A scuffle that broke out at an explosive public meeting last week added to the growing listof controversies surrounding an embattled downtown agency and its chairman, Miami City Commissioner Miguel Angel Gabela.
What was supposed to be a straightforward meeting of Bayfront Park Management Trust with a single agenda item on Aug. 13 quickly devolved into chaos when a Trust board member, Carlos Martell, appeared to grab at activist and documentarian Billy Corben as Corben was filming on his phone. Corben has previously clashed with Gabela and Gabela’s wife, Mariela, who have accused Corben of provoking them to get views for his content.
The latest incident was especially heated. Rather than deescalating, Gabela yelled at Corben, calling him a clown. Mariela, who regularly attends her husband’s meetings, joined in, making comments about Corben’s wife…