Miami Beach Spring Break problems -- Curfew & Causeways closed

[JimMIA]

High on my list of things I can’t believe I’ve done in my life and still lived to tell the tale is swimming at The Clevelander in my 20’s.

Next time you come to Miami during baseball season, check out Marlins Park. The entire left field corner is another Clevelander, complete with bar, pool, and dancers. And you can actually also watch the ballgame!

 

[JimMIA]

Well, things went as well as could be expected.

As shown in the video on the previous page, most of the crowds were not even aware of the curfew when it went into effect. Police left them alone for about an hour, while closing off entry to the area. Then they began moving through the crowd telling people they had to leave, and most did leave. The hardcore remained, got pepper-balled, and were forced out of the curfewed area. So everybody got plenty of Instagram and Tik-Tok video.

As far as I know, there were no injuries and police have not announced how many arrests they made.

As you'd expect, reactions are varied depending on perspective.

Residents of Miami Beach love it because they are fed up with the violence and disorderly conduct of these crowds. Miami Beach is used to huge crowds of visitors -- much larger than this week -- but the people who live there want this stopped.

Spring breakers don't think the restrictions are "fair." They have spent money to come here and want to do what they want to do. Or as one spring breaker eloquently put it, "I wanna be drunk. I wanna be lit. Now I can't do none of that." (apparently not an English major)

That's most people's definition of "fair," including mine: "Fair" means I get what I want.

We'll see where we go from here. Hopefully this group of visitors are returning home soon, but they'll be replaced by a new group. The curfew and causeway closures continue through Tuesday, but realistically they're going to have to be extended through at least April 18.

Here's a local news link on the festivities: https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local...nment-district-under-new-8-pm-curfew/2410678/

 

[China Expat]

After reading this thread I am thrilled to not be traveling anywhere on a plane over spring break.

 

[mefordis]

They're not acting anything like the rich, LOL.

Just had to post this. I can truly empathize with you now that I see what a S show it is down there. However, when I think back to my spring break in Ft. Lauderdale it looks pretty similar except there was no covid then of course.

https://www.brighteon.com/366581fd-de3e-4541-9a6d-38f22bc9bcb1

 

[fla4fun]

I think what is happening in Miami Beach is appalling on so many levels.

South Florida was hit hard by Covid, and I am sure they were hoping for a profitable but relatively peaceful spring break season to help get back on their feet. I read about the fights, the crime, the total disrespect for property and their fellow human beings, and it really makes me wonder what this world is coming to. Why can’t people go out and have fun and NOT trash restaurants, or beat each other up, or even shoot or stab them? What is fun about running up a huge tab and leaving without paying? It’s disgusting, to say the least. Although I agree that the information regarding curfews could have been spread more efficiently to the visitors, I support the curfews and hope they do stay in place. It’s just a shame it had to come to this.

I totally get wanting to go out and have fun after everything that has happened this past year. I just don’t understand how what these people are doing is fun. When did violence become spring break entertainment? We were warned that the lockdowns and isolation could have mental health consequences. Is this what has amped up the behavior this year? Have people become so accustomed to not having to answer to anyone outside their home bubble that they have forgotten how to behave in public? .

For any of you who live and work in the affected area, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this on top of everything else, and I hope things get settled down soon.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

The University of Miami actually cancelled spring break this year. Instead, they had students stay home an extra week for winter break before starting the semester. The idea was to keep students on or near campus from January until May and avoid having them travel to other states and back. Of course, this doesn't keep them from going to South Beach or other local areas and joining in the chaos. But from what I've heard, most UM students are avoiding those areas right now since they can go pretty much any other time they want. I'm surprised more schools didn't eliminate spring break week this year. All of those kids are going to go back to their schools at some point and cases on campuses are sure to rise again.

 

[JimMIA]

I think what is happening in Miami Beach is appalling on so many levels.

South Florida was hit hard by Covid, and I am sure they were hoping for a profitable but relatively peaceful spring break season to help get back on their feet. I read about the fights, the crime, the total disrespect for property and their fellow human beings, and it really makes me wonder what this world is coming to. Why can’t people go out and have fun and NOT trash restaurants, or beat each other up, or even shoot or stab them? What is fun about running up a huge tab and leaving without paying? It’s disgusting, to say the least. Although I agree that the information regarding curfews could have been spread more efficiently to the visitors, I support the curfews and hope they do stay in place. It’s just a shame it had to come to this.

I totally get wanting to go out and have fun after everything that has happened this past year. I just don’t understand how what these people are doing is fun. When did violence become spring break entertainment? We were warned that the lockdowns and isolation could have mental health consequences. Is this what has amped up the behavior this year? Have people become so accustomed to not having to answer to anyone outside their home bubble that they have forgotten how to behave in public? .

