Miami Beach: America’s Riviera - a City Worth Fighting For
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Miami Beach is not just another coastal city - it is America’s Riviera, a world-renowned destination that put South Florida on the map. Our iconic Art Deco District, inspired by the tropical beauty of our surroundings, has long been the heart of a vibrant, international community.
Miami Beach has set the standard for tourism, hospitality and culture for our entire state, attracting visitors from around the globe while driving billions into Florida’s economy.
For decades, South Beach’s Ocean Drive has been central of this success story. Ocean Drive is more than just a street - it’s symbolic of innovation, resilience and cultural influence. From the golden age of glamour in the 1950s to the resurgence of South Beach in the 1990s, Miami Beach has always adapted, evolved and thrived.
But in recent decades, a group of self-serving politicians with special interests have hijacked this success and put our city in jeopardy. Through corruption, mismanagement and reckless policies, they have choked businesses, eroded public trust and allowed crime and lawlessness to take root.
Now, we must make a choice: Do we fight to restore the Miami Beach that made history, or do we stand by and let it be sold off to the highest bidder?
Ocean Drive: A Political Hustle - Not a Public Safety Measure
At the heart of this battle is the closure of Ocean Drive, a move that has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with political control.
No expert urban planning was involved.
No legitimate traffic study was conducted.
No real effort was made to address public safety without destroying businesses.
Instead, the decision to shut down Ocean Drive was a calculated effort to suffocate small businesses and force out long-standing establishments - all to pave the way for politically connected developers, special interests and, in some cases, wealthy condo residents who want a private sanctuary at the expense of the entire city, but the reality is they prefer boring to uncivilized and they are not wrong; but we can deliver a better solution that works for all.
Meanwhile, the city has spent an estimated $1 million per year, including legal fees, on this misguided project, prioritizing unnecessary litigation rather than real solutions.
The Consequences of Bad Policy:
• ADA access has been stripped away. By closing Ocean Drive, the city has effectively shut out individuals with disabilities, violating basic principles of accessibility and inclusion.
• The damage from past crime is irreversible unless we take bold action. The crime that has been allowed to fester on and around Ocean Drive over the past decades has left deep scars—on our city’s reputation, on our local businesses and on public trust. While recent numbers may suggest improvement, the reality is that we cannot truly recover unless we take a firm, proactive stance against the policies that allowed lawlessness to thrive in the first place.
• Our police force and outreach teams can only do so much. They operate within the boundaries of the policies set forth by the City Commission - policies that are heavily influenced by Miami-Dade County and political pressure. No matter how dedicated and professional our law enforcement officers are, their ability to maintain order is only as strong as the tools and directives they are given. We cannot keep tying their hands and expect different results.
• Miami Beach is being gutted from the inside out. The current administration has sold-out its residents - choking local businesses with overregulation, stripping the city of its culture and laying the groundwork for a corporate takeover that will erase Miami Beach’s identity forever.
This is not incompetence. This is not random mismanagement. This is intentional, calculated and corruption in its highest form.
The Legal Landscape:
What Has Changed?
A court has ordered the reopening of certain areas and the North end of Ocean Drive is now OPEN - thank goodness!
This reopening eliminates the severe life-safety hazard that existed for almost five years. The illegal barriers had been delaying emergency response times, creating unnecessary risks for first responders and severely restricting accessibility.
However, the fight is not over:
• The 3rd DCA court has stayed the reopening of 5th Street pending a hearing on the case.
• We must ensure that Miami-Dade County does not allow these dangerous barriers to return, ever again.
We cannot allow the Ghetto of Danger that existed for years, which placed residents, visitors and first responders alike at risk—to be recreated under any circumstances.
The State’s Role:
Holding Miami Beach Accountable
For years, the closure of Ocean Drive has overburdened Collins Avenue - a state road - forcing traffic congestion, disrupting transit and increasing safety risks.
It is time for the State of Florida to recognize the harm caused by Miami Beach’s reckless decisions and take action.
As your State Representative, I am inclined to formally request that the State override the City and County in demanding that Ocean Drive remain 100% open - both North and South.
However, rather than relying on preemption, I urge residents and businesses to engage civically. Now that you are fully informed, your voices matter more than ever.
The future of Ocean Drive, Miami Beach and its economic prosperity depends on our collective action.
A Path Forward:
Reclaiming Miami Beach
The time for half-measures is over. If we want to save Miami Beach, we need real reforms, real accountability and real leadership.
Here’s what must happen immediately:
Reopen Ocean Drive Completely. A fully restored Ocean Drive means better ADA access, improved public safety and a revitalized economy.
End the Hostility Toward Local Businesses. Expedited permits, fee reductions and a government that works with—not against—business owners are essential.
Restore Public Safety Without Overreach. Invest in targeted policing that goes after criminals, not law-abiding businesses and visitors.
Commit to Transparency. The era of backroom deals and special interests must end - and that starts with full public accountability.
Demand an Independent Investigation. The decisions that led to this crisis must be exposed and those responsible must be held accountable.
Stand Up for Miami Beach Before It’s Too Late
Ocean Drive is not just a street. Miami Beach is not just a vacation destination.
This city is a global symbol of culture, innovation, and economic power - and it is being ripped apart from the inside by corrupt, self-serving politicians who put their interests above the people.
To the residents and business owners of Miami Beach:
We must stand together.
We must take back our city.
To those watching from other cities: Learn from what is happening here - because if this level of corruption can take hold in Miami Beach, it can happen anywhere.
This upcoming local election we must make a choice:
Do we allow those complicit in Miami Beach being sold off to the highest bidder? I say NO!!! What say YOU?
We must reclaim our city, restore order and demand real leadership!!!
The future of Miami Beach - and cities across the country depend on it. Let’s be civically engaged together. Together we are the change we have been longing for.
Developers want to turn Ocean Drive into an Atlantic Coast version of the Las Vegas strip!