Miami Beach declares spring break emergency
Officials are imposing an emergency 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew for Miami Beach, effective immediately after hard-partying spring break crowds trashed restaurants, brawled in the streets, and gathered by the thousands without masks or social distancing, according to authorities.
At a news conference; officials blamed overwhelming and out-of-control spring break crowds for the curfew; which was taking effect Saturday night in South Beach, one of the nation’s top party spots. Tourists and hotel guests are being told to stay indoors during curfew hours.
During an afternoon news conference, Mayor Dan Gelber announced an 8 p.m. curfew for the South Beach entertainment district. He also said shore-bound traffic on the city’s causeways would be shuttered.
Both measures will be in effect for at least 72 hours, the mayor said while extending the emergency is debated by officials.
“As we hit the peak of the peak of spring break; we are quite simply overwhelmed,” City Manager Raul Aguila said.
Crowds last night resembled those of a rock concert, according to officials.
“You couldn’t see pavement and you couldn’t see grass,” Aguila said.
State figures indicate parts of South Florida have continued to be hot spots for Covid-19 transmission. The state has surpassed 2 million coronavirus cases.
Amid this backdrop, authorities have had to grapple with throngs of college students and young people who have flocked to the warm shores of Miami Beach.
Miami tourism officials say billions of dollars were lost during those three months last year. The city’s tourism arm just spent $5 million on its biggest national advertising campaign in 20 years.
At the same time; local officials banned alcohol from the beach, along with all alcohol sales after 10 p.m. in an effort to curb partying. The city even sent cellphone text messages to tourists warning, “Vacation Responsibly or Be Arrested.”
“Spring break in Miami Beach may be one of the great rites of passage, but only if you plan on following the rules. Otherwise, you might as well just stay home and save yourself the court costs,” the message read.