For any of you who live and work in the affected area, I am so sorry you are having to deal with this on top of everything else, and I hope things get settled down soon.

Well, one of the problems is that this issue is hard to keep in perspective. And, to be honest, it's a problem that has been building in recent years, but was shifted to the spring break timeframe by travel industry (not local) promoters.

And to make matters worse, right behind this we have the original bad period coming -- Memorial Day week. That's the one that's been getting progressively worse year after year.

I try to give the benefit of the doubt, but it's tough when people know there is a curfew and are deliberately creating situations that are going to bring them into conflict with the police. Or, they're obviously violating the law, but claiming they did nothing and hamming it up for the news cameras. There are a pretty good number of people here who are just looking for trouble, and they're being arrested in increasingly large numbers.

I am not going to post local TV video because there is often stuff that would violate DIS guidelines.

But if you want to get a good idea of what is really going on here, just look at local Miami TV station webpages. If anything, they're presenting a toned-down representation of the events. Channel's 6 and 7 seem to be doing the best job of up-to-date coverage and balanced approach.

 

[MillauFr]

I can see both sides. You would think all of the well connected people who live in Miami Beach would insist the local authorities put a stop to this nonsense. Of course those on the other side would say if you didn't want to put up with all of the debauchery that occurs in Miami Beach you should have moved to Fisher Island.

 

[JimMIA]

I can see both sides. You would think all of the well connected people who live in Miami Beach would insist the local authorities put a stop to this nonsense. Of course those on the other side would say if you didn't want to put up with all of the debauchery that occurs in Miami Beach you should have moved to Fisher Island.

That's a thing that few outsiders understand about Miami Beach. Miami Beach is NOT a wide-open place where anything goes. It never has been.

In fact, about 90% of Miami Beach is quiet residential neighborhoods.

Even the tiny entertainment district (the area affected by these events is less than 5% of the land area of Miami Beach and 0% of the population) is not a "rule-free" place. Yes, there are bars and drinking, but if you get out of hand you'll be arrested.

The problem Miami Beach has is they want to be open, inclusive, and welcoming to people from all over the world...and they are

The best comparison to use is not our rich-folks events like yacht shows and Art Basel, but Ultra. Young people from all over the world save their money (often for several years) to come to Miami for the Ultra Music Festival. They party and have a great time until the sun comes up, but they respect local laws, other people and their property. They are every imaginable race and background. Many of them are not wealthy, but they are great visitors and we love having them here.

But...over the years the city has been too lenient when a few groups did not obey the law. They didn't want to appear unwelcoming to certain groups, so they looked the other way. Even now, they are pretending their concern is Covid when in fact they can't say what they are really afraid of -- their safety and the reputation of their community. It's actually amusing to watch things like city commission meetings where nobody involved will actually say what they mean, but everybody knows exactly what they are talking about.

And so, as you'd expect, things got a little worse each year for one weekend a year. Then that weekend became a full week. And now this year it's been promoted to the entire spring break season by a handful of travel purveyors.

This year we have many people just looking to have fun. But we also have people looking for trouble, and others who are just looking to see how far they can push things before they get in trouble. There is something about showing their worst side that appeals to them.

It's got to stop, and the city has taken the first tentative steps to reign it in.

And then, once they get past this, we have the original problem which is Memorial Day right around the corner.

 

[mrs. magoo]

That's a thing that few outsiders understand about Miami Beach. Miami Beach is NOT a wide-open place where anything goes. It never has been.

In fact, about 90% of Miami Beach is quiet residential neighborhoods.

Even the tiny entertainment district (the area affected by these events is less than 5% of the land area of Miami Beach and 0% of the population) is not a "rule-free" place. Yes, there are bars and drinking, but if you get out of hand you'll be arrested.

The problem Miami Beach has is they want to be open, inclusive, and welcoming to people from all over the world...and they are

The best comparison to use is not our rich-folks events like yacht shows and Art Basel, but Ultra. Young people from all over the world save their money (often for several years) to come to Miami for the Ultra Music Festival. They party and have a great time until the sun comes up, but they respect local laws, other people and their property. They are every imaginable race and background. Many of them are not wealthy, but they are great visitors and we love having them here.

But...over the years the city has been too lenient when a few groups did not obey the law. They didn't want to appear unwelcoming to certain groups, so they looked the other way. Even now, they are pretending their concern is Covid when in fact they can't say what they are really afraid of -- their safety and the reputation of their community. It's actually amusing to watch things like city commission meetings where nobody involved will actually say what they mean, but everybody knows exactly what they are talking about.

