06-02-2025
Judge takes dig at Miami Beach mayor, again orders Ocean Drive open
It's been nearly a month since a judge ruled that Miami Beach must fully reopen Ocean Drive to cars, but the iconic street is no closer to reverting to its pre-COVID-19 traffic flow.
Why it matters: City officials have used court-granted extensions and a recent appeal to delay acting on the Jan. 8 order.
Their strategy could continue even after the same judge on Wednesday again ordered the city to reopen the road.
Catch up quick: The South Beach strip, which became fully pedestrianized during the pandemic in 2020, reopened to one lane of traffic in 2022.
The Clevelander South Beach Hotel sued, arguing the closure was illegal and burdened its hotel guests.
Miami-Dade Judge Beatrice Butchko Sanchez agreed, ruling last month that the city must reintroduce two-way traffic because it no longer had the necessary permit to block the street.
The city originally had a Jan. 31 deadline to make the changes, but it appealed to the Third District Court of Appeal, freezing Butchko's order until the appeal is heard.
The latest: Butchko Sanchez, who said the city was circumventing her order, overturned the stay Wednesday at the Clevelander's request.
Yes, but: The city can appeal that ruling, too, which would trigger another automatic stay, says attorney David Winker, who represents Better Streets Miami Beach as a potential intervener in the case.
The city did not respond to a request for comment on whether it will appeal or comply with the ruling.
Butchko Sanchez did not give the city a new deadline by which to reopen the street.
Friction point: Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, a lawyer who issued a statement questioning Butchko Sanchez's January ruling, caught flak from the judge during Wednesday's hearing.
"Is he an attorney? He needs to open the law books a little bit."