2 AM bar ban in Miami Beach could be a real estate con to benefit developers

2 AM bar ban in Miami Beach could be a real estate con to benefit developers
  • Sumo

Miami Beach voters have a familiar straw ballot question to answer before Nov. 2: Do they want to ban alcohol sales in South Beach after 2 AM?

It’s the same question voters solidly rejected in 2017, by a very comfortable 65% of the vote. Sort of a mandate. So why’s it coming back? That’s a much better question.

Framing it as a public safety issue, the proponents say that the city should roll back alcohol sales and consumption from 5 AM to 2 AM at hotels, bars and businesses citywide to cut down on violent crime. Like those three hours are going to make a difference.

But it’s really all about real estate. If the businesses along Ocean Drive fail, developers can buy up the properties at bargain prices and build condos, like they are doing with North Beach’s Ocean Terrace. They will turn South Beach from an entertainment district to a luxury high-rise district.

Why do you think former Mayor Philip Levine — who was the first to try this — has come out of the hole he’s been hiding in since his gubernatorial loss to promote a yes vote? The millionaire mayor knows a deal when he sees one.

Know more: Miami Beach is late with study on impact of alcohol ban on referendum

“There comes a time in life when everyone and everything must grow up,” Levine writes in an email blast paid for by the Yes For A Safer Miami Beach political action committee. “Whether it be teenagers assuming adulthood responsibilities or cities that realize their once ‘anything goes’ party atmosphere has become a major liability, instead of an asset.”

Then he got preachy.

“It is said that sometimes God whispers, and sometimes God yells. After the horrific murder last month of a father protecting his baby boy at an Ocean Drive cafe, I think we can all agree that God was whispering loudly to us.”

Except for one thing: The murder of that father protecting his baby boy at an Ocean Drive cafe happened in broad daylight, at 6:30 p.m., during dinner with the family. How will a 2 AM bar ban help that?

By driving the post 2 AM crowds to private and illegal AirBnB house parties or venues that are “exempted” from the rule?

Because that’s another thing: The way it’s proposed, the ban is applied to every business in the city, but the commission would have the ability to bestow “exemptions” on whoever or whatever lucky business they choose. There’s no criteria on how those exemptions (read: gifts) would be granted, which means they’ll become bargaining chips for campaign contributions, or gifts for big donors.

Know more: Philip Levine’s PAC started flooding after he got a liquor ban on the ballot

Critics say the city is trying to avoid the real fix, which would be to hire more police officers and increase beat operations and visibility in key places. It seems like the logical thing to do.

But that won’t provide the opportunity — ka-ching — that a 2 AM bar ban does for speculators. The measure, however, would hurt businesses that are only starting to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic fallout.

Jobs would be lost. Property owners would be forced to sell their Art Deco and historic hotels. Developers would accumulate lots and pitch big mixed-use residential complexes with names like Brisas Atlantico.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” said former Mayor Matti Bower, whose name and photo are on a mailer endorsing the referendum. She says she once did think it could be a good idea. But she was never enthusiastic, Bower told Ladra, and now she’s not so sure.

“I don’t think that’s what needs to be done. I think there is another way to address the situation without affecting the historic nature of Miami Beach and making it just like every place else,” Bower said.

Because this is not about safety. This is about real estate.

15 Responses to "2 AM bar ban in Miami Beach could be a real estate con to benefit developers"

  1. I lived in LA and San Fran and we always went out and had fun until 2am. It’s a different story to send someone high home at 2. Vote YES on closing at 2 and let’s grow up MB. Worse can happen is water bottle sales will go down.. lol

  2. Vote no!

    Just a bunch of bs to develop more properties and sell them to overseas buyers. Then cash out and go exploit the next city…..

  3. ” Nothing beneficial happens after 2:00 am”

    Miami is a 24 hour city as far as lots jobs going at night , places to eat , stores , gyms , etc but interestingly enough which sucks for me , PLENTY of the places that were 24 hours before the virus shut downs never went back to 24 hours and doubt they will again .

    Midnight seems to be the closing time yet Ca where my sisters live and was shut down for like a year is now 24 hours again , who would have thought .

    I would have expected Miami of all places to go back to 24 as far as all the establishments which were once 24 hours but does not look like it will.

    ============================

    ” At 22 Ave. N W 12 St. Miami 33125 There is a Bar for LBGTQ+ Community Open Till 2:00PM”

    There is no consistency here at all as far as what ordinances , laws are enforced , some places are above it all if that is the case with them .

  4. This article is based on conspiracy theory. The powers-that-be purposely crashing real estate prices, oh please. I am voting yes 2 a.m.

  5. This is a garbage opinion that makes zero sense. Most of the building on Ocean Drive are owned by seriously rich folks or investment funds (like the Nakash family of Jordache jeans fame, or Renzo Rosso of Diesel brands) and they won’t be “forced to sell” if they don’t want to. Currently the district cost the city $6 million a year in extra services for all the extra police overtime needed in the area and not covered by the resort taxes collected in the area.

  6. There is NO evidence that

    More crimes happen after 2am
    Crimes after 2am are perpetrated by drunken bar and club patrons

    We need policies based on data and evidence.

    VOTE NO

  7. Vote Yes. Vote Yes and taxes will go down because the City of Miami Beach will operate with less police men and less EMT and less Code Enforcement. Less employees means Lower Tax Bills.

  8. We’ve lived in Miami Beach, bathed from South Beach to the Eden Rock, all without ever being a resident in Miami Beach, but, if you need to drink in Miami Beach, especially in the fad Ocean Drive Strip, one can do it before two in the morning!

  9. I disagree. The 2:00 am Last Call for Alcohol Vote is long overdue. Nothing beneficial happens after 2:00 am. There are too many criminals roaming around South Beach. If you want a better class of tourist stop pandering to the criminals. And stop pandering to the handful of club owners who make money off drug addicts and alcoholics. And elected officials should stop accepting campaign contributions from the drug dealers AKA club owners.

  10. If the post 2 am liquor ban passes, the Miami Beach property tax rate will have to shoot sky high to compensate for the lost revenue from tourism and liquor sales taxes. Their tax base will plummet, businesses will leave and hotels will close because tourism that mantains the city will be severely curtailed. They have nothing to replace the lost tax revenue, and until they do, If you live in Miami Beach, vote NO for this nonsense.

  11. ” cities that realize their once ‘anything goes’ party atmosphere has become a major liability, instead of an asset.”

    If you speak to people who work in Miami beach be it hotels , clubs , places to eat , etc it is becoming worse and worse , more fights , more problems but it is not due to alcohol and again I don’t touch that filth but that is not the problem . .

  12. ” Critics say the city is trying to avoid the real fix, which would be to hire more police officers and increase beat operations and visibility in key places.”

    Not a bad idea to hire new police but fire as many or MORE because many do not patrol but hang out most of their shift .

    Ask ANYONE who works at night .

    Seriously how much texting and chit chatting can someone do without hire ups giving a damn ?

    To simply hire new police without accountability means they pick up bad habits from those who have been on the force for years , doing much of nothing .

    I do think they should serve alcohol till 5 am and truth is I do not know who came up with 5 am as cut off time .

    I actually do not drink at all ever because think alcohol is garbage but if others do that it is their business and to make the cut off time 2 am will hurt businesses .

    I will say this when it comes to Sat / Sun from roughly 2 am to 5 am there are lots of drunk drivers out there , A LOT .

    Holidays like Halloween , Thanksgiving not just New Years are the worse .

    Again huge problem with police not patrolling .

    So again yes hire new police but fire as many dead weight .

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