Because Miami

Podcast hosted by @BillyCorben and @LebatardShow. New episodes Friday. Got tips? Slide into DMs or email [email protected]

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

It’s not every day you get to call an accused serial sex pest mayor an “accused serial sex pest” to his face…

While an alarming number of law enforcement officers nationwide are getting suspended, fired and/or arrested for abusing Flock cameras to stalk their exes, Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner and Police Chief Wayne Jones are fighting Florida’s new ban on Flock cams and license plate readers (LPRs).

No wonder: Meiner left his job at the SEC while reportedly under investigation for being a creeper and allegedly sexually harassing three female co-workers, and Chief Jones was once arrested for battery and kidnapping after breaking into his estranged wife’s home.

The city has a major civil rights problem and is currently defending two First Amendment retaliation lawsuits over the mayor and chief’s abuse of power — weaponizing government to stifle dissent and silence critics.

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Miami: Third World Government — Fourth World Infrastructure #BecauseMiami

GTA VI has come early with the second construction equipment collapse in five weeks in the over-developed Brickell neighborhood, this time on the site of Ken Griffin’s future 52-story Citadel headquarters.

Miami-Dade is home to some of the deadliest structural failures in the United States. When will it stop?

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Miami civil rights legend Dr. Marvin Dunn speaks out about Mayor Eileen Higgins' betrayal of Black voters who overwhelmingly supported her in last year's election.

Dr. Dunn endorsed and campaigned for Higgins and now feels his "high hopes" have been dashed after she:

* celebrated her first Black History Month as mayor by firing every Black employee in the mayor's office;
*removed Christine King from her position as the first Black female chair of the city commission;
*reassigned 26-year city hall veteran Quatisha Oguntoyinbo-Rashad from her leadership position at the Environmental Resources Division (Tree Protection);
*and successfully lobbied against a $25 million federal grant to help Miami's historic Black Overtown neighborhood.

Dunn is a prominent longtime Miami historian, author, civil rights activist and Florida International University professor emeritus who has dedicated his life to documenting and teaching Florida's African American history.

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

#BREAKING: Miami real estate hustler Rishi Kapoor was sentenced to 11 years and four months in federal prison after pleading guilty to money-laundering and payroll-tax conspiracy in an alleged $85 million fraud scheme.

Kapoor reportedly used investor money to buy a mansion, yacht, McLaren and TWO mayors: Miami's Francis Suarez (aka Ponzi Postalita) and Coral Gables's Vince Lago. Which domino will fall next? #BecauseMiami

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Gabelas Gone Wild: Miami Mafia Mayhem!

All hell breaks loose at Bayfront Park Management Trust yesterday where an unhinged Commissioner Miguel Gabela and his wife Mariela lash out at members of the public and press — after his henchman board member Carlos Martell charges at me and grabs me, committing battery in a public meeting… #BecauseMiami

[Sheldon Fox-7 News @fox_sheldon]

Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, JMH being sued to release video of nurses and other employee attacked at ER. #7News obtained audio of victims describing May crime to detectives. @wsvn #Exclusive story:

[Because Miami @BecauseMiami]

Miami's @ChefCreoleMIA owner Wilkinson Sejour regrets voting for Trump after TPS ends for 300,000+ Haitians nationwide, ICE raids Little Haiti, Sejour loses entire management team at 7 locations, and will likely have to shut down 2 stores after 34 years in business. #BecauseMiami

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

The @MiamiHerald had this story 7 weeks ago and refused to cover it. Miami Commissioner @miguelgabela is abusing power and the courts by filing a frivolous defamation lawsuit against an award-winning journalist to intimidate critics and silence dissent. #BecauseMiami

[francisco alvarado @thefrankness]

Ethical Leadership for Miami, the PAC set up by Higgins' political consultant Christian Ulvert to support her mayoral campaign, received a $50K contribution for the runoff from MasTec, whose billionaire chairman Jorge Mas, also owns Miami Freedom Park.

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Translation: “They’re trying to cover up our cover-up, bro!” #BecauseMiami

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins has a problem with Black people — particularly Black women.

