Heated exchange, near physical altercation occurs at Miami commission meeting

MIAMI – A tense exchange between Commissioners Joe Carolla and Miguel Gabela Thursday nearly ended in blows at the conclusion of the City of Miami Commission meeting.

“A lot of nasty hateful people. That all they know to do is hate,” Carolla said. “The 8th street boys and Mr. Gabela,” he said before Gabela interjected.

“No, no, no. They’re you’re wrong and I’m gonna cut in because you are a liar,” Gabela said. He then repeatedly called Carolla a “liar” as tempers began to flare.

“You’re not going to intimidate me!”, Carolla said while pointing at Gabela from his seat. “If you want to play Tony Soprano then play it, but I’ll play but I’ll play it right back to you.”

The heated moment escalated when Carolla called Gabela “A small little man.”

The remark prompted Gabela to get up from his seat and charge at Carolla, who responded by getting up from his seat.

Gabela was physically restrained before reaching Carolla.

“C’mon, yeah you are a small little man. You would not last two seconds with me punk,” Carolla said to Gabela as the two were separated.

Returning to his seat, Carolla shouted “You can’t have decorum with a guy that thinks he’s a gangster!”

“The only gangster is you,” Gabela said back.

The tense moment precipitated a commissioners discussion on the future of Miami City attorney Victoria Mendez.

Carolla offered a personal remark.

“I’m not going anywhere, I can’t be fired or bullied out,” Carolla said before the altercation.

In June 2023, Carolla was ordered to pay more than $63 million in damages to the owners of the Ball and Chain Nightclub. The historic venue is located in Miami’s Little Havana on eight street, also known in Spanish as “Calle Ocho”.

At the time, the establishment claimed Carolla “weaponized the city’s police and code enforcement departments” to shut down several of the owner’s businesses because they supported a political opponent.

Carolla was elected to the City of Miami Commission in November 2017. Representing District 3, the area covers Little Havana, East Shenandoah, West Brickell, parts of Silver Bluff, and the Roads.

He also served as the Mayor of Miami for two terms as well as vice mayor.

Representing District 1, Gabela was elected to the City of Miami Commission in November 2023. The area includes Flagami, Allapattah, and parts of Little Havana.