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| Ocean Drive, Miami Beach |
The Miami Beach Police for years has had to deal with the crowds, they get crowds all year long for special events, music festivals, concerts and holidays. The Clubs of Miami Beach promote this weekend with live entertainment, famous Rappers and all night music, dancing and drinking. The clubs generally open at 10PM and close at 5AM...That is Miami Beach nightlife...something that has been going on for years. The promoters bring the crowd, the Internet and social websites announce the events and the Hotels are full. The restaurants are full, the scooter rentals are booked to capacity and the City of Miami Beach and the business community generate more than 30 million in revenue. Some is kept in the city other monies are taken out by visiting promoters.
This year as in the past the Miami Beach police was bolstered by other South Florida and State Police agencies. The problem was not the Police presence but the few revelers who were out of control, some fighting, large crowds, others shooting, and other using cars as weapons to smash, run over and even drive into police cars and officers.
The attached link shows the Miami Beach Police responding to such incidents as shooting and vehicle deadly assaults. What a tragedy that a well intentioned gathering turns a city upside down and people are injured, stabbed or even killed.
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What will it take to improve civility to a holiday weekend that is supposed to be fun, dance and celebration?
For years the city of Miami Beach has threatened to cancel the party. They may this year! This is not an organized even but rather internet flash mob event for Memorial Day Weekend.
Miami Beach could create a curfew, but that would be the loss of millions to the community of businesses ans even the party promoters. It would cut into the overtime paid to the police, fire and sanitation workers, beside the many workers of the hotels, clubs, restaurants and valet porkers. Imagine the loss of revenue from Parking for the City o Miami Beach by the lack of parking.
It not a matter of money to the city, but rather income during these hard times to the many workers that come to South Beach and depend on the nightlife for a living.
Instead of the negative reaction by City Commission, rather they should take a look at how they handle the event. Lack of training, staffing, crowd control, and even a Police Department interaction amongst the various agencies throughput the year would better prepare the City of Miami Beach for such events.
The Urban Weekend is no different than other crowed weekend events, other than it may be more violent by a small percentage of gangsters, crack-heads and wannabe tough-guys.
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| Miami Beach Time |
The City of Miami Beach should look at itself, its preparation and acknowledge that they have been unprepared for this event for more than 8 years. Each year they shout the same, and each year passes with little done to improve the environment.Policing is not the only answer, reach out to community, the promoters and club owners will go a long way. The Police Department is not prepared for such large crowds, yet they show the multiples of force thinking that this will alter the violence that come with few. The answer is a State Wide Task force for Crowd Control by State Law Enforcement to supplement the local Police Agency. Crowd control of more than police in uniforms at each corner. Once an incident occurs, a surge of crowds begin to flow in one direction or another to get away from the violence. Crowd Control Officers, trained in segregating the crowd, splinter the rush and controlling the streets with the aid of barricades, and trained uniform police to collectively enter the crowd and split the crowd, greatly enhance the safety and security of all.
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| Ocean Drive |
Good Luck, Miami Beach, as you decide to deal with the issue for next year.
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