In the colorful debate over crosswalks, Florida Rep. Fabián Basabe is no shrinking violet.
Basabe, the former New York club kid turned politician, called the controversy a distraction, while backing state and federal directives to remove rainbow-colored crosswalks.
“It’s performative politics,” Basabe said. “Instead of working on affordability, Miami Beach leaders have chosen another staged distraction. They want to fight over symbols rather than doing the work of fixing what is broken.”
The two-term legislator, whose district includes Miami Beach, said symbols can be meaningful and unite communities and there is a place for them. He proposed relocating the pavers from 12th Street and Ocean Drive to Pride Park, a newly constructed park across from the convention center that was designed for art, culture and community expression.
“That is the appropriate place for installations like this, not the middle of an active roadway,” Basabe said.
Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez disagrees with Basabe’s idea.
“What’s not good for safety is erasing symbols of inclusion — actions that embolden intolerant behavior,” said Fernandez, a gay man. “I will fight to protect it for our safety, for our freedom, for our dignity and for the values Miami Beach will never back down from.”
Miami Beach is on a short list of cities fighting the state’s updated regulations to its Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD).
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — responding to criticism by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith over the removal of Orlando’s rainbow crosswalk — drew a hard line.
“We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes,” DeSantis posted on X.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy took a similar position with the added caveat of withholding federal funding.
“Roads are for safety NOT political messages or artwork,” Duffy posted on X. “USDOT will hold every state receiving federal dollars accountable to that.”
FDOT gave Miami Beach a Sept. 4 deadline to comply and remove its pavers. Fernandez said the city will craft an appeal with evidence showing 12th Street and Ocean Drive is one of the safer intersections in the city.
“Our Pride crosswalk was properly approved, it is safe, and reflects the values of inclusion that define Miami Beach,” Fernandez said. “It is a statement that everyone belongs here. And we will not allow safety to be used as a cover for censorship or for erasing a symbol that represents love, visibility and equality.”
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