A feud between a South Florida mayor and a city commissioner is heating up after the mayor was caught on camera making comments about "sphincter bleaching."
The bizarre scandal was stirred up at a budget meeting on Monday, when Mayor Keith London said a city firefighter had "a simple mind," and Commissioner Anabelle Lima-Taub stuck up for the man.
"He has a college education education, you don't. I'm not really sure how you can call him a simple mind. He works for a living, you don't, so how you're going to call a city employee simple minded is shameful," Lima-Taub said, in a video of the encounter that was posted on social media.
"Do you look at my IRS form?...You don't know what my tax return says do you?" London shot back. "See where my earned income came from last year."
"I know where your earned income came from," Lima-Taub replied.
"I'm sure you do. Was it getting my sphincter bleached? Is that what I earn my income for?" London said.
"Probably," Lima-Taub said.
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"Oh OK, no that would be you and your family business," London replied. "Congratulations. Sphincter bleaching is a very up and coming business. You want to make it personal commissioner, we'll make it personal all day long."
The argument grew even more heated at Wednesday night's commission meeting, as Lima-Taub demanded an apology from London.
"You said I do it. You said I bleach my anus. That’s what you said. That’s what you said. Family business has nothing to do with what's going on here," she shouted. "You continue to talk about anal bleaching. You continue to talk about what I do, what does that have to Do with state business? What does that have to do with state business?"
Lima-Taub marched out of the meeting but not before more yelling and accusations.
"You’re a sick, sick man. You’re a pervert. Sick man, sick man you are. Why don't you tell everyone how you asked my mom to bleach your anus, why don't you do that, how you asked for it twice for free," Lima-Taub said.
"Whether I bleach people's private parts, which I don't, that’s not a place for discussion at city hall. Not when we're discussing a budget public safety and how deficient we are," Lima-Taub told NBC 6 after the meeting.
London offered an apology as Lima-Taub left the room.
"Commissioner I just want to put on the record so you hear it, I apologize for my inappropriate remarks to you in Monday's meeting," he said.
London also offered an apology after the meeting.
"I unequivocally apologize. This was inappropriate and I do apologize," he said.
The scandal is just the latest for Hallandale Beach this year. In January, Mayor Joy Cooper was arrested on charges including money laundering after an undercover FBI investigation.
