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Gelber on Thursday told CNN’s Boris Sanchez that the city is now better prepared to handle the revelers.
“We’ve brought in an enormous contingent of police. We have a curfew. We’re closing the causeways at 10 p.m. to reduce the number of people here. So we’re hopeful,” Gelber said. “But of course, hope isn’t enough. You’ve got to have a plan, and I think we have a plan.”
Some people ‘just want to cause havoc’
Miami Beach always attracts large crowds of spring breakers, but after a year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions, the stir-crazy seem to be wanting to party extra hard.
“I don’t think there’s any question that Covid and people being cooped up and unable to go anywhere has created a pressure that’s being relieved in our city,” Gelber said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis may not have helped, previously bragging that the state is an “oasis of freedom” during the pandemic.
Gelber noted the governor’s words, but stopped short of criticizing him.
“Well, it obviously didn’t help with the governor declaring this an ‘oasis of freedom’. But, you know, we have to deal with the issues as they come to us. So I don’t really I need to point fingers,” he said.
The mayor said most of the revelers have been well behaved, but among them are “a number that just want to cause havoc, want to bring a weapon or want to brawl.”
All together, more than 1,000 people have been arrested in Miami Beach since February 3, city manager Raul Aguila said at an emergency commission meeting on Sunday.
Come to Miami, but don’t be a ‘jerk’
Miami-Dade’s Community Relations Board is urging visitors to remember that Miami is more than a vacation destination, it’s also a community.
“Miami is a great place and that’s why a lot of us live here, but visitors have to remember people live here and they need to be respectful of our laws and regulations, and understand it could be different than the rules where they come from,” board chairman John Quick told CNN.
Visitors are being asked to respect certain Covid-19 restrictions and rules about where they can and cannot drink alcohol.
Mayor Gelber said he just wants people to have good time and be respectful of one another.
“If you’re coming here, just come here to enjoy the things that we have: our beaches, our restaurants, our venues, realizing that there’s a pandemic so be safe,” he said.
“Come here to have a responsible fun vacation. Don’t come here to be a jerk.”
CNN’s Melissa Alonso and Ralph Ellis contributed to this report.
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