Miami Beach's break up with spring break is official. Time to pivot
Two years ago, during spring break of 2023, Miami Beach made national headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Shootings, stampedes and lives lost turned our city into a symbol of chaos. But what didn't make headlines were the long-term effects. A tarnished brand. A community of shaken business owners and hospitality workers dealing with the aftermath.
The true victims weren't just our residents or visitors — they were the spring breakers themselves, whose vacations were destroyed by the chaos and criminality that swept in.
After the 2023 spring break state of emergency, marked by 16 stampedes and 33 shootings since 2012, I publicly committed to changing the narrative. I wanted to 'shut the door on spring break' and pledged to push our government, including myself, to do better for our community.
I proposed endorsing curfews, higher parking fees and doubled towing rates in March — not because they were politically popular, but because they were necessary deterrents. I refused to accept another year of chaos to act. And those actions made a difference. We are not the same city we were in 2023 when two people lost their lives on our streets during spring break.
In 2024, for the first time in years, Miami Beach experienced a spring break with no shootings, stampedes or deaths.
Led by Mayor Steven Meiner, who secured strong support from Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Highway Patrol, arrests dropped.
In 2025, our streets continued to be calmer and more controlled. While lane reductions and traffic delays caused by license plate readers and DUI checkpoints were inconvenient — and the increased police presence may have felt overwhelming — these measures led to the recovery of 62 firearms and 588 arrests citywide.
According to Miami Beach Visitor and Convention Authority data, hotel occupancy for the week ending March 22 reached 85% — a 10.5% increase from two years ago. A safer city is a more attractive place to visit.
Some may question the intensity of our response, but the alternative was chaos, violence and a city branded by fear.
These public safety improvements wouldn't have been possible without strong leadership and collaboration. Commissioner Laura Dominguez ensured our spring break campaign attracted a more respectful crowd. Commissioner Tanya Bhatt engaged with the Black Affairs Advisory Committee and Goodwill Ambassadors to support public safety efforts. Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez reminded us of economic pressures facing our workforce and hospitality industry. Every perspective on the dais made our approach stronger.
But the real credit belongs to the Miami Beach Police Department. While working enhanced shifts, they unveiled the Real Time Intelligence Center — a game-changer in modern policing.
We can't ignore that some businesses have borne the brunt of this transition. Sidewalk cafe restrictions, barricades and parking deterrents have impacted foot traffic. For some restaurants and retailers, March — once a cornerstone of their revenue — has become a financial strain. We must now pivot from crisis response to long-term vision.
So, where do we go from here?
We evolve. We adapt. We build on our progress to restore balance. We kicked off March by hosting the Winter Party Festival, a week-long celebration by the National LGBTQ Task Force that I've proudly championed to remain in Miami Beach, drawing thousands of international visitors. Commissioner Joe Magazine brought Future Proof, a tech and innovation festival, and eMerge Americas welcomed more than 20,000 senior executives, investors and innovators, reaffirming our status as a global hub.
Next year, we'll welcome TYR Wodapalooza and HYROX, world-renowned fitness festivals secured by Vice Mayor David Suarez, as another cornerstone to anchor March. To counterbalance our spring break messaging, we are extending the 'Find Your Wave' campaign — promoting Miami Beach as a vibrant, inclusive destination for families, the LGBTQ community and responsible travelers.
Cities across the country are watching how we've tackled the spring break dilemma. Miami Beach is proving it can be done with both grit and grace. What happens here reverberates far beyond our borders.
This is our moment to lead with vision, be bold and welcoming, and make March a month we celebrate.
We no longer brace for March. We proudly embrace it.
Alex Fernandez is a Miami Beach commissioner.
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