🦹 It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's SuperCAR!
Are cars the crime-fighting heroes we need? No, absolutely not.
A special city commission will be held this Thursday to discuss crime -and possibly take action- on Ocean Drive. Details below.
A horrendous murder occurred on Ocean Drive two weeks ago, a man was shot and killed while dining with his family. It happened in the early evening hours, with no crowd, no street party. A truly heartbreaking, senseless act.
As a response, some candidates and politicians in our city are calling for cars to return to Ocean Drive as a way to “deter criminals from the area” – no details have been given on how cars would achieve this, or examples of said crime-fighting abilities anywhere else in the world.
The argument that cars will restore order to Ocean Drive is ludicrous – Ocean Drive has always been a challenging environment, with or without cars.
Here’s what we do know about cars: They increase violence.
Cars facilitate dangerous crime. People on bikes don’t just “pull up” with assault riffles.
Cars allow for dangerous weapons to be discretely stored. You’d be hard to find a pedestrian or cyclist concealing half a dozen weapons.
Cars are deadly weapons themselves. Are Miami Beach politicians planning on discussing, and taking action, on every street that experiences a case of road violence?
Cars contribute to the uncontrolled party atmosphere on Ocean Drive. They blast loud music from their stereo systems, and are more challenging for police/code to enforce noise ordinances on given that they are moving vehicles.
Cars complicate emergency response. How do you get an ambulence through a traffic jam? On a car-free street, accessibility becomes easier. In fact, pre-pandemic, Miami Beach removed cars from Ocean Drive during busy weekends to allow for the area to be easier to police.
Don’t let politicians fool you on their motives, reverting Ocean Drive to it’s pre-pandemic configuration will do nothing to prevent future crime and violence on the street.
Miami Beach has templates for successful people-oriented streets in Lincoln Road and Española Way, our leadership needs to channel these successes into a new design for Ocean Drive. Could you imagine adding cars back on our existing pedestrian roads to “make them safer”? Of course not.
Some strategies to fix Ocean Drive that don’t involve four wheels:
Invest in Ocean Drive and create a space that encourages people to visit throughout the day. Again, channel the existing successes of Española Way and Lincoln Road!
Truly encourage Work-Play-Live throughout central South Beach – the plans exist! Many studies have been done on improving the area, the money has been allocated to the project, get it done!
Let Ocean Drive and Central South Beach live up to its international reputation! Hint: it involves fewer cars than the current, dated layouts. Take a page from New York’s pedestrianization of Time Square or Paris’ upcoming $304-million Champs-Élysées pedestrian overhaul, if they can do it, so can we!
UPCOMING • Thursday, September 9 • 4:00 PM
Miami Beach Commission Meeting
Item R9 A
Discuss, and take action if necessary, regarding crime and Ocean Drive
Here’s how you can participate:
In Person: Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting or provide public comment in person may appear at the Commission Chamber, Miami Beach City Hall, 1700 Convention Center Drive, 3rd Floor, Miami Beach, FL 33139. Members of the public are required to wear facial coverings (pursuant to City of Miami Beach Resolution 2021-31825) and observe social distancing consistent with CDC guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Virtually: To provide virtual spoken comments during the Special Hybrid Commission Meeting, the public may join the webinar at: https://miamibeachfl-gov.zoom.us/j/81392857671 or via telephone at: 1.301.715.8592 (U.S.) or 888.475.4499 (Toll Free). Webinar ID: 81392857671#. Members of the public wanting to virtually speak on an Item during the meeting, must click the “raise hand” icon if using the Zoom app or press *9 on the telephone to raise their hand.
By Email: The public may submit written comments by sending an email to CityClerk@miamibeachfl.gov by 5:00 p.m. the day before the Special Hybrid City Commission Meeting. Please identify the Agenda Item Number in the email subject line. Emails received will be forwarded to the Mayor and Commissioners and will be included as a part of the meeting record.