Miami Beach will NOT enforce spring break curfew this weekend, despite mayor's call to BAN event

Miami officials have rejected a proposal to enforce a curfew next weekend over its spring break - electing to instead implement alcohol sale restrictions after a deadly spat of shootings that left two revelers dead.

The municipality of Miami Beach recently imposed an overnight curfew that ended on Monday, leading to a heated debated amongst the City Commission later that night on how to handle the increasingly rowdy masses.

Despite being the same city, Miami and Miami Beach are two distinct municipalities, with the latter referring to the barrier island set to the east of Miami's Downtown, where many flock for the festivities.

Each boasts its own governing body and mayor, with Monday's meeting called after witnesses  shared videos of the panic that ensued after two recent shootings, which both happened on the island's bustling Ocean Avenue.

The meeting saw supporters of a second 12am curfew insist that a time limit was necessary to limit violence, while detractors argued it would punish small businesses. Residents are similarly split on the issue, with the city's mayor over the weekend airing a desire to nix the famously hectic festivities completely.

Miami Beach rejected a proposal to enforce a curfew next weekend after a deadly spat of shootings that left two spring breakers dead, despite increasingly rowdy crowds that have stretched its police force thin

The city recently imposed an overnight curfew that ended on Monday, leading to a heated debated amongst city staffers on how to handle the at-times violent revelers

The violence over the weekend saw 21-year-old Jordan Idahosa, a South Georgia State College student, shot dead on Friday, and 22-year-old Dontavious Polk arrested for a second shooting that happened late Sunday that saw another college student killed

Ultimately, staffers would decide to forgo the time limit in favor of a different restrictive guidance - one that would see all liquor stores in the city closed by 6pm. 

The decision was billed by some as a 'better than nothing' attempt to curb the current chaos that came to a head this past weekend, which commission staffers said is historically the most dangerous.

Staffers also cited the planned Ultra Music Festival set for the weekend, which is poised to bring tens of thousands of electronic music fans to Bayfront Park.

Four out of seven voted against a curfew, while six of seven agreed on closing liquor stores as a temporary solution.

Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, who voted in favor of the alcohol restrictions but not the curfew, said the emergency measures are being applied too late in the month, after most have departed. 

'Ultra weekend is not the problem,' she said of the past few days, commonly accepted as the most hectic. 

Commissioner Ricky Arriola agreed, saying that 'a curfew is not a long-term solution, and that a second 72-hour closure would only serve to punish 'law-abiding businesses.' 

He added the city should implement more safety measures before next year's celebration such as  metal detectors and security fences, installed in certain problematic sections Miami's famed beach. 

The meeting saw supporters of a second 12am curfew insist that a time limit was necessary to limit violence, while detractors argued it would punish small businesses

The curfew will mainly affects South Beach, a popular party spot that over the weekend was overrun despite the curfew and a pronounced police presence. Cops are seen assessing the chaos Sunday as the curfew expired

The commissioners met after witnesses shared videos of the panic that ensued after two recent shootings, including this one on Ocean Avenue Friday night that sent residents scrambling after hearing the sounds of gunfire

The curfew mainly affects South Beach, a popular party spot for spring breakers where crowds over the weekend fought and destroyed cars despite a pronounced police presence

The bloody weekend prompted city officials to call a curfew that began at midnight on Monday and lasted until 6am

The mayor, calling for an unprecedented ban to spring break festivities, said on Monday residential city is not equipped to handle 'young, rambunctious partygoers looking for a rite of passage'

Mayor Dan Gelber has expressed a desire to do away with the festivities completely, after announcing an emergency 72-hour curfew over the weekend that completed on Monday 

He added that dozens of businesses and local workers depend on the crowds the planned Ultra event is set to reel in.

The commission was reportedly called after members met after witnesses shared videos of the panic that ensued after two recent shootings, which both happened on the city's bustling Ocean Avenue,  left spring break tourists feeling for safety.

The curfew would have affected South Beach, a popular party spot for spring breakers that over the weekend was overrun despite the then in place restrictions - and a pronounced police presence.

Upon airing the decision to nix the time limit, official cited that the city still has the ability to implement a 72-hour curfew without the commission's approval, through its city manager. 

As for Mayor Gelber, who issued a statement Sunday in response to the violent weekend, blames rising crowd numbers for the recent unrest - and has since called on city staffers to help him nix the celebrations completely.

'The volume of people in our city, the unruly nature of too many, and the presence of guns has created a peril that cannot go unchecked,' he said.

'It is clear that even an unprecedented police presence could not prevent these incidents from occurring.

'While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, a few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns creates a wholly intolerable situation.'

The violence over the weekend saw 21-year-old Jordan Idahosa, a South Georgia State College student, shot dead on Friday, and 22-year-old Dontavious Polk arrested for a second shooting that late Sunday that saw another student killed. 

The consecutive incidents spurred the mayor to demand an unprecedented ban on spring break processions, citing how 'excessively large and unruly crowds' have brought his city to a standstill.

 'While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, a few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns creates a wholly intolerable situation,' Gelber said as video surfaced of rowdy spring break-goers this weekend

Crowds walk up and down Ocean Drive at night on Saturday March 18, 2023 during Spring Break in Miami Beach

In previous years, the mayor has also instituted a curfew in addition to banning certain types of alcohol sales

 'We haven't asked for spring break in our city. We don't want spring break in our city. It's too rowdy, brings too much disorder and is simply too difficult to police,'

During a Monday morning appearance on America's Newsroom, as footage of spring breakers jumping and destroying cars continued to circulate, Gelber said that his residential city is not equipped to handle 'young, rambunctious partygoers looking for a rite of passage.'

'It doesn't work for us,' he said. 'We cannot balance public safety with business.'

Video footage of the weekend revelry shows members of rowdy crowds pounding and jumping on cars that are attempting to drive through Ocean Drive.

Police presences appeared overwhelmed by the sheer number of out-of-control partyers, who seemed to be looking for a fight.

Separate footage showed scantily clad women and several men trashing a local slushie shop on the main street by the beach, as the lone shop employee begged them to stop.

Last year, Miami Beach banned some nighttime alcohol sales in South Beach for three straight nights as an emergency measure, in addition to instituting a curfew.

The ban applied to sales of alcohol for 'off-premises consumption' at businesses like liquor stores and drugstores after 6pm.