And so, as you'd expect, things got a little worse each year for one weekend a year. Then that weekend became a full week. And now this year it's been promoted to the entire spring break season by a handful of travel purveyors.

This year we have many people just looking to have fun. But we also have people looking for trouble, and others who are just looking to see how far they can push things before they get in trouble. There is something about showing their worst side that appeals to them.

It's got to stop, and the city has taken the first tentative steps to reign it in.

And then, once they get past this, we have the original problem which is Memorial Day right around the corner.

I do wonder where many of the spring breakers are from. I know that most Northeastern schools cancelled spring break this year. I know that if kids are remote or they can skip class but I wonder if most are from southern schools. I am sorry that this is happening in your city. Hopefully things can improve.

 

[JimMIA]

I do wonder where many of the spring breakers are from. I know that most Northeastern schools cancelled spring break this year. I know that if kids are remote or they can skip class but I wonder if most are from southern schools. I am sorry that this is happening in your city. Hopefully things can improve.

The vast majority of them are not college students at all. The age range is more like 25-40.

Most of the arrestees have been from major cities outside Florida (NYC, Philly, DC, Baltimore, Atlanta, NJ, etc). The police politely say "more than 50%," but in the city commission meeting yesterday they said more than 90%.

 

[JimMIA]

Here's a report on last night's "fun:"

https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-d...ch-commissioners-vote-to-extend-8-p-m-curfew/

 

[Southernmiss]

I do wonder where many of the spring breakers are from. I know that most Northeastern schools cancelled spring break this year. I know that if kids are remote or they can skip class but I wonder if most are from southern schools. I am sorry that this is happening in your city. Hopefully things can improve.

Southern schools have also cancelled spring break this year as was Mardi Gras break for some schools. They were not even included in the calendar. School will end a week earlier.

 

[Planogirl]

Spring break may become a thing of the past in Miami. This is such a mess.

 

[JimMIA]

Spring break may become a thing of the past in Miami. This is such a mess.

We'll see. Somebody is going to win this contest of wills and someone is going to lose.

I honestly doubt the city commission has the backbone to enforce their own proclamations. The mayor is already trying to waffle and shift blame to others.

But the fact is that the city's own lenience with lawbreakers is the reason why people are stomping on top of cars right in front of the police. They need to start rounding up groups of misbehaving people, not individuals. They've got plenty of officers to respond much more effectively.

 

[JimMIA]

Well, the hits just keep on coming.

It took the "spring breakers" about 24 hours to realize that if the police were enforcing a curfew in one place, they weren't in the quiet residential neighborhoods just two blocks west.

Law abiding residents are afraid to go outside. When you watch the video of the crowd, realize that a family with two small children lives on the first floor of that apartment building.

https://wsvn.com/news/local/miami-d...tial-areas-of-south-beach-after-8-p-m-curfew/

There's another sad story of two guys from NC who drugged a visitor from PA and raped her. She later died, and they will probably be charged with murder once the toxicology report is available.

The Beach police keep touting all the arrests they've made (everywhere in the city over a two-month period , many of which have nothing to do with the main problem), but they are failing. Empty numbers mean nothing, and the troublemakers know that.

If they don't start arresting groups of people instead of the easy low-hanging fruit, they will lose the war.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I teach at a college, and while I may be naive, I can't imagine any of my students acting like that. I don't think most of these people are college students. I bet this kind of behavior will drive away actual college students who are just looking for some sunshine and laughs and good times before getting back to their studies to prepare for a future. These people don't seem too concerned about their futures.

 

[JimMIA]

I teach at a college, and while I may be naive, I can't imagine any of my students acting like that. I don't think most of these people are college students. I bet this kind of behavior will drive away actual college students who are just looking for some sunshine and laughs and good times before getting back to their studies to prepare for a future. These people don't seem too concerned about their futures.

From what I've seen, virtually none of the people out after dark are college students. Most of the legit college students go elsewhere. If they are in Miami, there are lots of other places to go in the Miami area, and they sure don't want to be around this mess.

And no...the folks causing the chaos aren't too much concerned about their futures, lol.

 

[JimMIA]

And more proof that you can't fix stupid.

You are staying in a hotel. The hotel has your credit card information, your name, your home address, and your car description and tag number.

But you don't want to pay the valet. So instead of paying him, you stick a gun in his face, take your keys and car, and drive off.

Guess what? Everybody knows who you are.

So now you're in jail (where you belong and have probably been before), your guns are confiscated, and your friends are on the street with no ride (or guns).

You're obviously bad to the bone.

https://wsvn.com/news/local/man-arr...n-refusing-to-pay-valet-at-miami-beach-hotel/

 

[NYCgrrl]

^^^
You're right. You cannot fix stupid which of course comes in many flavors.