MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Miami Beach commissioners met on Monday to discuss preventive measures in the wake of two fatal shootings over the weekend on South Beach.
The two killings happened among packed spring break crowds.
The fatal shootings prompted officials to issue a curfew from 11:59 p.m. to 6 a.m., south of 23rd Street, and a state of emergency.
“The only way you’re gonna stop this because you can’t really patrol the way you’d like to is to stop spring break from happening in the city,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said. “And you only do that on the front end, letting the world know that if they’re coming here, they might not enjoy it as much.”
Commissioners instead voted in favor of a curfew on liquor stores, ordering them to close by 6 p.m., though admitting it probably won’t do much to deter violence.
Local business owners planned to attend the special city commission meeting to protest the curfew.
A proposed curfew for the upcoming weekend did not pass at Monday’s meeting. Four commissioners voted against the plan, while three voted in favor.
Some commissioners said a curfew was not a long-term solution to stem violence.
Other proposals discussed included safety checks and potentially bringing in metal detectors to check for weapons.
“The reality of it is, is that we have to be able to regulate how people get into that area in order for wanding or for metal detectors to be successful,” Miami Beach police Chief Richard Clements said.
Full commission meeting: