Winter Park Commissioner Faces Scrutiny Over Free Orlando Magic Tickets and Synagogue Project
- A Winter Park city commissioner faces ethics questions after accepting five complimentary tickets to an Orlando Magic basketball game from an organization seeking zoning approval for a downtown...
- The controversy centers on Section 1.03 of Winter Park’s Code of Ethics for City Officers, which prohibits city officials and their relatives from accepting gifts from anyone doing...
- Chabad of Greater Orlando is seeking city approval to redevelop the El Cortez Apartments property at 210 E.
A Winter Park city commissioner faces ethics questions after accepting five complimentary tickets to an Orlando Magic basketball game from an organization seeking zoning approval for a downtown synagogue and childcare center, according to public records and local news reports. City records show Commissioner Elizabeth Ingram voted to advance the Chabad of Greater Orlando project before later voting to delay final action as residents raised traffic and noise concerns.
Winter Park Ethics Rules and the Chabad Development Tickets
The controversy centers on Section 1.03 of Winter Park’s Code of Ethics for City Officers, which prohibits city officials and their relatives from accepting gifts from anyone doing business or known to be seeking business with the city, as orlandosentinel.com reported. City resident Jonathan Beaton uncovered the text messages through a public records request and shared them with news organizations. The messages, first published by WFTV Channel 9, revealed that Rabbi Dovid Dubov, Chabad’s director of operations, texted Ingram on June 2, hoping she enjoyed the basketball game and requesting a meeting about the synagogue project. Ingram replied two days later on June 4, thanking him for the tickets and agreeing to meet.
Chabad of Greater Orlando is seeking city approval to redevelop the El Cortez Apartments property at 210 E. Morse Blvd. into a three-story synagogue, rooftop gathering area, 80-seat worship space, and a 60-child daycare alongside five townhomes. The congregation has lacked a permanent home since a 2024 fire. Ingram was part of a 3-2 vote to advance the project on Aug. 28, but she later joined a 4-1 vote on Sept. 9 to delay a final decision.
Ticket Valuations and Public Disclosures
Ingram initially did not file a gift disclosure because she believed the tickets fell below the $100 threshold, noting to orlandosentinel.com that a friend handed them to her for free for the April 6 Jewish Heritage Night game. Florida’s ethics rules prohibit officials from knowingly accepting gifts worth more than $100 from vendors or lobbyists. According to Ticketmaster, Magic tickets typically cost between $100 and $200 each depending on seats and matchups. Ingram described the seats as regular rather than courtside or upper tier, but later filed a disclosure form acknowledging that five tickets would be expensive to purchase.
Rabbi Dubov stated in an Oct. 16 phone interview reported by orlandosentinel.com that neither he nor anyone with Chabad directly handed the tickets to Ingram. Ingram defended her independence in a statement. There was never any expectation or understanding that these tickets were connected to my responsibilities or decisions as a Commissioner,
she wrote in a response.
December 2026 Hearing and Community Impact
Residents remain divided over the Morse Boulevard development, with neighbors like Joel Greenfield expressing anxiety about losing their homes and neighborhood playground space. Other community members have voiced support for the congregation. The commission agenda originally listed the project for an upcoming vote, but the applicant has since requested to table the matter until Dec. 9.
