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.

Gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner became House Speaker while representing people in Flagler County. Now, he’s emphasizing those local connections with his newly launched Flagler County Leadership Committee.

The coalition of elected officials, faith leaders and members of the business community will help with grassroots outreach as Renner pursues the Republican nomination.

“Flagler County is my home. It is a growing and vibrant community, and I’m incredibly grateful and honored for the leadership, trust, and support of these men and women,” Renner said “This committee represents the best of Flagler County.”

Renner added that these locals “are hardworking Floridians who understand the values that make our state strong — faith, freedom, economic opportunity, and safe communities.”

The committee launches with these members:

— James Gardner Jr., Flagler County Property Appraiser

— Greg Hansen, Flagler County Board of County Commissioners, District 2

— Christy Chong, Flagler County School Board Chair

— Donald O’Brien, former Chair of Flagler County Board of County Commissioners

— David Ayres, civic leader and radio personality

— Michael Chiumento, lawyer and Flagler County business leader

— Sharon Demers, Republican grassroots leader

— Ed Fuller, civic leader and Flagler Tiger Bay Board member

— Patrick Juliano, first responder union leader

— Samuel Royer, U.S. Marine Corps veteran and community advocate

— Lacy Martin, marketing strategist and community advocate

— Greg Peters, co-founder and lead pastor at Parkview Church

— Denise Peters, co-founder of Parkview Church

— Randy Stapleford, retired U.S. Navy Captain and civic leader

Officials are scheduled Friday to officially recognize Senator Geraldine F. Thompson Way — a renamed portion of South Street in downtown Orlando honoring the late Senator who died this year.

Sen. LaVon Bracy Davis and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer are expected to attend the 10:30 a.m. ceremony to unveil the new road sign.

Bracy Davis, who won a Special Election to finish the remainder of Thompson’s term, said on social media that the event is paying tribute to Thompson to “honor her decades of leadership, her dedication to preserving African American history, and her unwavering service to the people of Florida.”

Thompson died at age 76 in February from knee replacement surgery complications.

Thompson was the Director of the Wells’Built Museum of American-American History in Orlando’s Parramore district. Fittingly, Senator Geraldine F. Thompson Way will be renamed on West South Street between South Division Avenue and U.S. 441, which passes by the museum.

“Sen. Geraldine Thompson was a force — a trailblazer, a historian, a fierce advocate, and a devoted mother and grandmother who worked every day to uplift all Floridians, ensuring that no one was left behind,” U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost said in a statement at the time of her death.

Other lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, put out statements of support and tributes after her death.

Thompson, a Democrat, had represented Orlando in the Legislature for two decades. At one point, the Orlando Sentinel described her as the “epicenter of Black history in Orlando.”

She took people on bus tours of the city’s Black history, wrote a book on Orlando’s African American community, hosted Juneteenth events and helped launch Orlando’s early celebrations to honor Martin Luther King Jr. 

Last month, officials gathered to open Harris Rosen Way, the honorary roadway on International Drive between State Road 528 and Sand Lake Road.

Rosen, the CEO of the largest independent hotel chain in Florida, died at age 85 in 2024.