NORTH MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — North Miami Beach Mayor Michael Joseph will not be censured after a city commission vote failed late Thursday night, following a report that alleges misconduct.
The motion fell short in a 3-4 vote after an outside investigation found his actions may have put the city at risk.
It comes after investigators alleged that his actions and behavior broke rules and put the city at risk.
Earlier Thursday, Joseph had been set to face a censure vote after the investigation concluded he placed the city in “substantial legal, financial and ethical risk.” The findings included corroborating testimony from multiple city employees.
It was filled with evidence and corroborating testimony from a roster of city employees, shocking some of the mayor’s fellow commissioners.
Joseph’s attorney, Luis Suarez, praised the outcome after the vote.
“I’m very pleased with the result. He won. He deserved to win,” Suarez said. “What he’s asking for is what all of us would ask, which is if you’re going to accuse somebody of something, you have to bring the evidence. Without evidence, without a proper investigation, you’re not allowed to censure me. That’s not fair.”
“A lot of things surprised me,” said Commissioner Lynn Su. “What I heard that were rumors have been substantiated by recorded interviews and testimony.”
The outside investigation documented thousands of dollars in public money on his first class travel upgrades and potential crime, asking the city’s IT chief Ricardo Castillo to disconnect recording equipment and edit recordings of city manager interviews.
Joseph’s preferred candidate was not chosen.
“I had heard from one of the employees, from the manager, that one of the employees was really upset because Michael threatened him,” Commissioner Jay Chernoff said, referring to Joseph.
The city’s outside investigation finds Joseph was inappropriately influencing which vendors were picked for city business. Among the companies mentioned was Figgers Communications.
Coincidentally, the mayor’s relationship with Figgers was in Thursday’s ethics allegations against U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, for whom Joseph’s fundraising activities were being questioned.
Joseph’s censure vote pertained strictly to city activities.
The censure vote would have served as a formal reprimand. However, more serious consequences could still be possible if Miami-Dade prosecutors determine any of the allegations warrant criminal charges.
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