Miami Beach city commissioners voted against extending a state of emergency into next weekend, betting that a one-time curfew was enough to curb a spike in violence during spring break.
(Bloomberg) — Miami Beach city commissioners voted against extending a state of emergency into next weekend, betting that a one-time curfew was enough to curb a spike in violence during spring break.
Mayor Dan Gelber had supported extending the emergency measures.
“We are making a big mistake,” he told commissioners at a City Hall meeting on Monday. “I hope it’s not one that results in something worse.”
Read More: Miami Beach Declares Emergency to Halt Spring Break Violence
Commissioners opted for less severe measures, like restricting the sale of alcohol by closing packaged-liquor stores earlier, from Thursday through Sunday. For next year, multiple commissioners voiced support for stricter security rules, including checkpoints and metal detectors.
The decision will provide relief for local businesses that rely on spending by the crowds to generate income, some of the commissioners who opposed the curfew argued.
Last weekend, Miami Beach declared a state of emergency for the second consecutive year, after two fatal shootings in the city’s Ocean Drive entertainment district.
Gelber blamed the violence on Florida’s spring break festivities, which brought large unruly crowds and guns from other states.
–With assistance from Felipe Marques.
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