Enough is enough on Spring Break

As we approach mid-summer, my unwavering commitment to public safety remains my top priority. Through proactive policing, consistent law enforcement, and vigorous prosecution of repeat offenders, I aim to make Miami Beach the safest city in America. 

So that brings us to "Spring Break" 2024. 

The lawlessness witnessed on and around Ocean Drive during two weekends in March is unacceptable. It's chaos and it's hurting our city's reputation, endangering our residents, and causing irreversible harm to our businesses. Enough is enough! It's time to take back control and ensure a safer month of March now and into the future.

Bold change is exactly what I have proposed in my legislative initiative to create secured perimeters on Ocean Drive and surrounding areas Read More Secured entry checkpoints would keep firearms and illegal drugs out. Other security measures such as DUI checkpoints, limiting parking times for non-residents and limiting alcohol sales are also necessary. Individuals passing through the secured perimeter would be greeted with beautiful and majestic art exhibits and sculptures. I discussed my ideas at several Commission meetings, including our most recent special commission meeting on Spring Break. I will present a full scale security plan at September's Commission meeting that will protect our neighborhoods and keep our residents safe. 

New York City has successfully implemented a massive secured perimeter every year for New Year's Eve to keep everyone safe in an area far larger than Ocean Drive. If NYC Police and security can do it, so can Miami Beach. 

Ending drug dealing on Miami Beach

Enforcing our laws does not start or end with Spring Break. Criminal offenders must know we will enforce our laws every day, and that we will prosecute criminal violators. One issue we need to get control of is illegal drug dealing on our streets.

To put an end to street-level drug dealing on Miami Beach, I am actively exploring the creation of a Miami Beach Police crime laboratory to test substances seized during drug dealing arrests. Read More Drug dealing harms neighborhoods and can lead to dangerous turf wars. I have held extensive meetings and discussions with our Police and Prosecutors to proactively enforce and prosecute drug dealing crimes, crimes that right now are often not enforced. This is not acceptable and not healthy for law and order. To help take back control, I am pushing to create a drug testing laboratory. 

We need faster testing results to properly prosecute and shut down drug sales on our streets. Miami-Dade’s lab utilized by all 34 County municipalities, including Miami Beach, is short multiple analysts. If we cannot test the drugs, we cannot prosecute the criminal offenders who are often repeat offenders recognizable to our residents. Currently, "hard" controlled substances (such as cocaine, MDMA, heroin, etc.) aren't always tested in a timely manner by the County Crime Lab. As a result, many criminal offenders arrested by Miami Beach Police cannot be prosecuted for the sale (including trafficking cases), of controlled substances.

That is why I am proposing the creation of our very own drug testing laboratory. I am tired of the excuses why we can't enforce our laws or prosecute criminals. Our own Miami Beach crime laboratory testing suspected controlled substances seized during drug sales will ensure we can prosecute criminal offenders and keep our streets safe. 

Ending Homelessness 

Every single day our residents are telling me, confirmed with my own eyes, that our City needs to get a better handle on our homeless population. Individuals with mental health issues or drug addiction roaming our streets without consequence is not safe. At my request our Police pulled data showing that 30% of the arrests on Miami Beach are individuals categorized as homeless. 

Miami Beach provides a number of outreach services and shelter to homeless individuals. I proposed a number of initiatives implemented by our City to help homeless individuals, including employment opportunities and rehabilitation programs (at no cost to our City).

Our City spends several million annually on outreach services for the homeless. Our generous and humane outreach help many, but is rejected by the vast majority. There is never an excuse for anyone to threaten our residents and visitors, or worse commit a criminal act. That is why I am sponsoring legislation, along with several of my Commission colleagues, that will tighten our anti-camping laws and prohibit lying down in public in certain areas. 

Taking back control means our residents should have the freedom of walking down the street without fear or worry of becoming a victim of a crime. I am committed to taking bold action to ensure that individuals who need help are treated humanely. But I won't tolerate anyone threatening the security of our law-abiding residents, especially after rejecting all services and shelter.

In the near future, possibly at today's Commission meeting, our Commission will approve our next City of Miami Beach Police Chief. I have made clear my expectations: we need enhanced police visibility on foot engaging with the community we serve and proactively enforcing our laws to anyone who threatens our quality of life.

 

Posted on 14 Aug 2023, 22:51 - Category: 2023