Tonight, Sept 8, 2025, at the City of North Miami Beach Government Commission Meeting, State Representative Fabian Basabe said what many of us have been thinking for a long time. Although he doesn’t represent our city, he showed up, uninvited but absolutely welcome, and delivered a powerful and honest message about the dysfunction, corruption, and political games that have plagued our government.
We agree with every word he said.
His call-out of Mayor Joseph was not only justified, it was necessary. Our city has become a symbol of failed leadership, where backroom deals and political posturing have replaced transparency and service to the people. Residents have had enough, and so have those watching from the outside.
What Rep. Basabe did tonight was not political theater. It was truth. And we thank him for having the courage to speak it so clearly.
Here is his full public comment from tonight’s meeting:
I’m Fabian Basabe and I proudly serve as the State Representative to your neighboring cities of district 106.
I am here today because I was addressed by the Mayor of North Miami Beach publicly, and it’s my nature and duty to show up to face this directly.
The Mayor wrote a guest essay about me in an advertiser-friendly blog. By doing this, he chose to insert himself into a matter having nothing to do with him, his city, or his district.
That is hypocrisy.
Neither he nor this city are in my district, yet he presumed to speak on issues which are none of his concern.
North Miami Beach is in disarray. This city cannot keep a manager. Residents and even your own elected officials past and present continue to reach out to me for help. Your government has become inconsistent even in its corruption, and that is why North Miami Beach is not taken seriously across Miami-Dade County. Dysfunction and dishonesty have consistently defined its leadership.
The article written about me was inaccurate at its core. My recommendation to Bay Harbor Islands, which is within my district and does not concern North Miami Beach at all, does not touch home rule. Local elected officials in my district made their decision freely and of their own will. This itself, in fact, exemplifies home rule.
What’s really happening here is fear. Fear that your own commission might exercise the same independence. So we see posturing and attempts at intimidation. This exposes the weakness of the establishment’s diminishing grip in Miami-Dade County.
The facts are plain. You already employ an establishment player as your attorney. You are considering a city manager tied to the same establishment that manipulates contracts. You politically pressured your commission to approve a no-bid contract when qualified people were ready and able to compete. That is corruption to the core.
The arrogance of this defiance of what is honorable and decent is beyond me, and it’s also beyond me how voters have allowed this to continue.
You are the vice chairman of the Democratic Party. You are far too political for a nonpartisan position. This is not leadership, it is partisanship and corruption.
I did not know you yesterday, but I see you now. I look directly at you, and I see right through you.
Mayor Joseph, you are out of line, out of place, and out of your league when you attempt to challenge or match my integrity or my position in the united and decent society I live in and represent.
To the commission members here: the political machine you have been forced to live under is failed and broken. Their control is slipping. I assure you every city I represent will have your back.
My district in the state will gladly help our neighbors, as you are aware. Earlier this year I communicated directly with your city manager, and I helped secure your latest appropriation request. I also assisted your newly elected state representative so North Miami Beach would not be left behind.
North Miami Beach is a beautiful community that deserves much better. I will stand with your residents to make sure it finally moves forward.
I wish you good conscience, and a remembrance of why you were elected in the first place. Business as usual must change if you are ever to honor the people you represent. This is not my district and I do not represent your city. I would not have even come here today had your mayor not been so inappropriate.
But all in all I believe in being a good neighbor and I want to be here for North Miami Beach as best I can.
