Miami Beach Officials Prepare to Denounce State Representative’s Allegations

Miami Beach officials are readying a formal response to what they characterize as unfounded accusations by Republican State Representative Fabián Basabe, days after state lawmakers approved his request for a comprehensive audit of the city’s governance.

A resolution filed for the December 17 commission meeting—sponsored by Mayor Steven Meiner and Commissioners Tanya Bhatt, Laura Dominguez, and Alex Fernandez—aims to rebut what they describe as “false, misleading, and unsubstantiated public claims” made by Basabe about the city and its leadership.

The resolution asserts that Miami Beach operates with “transparency, ethical governance, responsible public communication, and evidence-based oversight,” while arguing that Basabe has systematically undermined public trust by making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption, mismanagement, and unethical behavior.

At the heart of the dispute is Basabe’s October request for a state audit, which raised concerns about “financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities,” “inflated contracts, diversion of funds, and questionable budget allocations.” According to the resolution, Basabe has provided no evidence to support these claims.

The document further criticizes Basabe for amplifying social media allegations suggesting commissioners are controlled by insiders or engaged in improper dealings. It also contends that his criticism of Miami Beach’s homelessness ordinance contradicts census data from the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust showing homelessness at “historic lows.”

With seven members on the Miami Beach Commission, the resolution would pass if all four sponsors vote in favor. Commissioner Joseph Magazine, who was traveling when contacted, indicated he would review the resolution before deciding his position. Commissioner David Suarez, who previously made similar allegations against Commissioner Dominguez, did not indicate whether he would support or oppose the measure.

On Monday, the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee voted unanimously to direct Florida Auditor General Sherill Norman to examine Miami Beach’s operations. Norman will determine the scope of the review, with auditors expected to begin document requests and on-site work in the coming weeks. A final report is anticipated approximately one year after the audit formally begins.

Responding to the resolution, Basabe accused the sponsors of “trying to turn a basic oversight measure into a political fight.” He noted that the measure was placed on the Commission’s consent agenda, “where it can be passed in a batch without discussion unless a Commissioner pulls it.”

“This alone tells you how uncomfortable they are with transparency,” Basabe stated. “Challenging an independent audit is never in the best interest of residents, and trying to bury a political attack inside a procedural shortcut should concern anyone who cares about honest government.”

Commissioner Fernandez defended the city’s financial practices, pointing out that Miami Beach operates at a surplus, has reduced its millage rate in recent years, and maintains strong bond ratings. The city also has an independent Inspector General who regularly reviews its books for waste and abuse.

“We have a public official that is lying to his colleagues about one of his cities, and now we have public resources being dedicated to looking into falsehoods,” Fernandez said. “Everything that he has alleged is false and misleading, and now it’s leading to an audit that wastes taxpayers’ money.”

This isn’t Basabe’s first confrontation with local officials. In August, he successfully pushed for Bay Harbor to fire its Town Attorney, Democratic Miami-Dade School Board member Joe Geller—a move that prompted criticism from one of Geller’s law partners.

Fernandez further alleged that Basabe may have engaged in “criminal misuse of public office” by using his official Florida House letterhead in communications that called for candidates to challenge him and Dominguez. Florida Statute 104.31 prohibits public officials from using their authority to interfere with elections or influence voting outcomes.

Despite the controversies, both targeted commissioners won their re-election bids in November, with Fernandez securing a record-breaking 84% of the vote and Dominguez winning 61% against a Republican challenger backed by Commissioner Suarez.