1615-26 Various Miami Beach ... ' way roar tie could
...,.u..,,,nanuel released an said a Cuban official con- notin Cuba.
fist 1IIIV 6111-1°3
;o Hotel owner N, Miami Beach officials
''k.''' jail gets a break _ J curb new open-air clubs
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in dispute
'id 1 r' f �. BY RICHARD BRAND issues," said Mayor David
•' -.i.../l,: rW anrf(aihcrakf.corn Dormer."There will not be a
With Beach ��•, proliferation of open-air noise
Responding to complaints establishments."
PEEBLES from neighbors that thumping Some club owners say all
dance music keeps them awake those restrictions add up to an
fan BY NICOLE WHITE The apparent reconciliation at night,Miami Beach commis- effort to put them out of busi-
ay, AND RICHARD BRAND came after two tense hours of sioners voted Wednesday to ness.
ice rbrandOheraid.com debate between Peebles and ban new outdoor nightclubs on "It's a pity that in a tourist
ve commissioners. Peebles, the city's southern tip. destination, where people
he R.Donahue Peebles,owner flanked by a representative The ordinance won't affect come for the sunshine and the
of the Royal Palm Crowne from the state's NAACP office those clubs that arc already tropical air,the city is saying
Plaza Resort,the first majority- and several black ministers, open. ... we don't want any outdoor
black-owned resort hotel in the reminded commissioners that Residents cheered the 6-1 entertainment," said Roman
country,got a brief reprieve in the hotel had been the corner- vote,the most recent move by Jones, co-owner of Opium
his ongoing financial dispute stone of a deal to end a three- city hall to crack down on nightclub, which has a dance
with Miami Beach when city year-long boycott of the coun- nightclub noise. floor in its courtyard."We are
commissioners agreed to ty's tourism industry. "We are not against busi- eroding the commercial areas,
itend resume negotiations that had Commissioners — specifi- ness,but we are against being and the commercial areas are
fallen apart in recent months. cally Richard Steinberg and up all night,"said Ruth Rem- what bring in tourists."
First Peebles and the city, part- Saul Gross — chastised the ington,a freelance writer who Commissioner Richard
rnick ners in the hotel deal, have developer for playing'the race lives in a South Pointe high-rise Steinberg voted against the
used been squabbling over back rent, card'to force the city to settle and who says she can hear club ordinance, saying excessive
I sys- environmental cleanup costs on his terms. noise in her apartment. noise can be curbed by enforc-
rida. and construction delays since "This is not a white or black Many new Beach residents ing existing laws.
nut if the hotel opened with much issue,this is a business issue," such as Remington have called The dispute between the
ities celebration in May 2002. Gross said."I don't care what for more restrictions on neigh- nightclubs and city hall has
Commissioners on Wednes- color you are,at the end of the boring clubs. turned into a hot political issue
• is day asked Peebles and staff to day,you didn't live up to your In recent months, the city as November elections near,
ury, reach a preliminary agreement end of the bargain,"he said. has also beefed up club noise pitting some residents against
was by next month, but said that Peebles said it was the city enforcement, begun arresting the entertainment industry.
s a they may be forced to sue Pee- who introduced race into the visitors who play their car Clubs have been fighting
by bles for nearly $500,000 in debate.As for criticism that he radios too loud and are consid- back by making contributions
of unpaid rent if a deal is not is goading the city into a law- ering restrictions on restau- to commissioners perceived as
tier reached soon. suit by reneging on contracts rants that convert into dance pro-nightlife,fielding their own
�� .1. "We're going to get this with the city,Peebles said:"If I halls during late hours. candidates, tiling lawsuits
in thing resolved,"Mayor David wanted to litigate against you,I "It certainly shows a height- against the city's code enforc-
ed Dermer said."We look forward would have tiled suit against ened awareness on the part of ers,and even launching a web-
to working things out." the city a long time ago." the commission to these site:www.savesobe.com.