Miami Beach declares state of emergency over spring break crowds

Authored by nbcnews.com and submitted by Ahyesclearly
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The city of Miami Beach on Saturday declared a state of emergency over spring break crowds that have descended on the popular South Florida destination.

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.

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"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.

On Thursday night, along the city's famed Ocean Drive, police used pepper balls in an effort to break up a restaurant brawl, according to NBC South Florida.

Citing the crowds, the Clevelander South Beach hotel said it was temporarily shutting down its bar and restaurant services.

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"Recently, we have grown increasingly concerned with the safety of our dedicated employees and valued customers and the ability of the City to maintain a safe environment in the surrounding area," the hotel said in a statement.

Police Chief Rick Clements said his officers responded to multiple fights on South Beach on Friday night. Tables and chairs were used as impromptu weapons, according to the chief.

During Saturday's news conference, the mayor blamed some of the crowding on accessible travel.

"There are a lot of cheap flights," Gelber said. "Last month you could get here from Philadelphia, New York, or Chicago for $50 round trip."

k7eenex on March 21st, 2021 at 03:32 UTC »

I bartend at the clevelander on ocean drive. We’ve been shut down since Thursday night because of shootings and the stampedes that follow. People just run on property destroying as they go. Every year it gets worse and worse but this year the energy out there is different.

Plow_King on March 21st, 2021 at 00:33 UTC »

wow, $50 roundtrip from NYC to miami? that'll bring 'em in.

"hey, i was gonna uber across town to some bars and then back home. wanna just go to miami instead?"

RandomChurn on March 20th, 2021 at 20:15 UTC »

“According to the Miami Herald, authorities plan to impose an 8 p.m. curfew in the South Beach entertainment district through April 12.”

Curious to see how this’ll work out.