Last year, Miami Beach broke up with spring break. Now, the city is giving its ex a “reality check.”
As spring breakers head to South Florida, the city is implementing new safety measures to steer away rowdy crowds. This comes after years of chaos on Ocean Drive.
The measures include $100 parking fees, closing garages south of 23rd Street, DUI checkpoints, police presence across Ocean Drive, limited beach access, curfews and a towing rate of $532 for non-residents.
“It doesn’t feel unsafe at all,” said John Wool Nough, a visitor from London.
Terry Grabowski and his wife are visiting from Cleveland for a second time. They say security enhancement for large crowds could be handled differently.
“[The city] is just trying to control it,” Grabowski said. “Maybe there’s just a little happy medium they have to come between.”
Stephanie Vitori, the owner of Cheese Burger Baby, says the restrictions are hurting her business.
“My staff has less hours, my bread guy isn’t making money either,” said Vitori. “It’s a snowball effect.”
Vitori said sales plummeted by 50% last March. She blames the new measures for the lack of crowds and the state of her business during this time.
“It’s ridiculous,” Vitori said. “We’re not 12.”
Cheese Burger Baby has been a staple on Washington Avenue for 24 years. Vitori is taking matters into her own hands to keep the business alive.
“I’m going into my personal money now, that I worked the last 20 years for, to put back in to keep it afloat,” Vitori said.
Vitori believes the city’s campaigns could be better promoted.
“Put marketing dollars into how to support the beach,” Vitori said. “How to make it better.”
Click here to read more on the City of Miami Beach’s Spring Break rules.
