Miami Beach Commission for Women Letter to Mayor and Commissioners_May 10, 2021
Dear Mayor Gelber and Commissioners,
We, the Miami Beach Commission for Women, are writing to you to express our deep concern about
ongoing crime and misconduct in our city, and we are attaching a sample of posts from women in Miami
Beach expressing their worries. Women in our city are feeling unsafe, fearful, and worried that they are
at greater risk of harassment and assault. We note that only recently, during Spring Break, a woman on
vacation was drugged, sexually assaulted by two men in South Beach, and then left for dead in her hotel
room.
Also, we are concerned about the open use of marijuana, which, as you are aware, is illegal to smoke in
public in our city and state. The overcrowding of hotel rooms and AIRBNB’s - which poses fire and other
safety risks, the lack of rules in hotel lobbies and pool areas for behavior and dress code, the excess
number of passengers allowed on boats and all code violations are additional serious concerns. Our
commission members are reporting repeated instances of these ongoing violations for a very long time
yet remain without effective enforcement of law. This behavior is harmful to our city's residents and to
our reputation as a safe and welcoming vacation spot.
The citizens already voted overwhelmingly NOT to impose a 2:00am closure on Ocean Drive businesses.
And, if any limitation of hours is to be imposed it should NOT be limited to 2 blocks. It should be citywide.
We are asking that you, our elected officials, take immediate action. These same behavioral issues and
code violations that have gone unpoliced, also became very apparent during the long curfew period of
2020 and the beginning of 2021, and show clearly that to think that closing iconic Ocean Drive Nightlife
Businesses will not resolve our problems. These businesses which have already been closed for the past
year show that they are not the problem and will only damage our city economy even further. That path
is a total mistake. We recommend a resolution that provides additional resources, such as increased police
presence and enforcement of emergency response units, and a task force focused on addressing crimes
against women in our city. We request heightened vigilance of laws banning illegal substances and
enforcement of our current noise restrictions and occupancy restrictions in hotels and on boats. The
businesses are not the problem. Those who are blaring music from moving cars and parked cars and
portable stereo systems, and those smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol in open containers in public
spaces are the real violators that must be policed. Enforcement of these laws are important not only for
women but also for the safety of all Miami Beach residents and visitors.
Respectfully,
Miami Beach Commission for Women
Chairwoman Jill Shockett, Nicole Bostick, Mercedes Carlson, Jane Castrol, Laurie Davis, Faye Goldin,
Francinelee Hand, Barbara Kaufman, Charlotte Libov, Liliam Lopez, Sandra Martin, Corey Narson, Amy
Rabin, Lidia Resnick, Pam Rogers, Monica Salinas-Matteo, Trisha Sindler Fuchs, Wendy Unger
Shapira, Eda Valero Figueira, Sarah Leedick, Karen Fryd.