MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine has once again called for Ocean Drive bars to cut off liquor sales at 2 a.m.
Ocean Drive business owners answered back Thursday.
"It is time to stop treating Ocean Drive as the city's scapegoat," Alex Tachmes, an attorney with the Ocean Drive Business Association, said.
Members of the Business Association held a news conference to urge the city to allow an existing improvement plan to continue, as it's shown results.
A concession was included, as well.
"What we're saying is, on Memorial Day weekend and spring break and some other select weekends, we are willing to entertain rolling back the hours of liquor," Tachmes said.
The group doesn't believe this will have an impact on safety and said moving the alcohol-sales cut-off time from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m. year-round just won't work.
"We have a lot of laws on the books that are not enforced," David Wallack, the owner of Mango's Tropical Cafe, said.
Wallack insisted that police tactics need to be more proactive.
"If there's crime out there, it's because our defense needs a new strategy, I believe," Wallack said.
Two shootings took place during Memorial Day weekend. One man was shot and a suspect was killed by police.