Miami Beach spring break crackdown sends partiers packing to other beach towns
Her comments come after the Sunny Isles Police Department said it "swiftly and efficiently" broke up a large and unpermitted beach gathering on March 21 with help from neighboring agencies.
"I can tell you that we've always been a popular place because we have such beautiful beaches. … We had that very, very large group — something that we're not used to. That was unusual," Sunny Isles Mayor Larisa Svechin told Fox News Digital. "Was that a result of the warnings from Miami Beach and Fort Lauderdale? Probably. I would say yes. But once we got out there, we were able to bring everything back to order within less than two hours."
Svechin said the town's police department responded rapidly and made clear they "don't play around" and are "not going to tolerate any lawlessness."
Florida Spring Break Crowd Kicked Off Beach Amid State's Crackdown On Partiers
"Certainly, this wasn't about being able to enjoy the beach. Myself as a teenager enjoyed the beach very much. This is not about that," Svechin said. "This is about underage drinking and … consequently, fighting and unsafe activity that we are not going to tolerate."
Read On The Fox News App
Party-goers apparently spread a social media post promoting the unpermitted event, which drew a large crowd to the beach, according to local news outlet WSVN.
Florida Spring Break: Fort Lauderdale Welcomes Partiers As State Sends More Police To Vacation Hotspots
Miami Beach police issued a reality-TV-themed ad campaign last month warning spring breakers that authorities would be on the lookout for unlawful behavior. The ad has apparently deterred spring breakers from visiting Miami and inspired alternative trips to Sunny Isles and Fort Lauderdale.
WATCH THE MIAMI BEACH AD:
Fort Lauderdale also issued a warning to spring breakers but took a slightly different tune than Miami Beach PD, telling tourists to "know the rules" and "enjoy our city responsibly."
But Svechin said local leaders have changed their tune on spring break in recent years, prioritizing residents over visitors moreso than they did in the past.
Here's How Miami Beach Successfully Broke Up With Spring Break
"As you establish yourself more, and you're able to have businesses and long-term residents, not so many transient residents as we used to, you start to have certain values of the city," the mayor said.
Police In Fort Lauderdale Report Surge Of Spring Breakers Amid Miami Beach Crackdown
She added that South Florida cities appear to have come to a kind of agreement: that visitors should "come enjoy" the area's beaches, but "behave" themselves.
"Because our residents are the ones that are paying for the infrastructure," Svechin said. "We're paying for the police to come out and make sure everyone is safe. We're paying for the cleaning of the beaches, we're paying for the roads, we're paying for all of this."
Miami Beach Spring Break Restrictions Proved To Be 'Huge Success' For Residents And Businesses
The residents of Sunny Isles Beach and other Florida beach towns "deserve to have peace and quiet," she said, adding that residents in the area aren't made up of so many "snowbirds" as they were in years prior; there are more permanent residents than ever before after the state saw an influx of new residents during the pandemic.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis similarly said during a press conference earlier this month that spring break in Miami saw wild crowds beginning around 2020, when people escaped to Florida during the pandemic because its businesses and public areas remained open while other states were still shut down.
"We were thankful for that. Honestly, a lot of businesses came here and never went back. People came here and never went back because they appreciated the quality of life," DeSantis said, "but it also got out of control."
