After months of public criticism by Rep. Fabián Basabe that culminated in the approval of a state audit of Miami Beach’s government operations, the City Commission has formally censured the lawmaker.

The seven-member panel unanimously approved a resolution denouncing Basabe’s allegations of corruption, mismanagement, favoritism, unethical behavior, improper contracting and cronyism — claims that city officials say are unsupported by evidence.

“Unsubstantiated allegations made by public officials undermine public trust, harm the City’s reputation, disparage City employees and elected officials, and create unnecessary doubt in the integrity of municipal governance,” the resolution states.

The item passed Wednesday as part of the Commission’s consent agenda, but not before a heated exchange during public comment between Basabe and Mayor Steven Meiner, who at one point threatened to have the lawmaker removed from the chamber.

Basabe used his remarks to reiterate criticism of the city’s homelessness ordinance, which he has argued is weaker than state law. City officials dispute that claim, citing census data from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust and noting that Miami Beach’s ordinance prohibits public camping at all times, while state law bans it only overnight.

Basabe also claimed several people had privately told him Miami Beach needs to be audited, including “the Mayor’s most trusted adviser.” While the city already has an independent Inspector General, Basabe has argued internal oversight mechanisms are compromised by local influence.

Meiner said he welcomes the state audit and any corrective findings it may produce, but argued Basabe’s broader accusations go far beyond legitimate oversight.

“The reason why this item is on the agenda is because you move from issue to issue, saying things that are completely fabricated, untrue and have no basis in any evidence whatsoever,” Meiner said. “That is intolerable.”

Meiner accused Basabe of seeking headlines to distract from what he characterized as a weak legislative record. “You’re a failed legislator,” the Mayor said.

Of 36 bills Basabe has been the prime sponsor of since winning office in 2022, he has passed 10, nine of which passed in the 2025 Session. He has also brought millions in state appropriations back to his district.

Asked to provide evidence of poor fiscal or operational oversight, Basabe cited a 2021 city contract with FPI Security Services, alleging the company was not in good standing at the time. City Attorney Richard Dopico later said city and state records show that assertion is incorrect.

A brief shouting match followed, during which Basabe challenged Meiner to a public debate. Commissioner Alex Fernandez dismissed the idea as a “waste of time.”

“I spent two hours trying to find peace with the Representative, extending yet another olive branch,” Fernandez said. “It’s not about the public. It’s all about him and elevating himself.”

Fernandez said that during their meeting, Basabe airdropped him an endorsement from an elected official from another municipality and asked for a similar one from him. Fernandez said he refused.

“Two weeks later, we’re getting audited,” he said. “Let that sink in.”

Basabe denied ever seeking Fernandez’s endorsement. “I would never take it unless you give the city an apology,” he said.

Commissioner Tanya Bhatt — a co-sponsor of the resolution along with Meiner, Fernandez and Commissioner Laura Dominguez, whom Basabe has also accused of impropriety — said she rarely responds to comments Basabe makes in public and online because they are “so fallacious.”

“It’s really disappointing to see an elected Representative who’s supposed to represent all of us attacking the city, its leadership and its residents,” Bhatt said, adding that while she welcomes the audit, she takes exception with what she called “one-sided and vitriolic on our policies, the truth (and) individuals with no backup. It’s exhausting.”

Commissioner Joseph Magazine said he remains open to dialogue with Basabe, but objected to the lawmaker blaming the City Commission for a pair of attacks by homeless people on Miami Beach residents in the past two years.

“These were people (who) were arrested … and released numerous times, people that had no business whatsoever being on our streets, and I don’t mean in a homeless fashion; I mean outside the prison system,” he said. “If we want to make our region better, let’s work with our partners at the state, at all levels, to try and fix that broken criminal justice system.”

Basabe has accused the resolution’s sponsors of turning a routine oversight issue into a political fight and criticized placing the item on the consent agenda.

“This alone tells you how uncomfortable they are with transparency,” he said.

Several residents spoke in Basabe’s defense. Larry Shafer urged Commissioners to defer the resolution until after the audit, while Sharon Weiss said the state review could produce constructive reforms rather than punishment.

Hotelier Mitch Novick questioned consent agenda items approving large incentives — including $800,000 over four years for Playboy — and utility rate increases, noting the city’s budget has more than doubled in 12 years.

Wayne Roberts raised concerns about city spending, citing a Fire Department contract he claimed boosted average annual salaries to “$350,000 with benefits.”

City Manager Eric Carpenter disputed that figure, saying the average firefighter salary is roughly half that amount.

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Editor’s note: This report was updated to include information about Basabe’s legislative record.