LTC 088-2025 Email from SOBESafe Board of Directors-Subject-Safety isn't everything, it's the only thingMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
LTC#
LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:Mayor Steven Meiner and Members of the City Commission
Eric Carpenter,City Manager
Ricardo J.Dopico,City Attorney
Joseph M.Centorino, Inspector General
FROM:Rafael E.Granado,City Clerk N
DATE:February 24,2025
SUBJECT:E-mail from SOBESafe Board of Directors -Subject:Safety isn't everything,it's
the only thing
I am sharing with you an Email from the SOBESafe Board of Directors regarding the Pedestrian
Promenade.
F:\CLER\$ALL\LTC FROM ASSOCIATIONS\SOBESAFE 02242025.docx
088-2025
Granado,Rafael
Subject:FW:Safety isn't everything,it's the only thing
Memorandum to City Manager
CC:Mayor,Commissioners,ACMs,Transportation Director
February 24,2025
Subject:Safety isn't everything,it's the only thing
SOBESAFE remains deeply committed to the Pedestrian Promenade.
The Promenade is the only way to consistently provide for the safety
of visitors and residents alike on Ocean Drive.
Vehicles driven into crowds have become the weapon of choice of terrorists
and psychopaths.As long as Ocean Drive ("OD")remains open to traffic,
pedestrians and patrons on OD are sitting ducks to vehicles,whether an
attack (or accident)is due to the driver's adrenaline,testosterone,
carelessness,or lethal ill-will.City government cannot say it was not
warned --there will be no escaping the moral,political,and legal liability
when such an attack takes place.
Notwithstanding the widely promoted false narrative,the fact is that even
everyday safety situations,involving emergency vehicles or public safety
personnel on ATVs or foot,are much more benign if our first responders do
not have to deal with vehicular traffic on Ocean Drive.This assertion was
publicly validated before the Miami Beach Commission by the City's leading
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public safety officer.Further,no cars mean fewer drugs and guns being
brought into our community.
Having said this,we are realists -we realize that OD may be open to traffic
at least temporarily.We applaud your efforts to minimize the damage via a
short-term approach which restricts vehicles to one-way traffic and retains
the all-important bicycle lanes.But the current situation on OD must be
much improved;we wish to be a constructive voice in helping the City make
the best of it.immediate action is required;all of our recommendations
can be implemented quickly and at minimal cost.
1.Safety considerations require that traffic must be slowed down and
regulated:
1.Install stop-signs to regulate traffic moving south across 14
Place and 14a St;
2.Install speed bumps in the Ocean Drive vehicle lane (but not in
the bike lane)at periodic intervals;
3.Post speed limit signs on OD (at sharply reduced speeds);
4.Aggressively enforce parking regulations along OD-not only are
cars parked illegally throughout,but buses cruise and double-park,
car services stop wherever they please,service vehicles which had
previously been restricted to Ocean Court now brazenly use OD.And
in a blatant offense to County sensitivities,passenger vehicles are
spotted routinely on Ocean Court ("the Alley").
2.Excessive noise has already become a major quality-of-life issue
for residents,hotel guests,and visitors on OD:
1.Aggressively enforce the misdemeanor ordinances that the
Mayor and Commission have instituted City-wide -where are
these more important than on our iconic Ocean Drive?
2.In particular,stress both Police and Code enforcement of noise
and cruising ordinances.This includes the roaming golf carts,
many of which loudly blast music to attract business-presumably
they operate with City approval,which could be taken away for
repeated offenses.
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3.More generally,do any ordinances carry any weight if not
enforced?We've heard from well-intended MBPD officers who witness
violations right in front of their eyes and don't intercede,telling us "Why
issue them a summons when they just laugh at us?"But you can make
them pay a price legally by interrupting their joyride and impounding their
vehicle for a few hours and,of course,checking their license and
registration,As the Commission has communicated in the 2025 Spring
Break messaging,we have rules and we intend to enforce them.
Whether OD is closed to traffic or open,SOBESAFE will continue our
efforts to ensure that our neighborhood is safe for all.
The SOBESAFE BOARD
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SOBESafe •1455 Ocean Drive·Miami Beach,FL 33139 •USA
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