Watch: Last call on South Beach? Join our conversation about parties, police and politics

A chaotic spring break is behind Miami Beach, but already another party weekend looms.

Memorial Day Weekend on South Beach, branded 20 years ago as Urban Beach Week, has long been a holiday known for predominately Black crowds and — much like this year’s spring break — rowdy behavior, outbursts of violence and concerns of heavy-handed policing. In a city built on tourism, police and politicians have historically struggled to balance the needs of tourists and residents, and even businesses, some of which choose to shut down rather than deal with the headache.

And now, with fed-up taxpayers becoming more vocal, the mayor calling for a change to the city’s image, and a stubborn pandemic refusing to dissipate, Miami Beach must again try to juggle conflicting demands. How will they do it?

Mayor Dan Gelber, Miami Beach Black Affairs Advisory Committee Chairman Glendon Hall and Anthony O’Brien, senior managing director for Jesta Group, which owns the Clevelander South Beach, will join Miami Herald reporter Martin Vassolo for a virtual discussion on Tuesday, April 27 at 2 p.m. to discuss what the city can — and should — do to make Memorial Day Weekend and future events successful.

This story was originally published April 23, 2021 at 12:09 PM.

Martin Vassolo

Miami Herald

305-376-2071

Martin Vassolo writes about local government and community news in Miami Beach, Surfside and beyond. He was part of the team that covered the Champlain Towers South building collapse, work that was recognized with a staff Pulitzer Prize for breaking news. He began working for the Herald in 2018 after attending the University of Florida.