One incident could be accidental. Two; unfortunate. Three? Coincidence, perhaps...

But for her first seven months in office, it's been a continuous series of overt acts of disrespect and even outright disenfranchisement of a community who helped elect Higgins by a huge margin — including screwing Miami’s Historic Black Overtown neighborhood out of a $25 million federal grant…
#BecauseMiami

[Because Miami @BecauseMiami]

@PeterSchorschFL @JenniferCanady_ @myflhouse

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

In an October 2024 video, Florida Republican Rep. Fabian Basabe promised to resign if the allegations of sexual harassment, battery and defamation were proven true...

Yesterday, a civil jury found him liable for sexually harassing, battering, and defaming his male former Florida House aide and intern, and ordered Basabe to pay them nearly half a million dollars in damages.

He is running for re-election in House District 106 which includes Miami Beach, Surfside, Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor, Indian Creek Village, Sunny Isles, North Bay Village, and parts of North Miami, Golden Beach, Aventura and City of Miami.

Will he resign?

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

#BREAKING: Miami Republican Rep. Fabian Basabe found liable by a Tallahassee civil jury for sexual harassment, battery and defamation of his former Florida House legislative aide and intern.

Total damages: $450,000

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Shocking testimony in the civil trial of Miami Republican State Rep. Fabian Basabe who is being sued for s*xually harassing his former Florida House legislative intern and aide, and later defaming the staffer and his mother.

In a sworn proffer taken outside the jury’s presence yesterday to determine admissibility, a man identified only as “T.S.” accused Basabe of drugging and r*ping him in 2003.

The Miami Herald previously reported on T.S.’s allegations and Basabe called them “false” and “baseless.”

Judge J. Lee Marsh ordered the media not to reveal T.S.’s identity and ultimately determined “this evidence to be inadmissible…because it is marginally relevant and it goes to a tangential issue. I find the danger of confusion of the issues in this case to substantially outweigh the probative value of this evidence. The court, makes no findings as to whether this happened or did not happen as that is not appropriate for the court at this matter. The court takes the, allegations at face value for purposes of this motion only. But the court reaffirms its order denying the plaintiff the ability to call T.S. in this case,” which involves incidents that occurred 20 years later.

These videos contain excerpts from T.S.’s 20-minute proffer.

[Billy Corben @BillyCorben]

Stunning moment yesterday in the civil trial of Miami Republican State Rep. Fabian Basabe who is being sued for sexually harassing his former Florida House legislative intern and aide, and later defaming the staffer and his mother.

Basabe sat SILENT for TEN SECONDS on the stand in front of a shocked Leon County courtroom in Tallahassee, not answering a question from plaintiffs’ attorney Katherine Viker.

(SPOILER ALERT: Basabe HAS been accused of drugging and raping a man. That video is coming soon…)

Basabe, who is not an attorney and did not attend law school, is representing himself, and has “fumble[d]” his way through the “chaotic” first days of the trial, according to the Miami Herald, and has been repeatedly admonished for “violating court orders…at least five times” by Judge J. Lee Marsh.

Following a sidebar, Marsh sustained Basabe’s objection and he did not have to answer the question.

Basabe, 48, has an arrest record that includes DUI, public urination, civil theft, and robbery by sudden snatching of a woman’s cellphone caught on video that led to his apprehension by the US Marshals fugitive task force.

Basabe was disqualified from his first run for lying about his address, but successfully elected in 2022 and 2024. He is currently up for re-election.

He has denied all allegations.

[Eliott Rodriguez @ERodforCongress]

Today I urged the City of Miami Commission to reject the 287(g) agreement. Policies that separate families and discourage victims and witnesses from reporting crimes make our community less safe. We can support secure borders while treating people with dignity and humanity.

[Naomi Feinstein @naomifeinstein]

Nearly a year after Fort Lauderdale and Inter Miami reached an agreement to deliver the overdue Lockhart Community Park, the long-promised project remains on hold.
https://t.co/8PVTQC7Er4