The governor added that he was directing state law enforcement to provide additional personnel and assets to Miami Beach and other spring break hot spots over the coming weeks.Original article source: Miami Beach spring break crackdown sends partiers packing to other beach towns
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
5 days ago
- Fox News
Priced out in Las Vegas? 5 costly steaks that can cut into tourists' wallets
Tourism in Las Vegas has dropped this summer relative to recent years, with visitors griping about Sin City's high prices, including exorbitant resort fees. But for some tourists, Vegas is still the ultimate place for indulgent amenities, drinks and – above all – once-in-a-lifetime meals. Jackie Dadas-Kraper, a Las Vegas-based publicist and vice president at Interdependence Public Relations, said the city's steak dinners can be "a performance, a status symbol and a story all in one." "Tourists are willing to spend three or even four figures on steak because this city elevates dining into an experience," she told Fox News Digital. "Here, a steakhouse meal is more than just food. It's a celebration of taste, travel and unforgettable moments." But are the unforgettable moments worth the price? Below are some examples of high-priced steaks that can cut into your wallet after just one dinner. This steakhouse's signature showpiece is a $1,000 spectacle known as "The Beef Case." It's exclusively available at the glitzy Papi Steak, inside the Fontainebleau hotel. The dish features a 55-ounce Australian wagyu tomahawk steak. It has a marbling score of 9 – the highest possible rating. To complete the over-the-top experience, the steak has been known to arrive inside a custom-designed diamond-studded suitcase. At nearly 3.5 pounds, the steak is built for sharing. John Travolta once ate the famed dish at the restaurant's Miami Beach location, as People and other sources reported. Fox News Digital reached out to Papi Steak for more information. The "Tomahawk Feast" at One Steakhouse features dry-aged U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Prime tomahawk steaks, weighing a hefty 18 pounds. The feast also comes with six sides, ranging from forest mushrooms to lobster macaroni and cheese. Priced at $1,500, it serves 10 to 12 guests and is carved at the table. But there's a catch. The tomahawk must be ordered 72 hours in advance, so that the beef can be sourced and adequately prepared, according to the restaurant. The "Taste of Japan" at the Wynn's Carversteak features a selection of traditional Japanese A5 wagyu, along with a 5-ounce Miyazaki wagyu striploin. Accompaniments include black garlic‑mirin mushrooms, shishito peppers and tare sauce. Yuzu kosho, a Japanese citrus-chili paste, is also added. At a cost of $300, there is a 4-ounce minimum and every additional ounce is $75, according to the restaurant's menu. The restaurant also offers less-expensive American wagyu, though that is still priced as high as $145. The Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse at the Wynn offers a "Japanese Purebred Freedom Wagyu Tomahawk" dish. It weighs a hefty 48 ounces and is priced at $999.90. The beef, which is sourced from Freedom, Wyoming's Grazing Star Ranch, is carved tableside. The dish also features beef tallow raclette cheese popovers and is served with a side of bordelaise sauce. "Vaca vieja" means "old cow" in Spanish. The dish, inspired by Spanish cuisine, according to Bazaar Meat's website, offers a more mineral-rich flavor than younger beef. The per-pound price costs about $90, meaning that a bone-in cut could shoot upwards of $750. "The Bazaar team works with Mindful Meats in California, where they source whole, live 8- to 10-year-old Jerseys and Holsteins from certified-organic, non-GMO ranches in Marin and Sonoma counties for this dish," according to the menu. If you just want to try it, a tasting portion is $64. But you'll need to time it just right. The restaurant reopens at the Venetian Resort's Palazzo on Sept. 4.
Fox News
13-08-2025
- Fox News
Las Vegas tourism officials blame tariffs for fewer visitors as others say magic's gone
Officials are speaking out after recent reports putting tourism declines in Sin City in the spotlight. On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) held its board of directors meeting, addressing various factors that have been impacting tourism. Steve Hill, LVCVA president, reportedly spoke about the effect that tariffs are having on both returning and potential new visitors. "Some of the decisions our administration has made around international relations [have] caused a drop in tourism," said Hill, according to local outlet KTNV Las Vegas. Hill added, "Our international visitation is flat but is making up for a 20+% drop in tourism from Canada, which is our largest international source of visitation." Fox News Digital reached out to LVCVA for comment. Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens recently told Fox News Digital that international tourism is down across an array of locations. "I think everyone is in a position where you can say we're missing some of our Canadian friends who aren't visiting this year," said Stevens. Nevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association. The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports. The LVCVA board recently approved a $20 million sponsorship agreement for the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix. The agreement will extend the race through 2027 – an event that could boost tourism numbers. The board also discussed developments at the Harry Reid Airport — which has also seen a decline, dropping 4.1% year to date compared to the same time last year, according to the website. Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates. Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has acknowledged the economy has slowed a bit. "I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place," predicted Stevens. He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and "set the table going forward." Robby Starbuck, conservative activist and host of "The Robby Starbuck Show," previously told Fox News Digital it is not just prices that are keeping people out of Vegas these days. "Now nearly everyone under 40 who bets seems to do it online," Starbuck said. "Another differentiator is that older generations focused on real-life interaction — while younger generations feel just as content with parasocial online experiences," he said. "The Vegas marketing image is one centered on slots and showgirls, two things young people have no interest in," said Starbuck.
