MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - City leaders want residents to decide the fate of alcohol sales in South Beach.
Miami Beach commissioners unanimously agreed, Wednesday, to let voters decide whether to stop alcohol sales at outdoor venues at 2 a.m. instead of 5 a.m., along Ocean Drive.
“This is not a roll back city wide to 2 a.m. It is only specifically Ocean Drive for open air establishments,” said Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine.
The issue will be on the November ballot.
Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine and others believe the change could diminish crime in the area.
“Obviously if the bars close at 2 a.m. rather that 5 a.m. and people begin to go home at 1:30 a.m., 2 a.m. rather 5 a.m., 5:30 a.m., there’s a three hour window where it makes logical sense to me there would be less policing challenges and less crime,” said Miami Beach Police Chief Daniel Oates.
The plan was proposed after a violent Memorial Day Weekend in which two men were killed in shootings and another man was stabbed.
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