LTC 230-2024 Black Affairs Advisory Committee Motions - June 4, 2024DocuSign Envelope ID: 59BAA9A4-CFA2-4ABC-B5AA-4D752E27DB38
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
NO. L TC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: The Honorable Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the
City Commission
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
r-: DocuSigned by:
ateere. Granado, cycler [( @ «lo
June 6, 2024
Black Affairs Advisory Committee Motions - June 4, 2024
The purpose of this Letter to Commission (L TC) is to update the Mayor and Commission of a
motion made during the June 4, 2024, Black Affairs Advisory Committee ("BAAC") Meeting
to share the following points regarding Spring Break 2024 with the Mayor and Commission,
as presented by the Committee.
Spring Break 2024:
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There was not just one silver bullet strategy that made Spring Break 2024 successful,
but multiple tactics implemented successfully predominately by MBPD.
It should be emphasized the negative Marketing campaign was not the key factor in this
year's success.
Both Mayor Gelber & Mayor Meiner are quoted as saying that the vast majority of the
Spring Break Visitors to the beach are peaceful and come to support the
businesses/have a good time, and a small minority causes the violence and chaos.
It's unfortunate that the After-Action report excluded some very important statistics - 72%
of the people arrested of this small minority that is causing the Spring Break chaos were
local (Miami Beach, Dade County, Fl State) 46% Black 40% White
Out of State Visitors & Black/Brown college students are being scapegoated for the
violent behavior of a small minority in the "Break Up with Spring Break" marketing
campaign
Commissioner Fernandez stated at a previous BAAC meeting "the real victims are the
spring breakers who are not coming to commit crimes. The ones committing the crimes
are residents from Miami-Dade County and other parts of Florida. He said the City wants
to create a safe environment for everyone" and Chairman Hall replied that there should
be continual engagement in the community before Spring Break and not only during.
Other notable events during the year such as American Black Film Festival, The Harlem
Renaissance exhibit at the Wolfsonian FIU, the Muhammad Ali exhibit on Washington
Avenue, Creole Festival, Soul Vegan Festival, MIA Legacy Banquet, Miami Takeover,
LEO Day, etc should be financially supported and emphasized throughout the year to
show proactively that ALL communities are welcome.
Future marketing campaigns should be focused on the safety of our visitors and our
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residents and not scapegoating them for the violent & illegal activities of a few locals.
• This negative campaign has had immediate consequences - no support from the county
for Goodwill Ambassadors. This will also affect support for Memorial Day Weekend
• Toxic messaging went global and had a negative effect on black and brown spring
breakers as well as the City
• The negative marketing campaign has eroded the goodwill the community has been
attempting to encourage with black and brown tourism to the city that have been
exasperated by the Governor's policies against the black/brown/LGBTQ demographic.
The City of Fort Lauderdale/Broward County has an effective marketing campaign for
Black/Brown/LGBTQ communities that Miami Beach should emulate.
• Also excluded from the After Action - Acknowledgement in the Resident and Outreach
section that key tactics that made Spring Break 2024 successful were suggested by the
BAAC since 2021 (L TC 137-2021 - 545-2023) to control crowds + proliferation of guns.
examples:
o Control of the causeways with LPR, DUI checks, Traffic Loop - as used during
Memorial Day weekend, not only helped reduced crowds accessing Miami
Beach, but also created an effective crowd deterrence & confiscated illegal
guns/drugs
o Control of Parking Garages to limit parking and access to Neighborhoods.
o Traffic - limit/prohibit the use of slingshot cars, golf carts, and scooters
o Requesting Activation of County Goodwill Ambassadors in December 12, 2023
L TC 545-2023 which was not followed by administration.
o Absolutely No Zero tolerance policing policy - No use of SWAT trucks, riot gear,
pepper balls, mounted police, or drug sniffing K9s for crowd control.
o Address lack of diversity on the Citizens Relations Committee to avoid backlash
from Community based organizations.
o Long term- Zoning as was done in Fort Lauderdale - upgrade uses on district,
remove liquor stores/smoke shops etc, which encourage lawbreakers vs spring
breakers party in the street vs use of hotels/bars/clubs.
• The Police section in the after action excluded that City's Goodwill Ambassadors
supported police extensively with their high visibility presence, curfew enforcement,
alcohol checks on the beach, beach closures & de-escalation. Mayor Meiner
acknowledged that omission.
• City's Goodwill Ambassadors were very effective during Spring Break in correct
messaging, de-escalation techniques, crowd control, and being a buffer to police
engagement but were strained significantly as a result of the lack of county deployment
and should be recognized individually at a commission mtg with certificates for their
considerable efforts. This type of recognition is done regularly at the County for County
volunteers.
• The after-action report mentioned the Goodwill Ambassadors in a passing reference of
problems with staffing and not specifically acknowledging them for effectively supporting
police with high visibility presence, curfew enforcement, alcohol checks on beach, beach
closures & de-escalation techniques.
• Initial report on Spring Break from Mayor Meiner did not include any mention of the
Goodwill Ambassadors, I (Chair Hall) provided a friendly reminder and Mayor Meiner
included it immediately.
• No mention in after action that due to the professionalism of MBPD there were no
incidences of excessive or deadly force - there were no press conferences from any
community-based organizations at City Hall decrying excessive police tactics during
Spring Break, again proving that a successful spring break can occur without a Zero
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Tolerance Policing Policy.
• Excluded from the After-Action Marketing and Communication section - Toxic references
in the marketing campaign on billboards around the county (You're Toxic) that were
perceived directed to black & brown Communities which resulted among other issues,
the county not providing Goodwill Ambassadors.
Motion was made by Melba Pearson, seconded by Sipiwe Anderson and passed unanimously.
Members in attendance: Glendon Hall (Chair), Bibi Andrade (Vice-Chair), Bill Warren, Sipiwe
Anderson, Valerie Crawford, Dorrie Foster, Luidgi Mary, Dexter Milton, and Melba Pearson
Guest in attendance: Wylie Kynard, Miami Takeover and Brett Murray, Concerts for
Causes.
For more information, please contact Lissette Garcia Arrogante, Tourism and Culture
Director at lissettearrogante@miamibeachfl.gov or x26597.
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