Fox News
08-08-2025
- Fox News
Vegas casino owner fires back at 'exaggerated' claims of Sin City's demise
The latest statistics have confirmed the social chatter that Las Vegas tourism has hit a "dramatic low," with some even calling Vegas an experience of the past. Even as reports indicate Las Vegas tourism is down overall, Circa Resort & Casino CEO Derek Stevens told Fox News Digital in an interview that the assessment may be "premature." (See the video at the top of this article.) Only 3.1 million people visited Sin City in June, down 11.3% compared to last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). "I think some of the data in Las Vegas indicates that some of these stories are a bit exaggerated," said Stevens. "The June gaming numbers were just released and not everything is terrible." The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGB) announced that on a statewide level, gaming revenues were $1.33 billion, which is a 3.5% increase from June 2024. "In specific pockets, like where we at Circa Las Vegas are located in downtown — I think people feel there's maybe a little better value. Things were really booming," said Stevens. He added, "If you really start unpeeling some layers of the onion in Las Vegas, I think you're going to find companies that have very specific areas that are a little less subject to the economy and that are doing OK." Stevens said he's spoken with other Las Vegas casino CEOs and said across the industry, there's a "mixed bag" of opinions regarding the current state of tourism. "[The] high end is a little less impacted by the economy, and then there are others that are doing well as well," he said. "On the other side, there's definitely some pretty significant concern about … flights [into the city]." The Harry Reid Airport has shown a decline, dropping 4.1% compared to the same time last year, according to the website. "Clearly, [there are] some concerns with regard to international tourism," said Stevens. "I think that's something that you see in any heavily, heavily visited area, whether it's San Francisco, Hawaii, Southern California, Las Vegas, Florida," he added. "I think everyone is in a position where you can say we're missing some of our Canadian friends who aren't visiting this year," he also said. Nevada is among the top five most visited states by Canadians, according to the U.S. Travel Association. "We're missing some of our Canadian friends who aren't visiting this year." The association warned that the United States could see a 10% reduction in Canadian travel, which is about 2 million fewer visits, according to recent reports. Stevens said he believes the lack of international visitors right now may be due to the overall global economy and exchange rates. Stevens said Circa has found a niche by being "very sports-oriented," with the resort and casino drawing in crowds for recent events. "UFC has been terrific those particular weekends," he said, referencing the Ultimate Fighting Championship, headquartered in Vegas. "[The] fights have been great. Now we're getting into really a boom time of both groups coming for fantasy football drafts, as well as people coming to sign up for our world's largest football contest in Circus Survivor and Circa Millions." Other Vegas properties associated with attractions, said Stevens, are also keeping afloat, such as entertainment events at Sphere and musical concerts this summer. "I think some properties may be feeling it more than others, but I think that's something you're going to see in any type of tourist destination … It doesn't mean that every sector is necessarily down." Amid some uncertainty, he said the industry has come to the realization that the economy has slowed a bit. "I think in six months, I would believe that Vegas tourism and our economy overall will be in a much better place," predicted Stevens. He noted the finalization of trade agreements will provide stability and "set the table going forward."
