerts, etc. doesn't all go to the city (even though we are the landlord).

Cities have SOLD YOU OUT to connected private interests who want "their" money coming in every month.