Miami Beach Mayor To Convene Special Security Meeting

MIAMI BEACH, FL — In the wake of this weekend's deadly mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said Monday he will convene a special commission meeting — "some, or all of which, will be in executive session" — to address local security concerns.

In an email to residents on Monday, Gelber said he will also ask the city's General Obligation Bond Oversight Committee to recommend that commissioners bump up some $29 million in planned security projects to the first wave of city projects that will be implemented. These projects include police radios, cameras, license plate readers, enhanced lighting and bollards among others.

"It feels like these tragedies could happen anywhere. That is why it’s critical that our community, a city that welcomes 15 million visitors annually, regularly hosts major events and is home to residents from every ethnic and religious group, do all we can to manage the unthinkable perils that sadly confront all of us," said Gelber.

The mayor said he spent several years running the U.S. Senate's Investigations Committee in the mid-90s at which time he led a team of law enforcement agencies to highlight weaknesses and find possible solutions in domestic counter-terrorism efforts.

"I traveled all over the nation and elsewhere to study the emerging threat of domestic terrorism and made recommendations of what needed to be done," he said. "One major lesson I learned was the necessity to constantly push for greater communication and coordination among those responsible for managing and responding to these threats. Vigilance matters."

Gelber said he consulted with City Manager Jimmy Morale, who in turn scheduled meeting with the police and fire chief as well as their senior staff to "inventory and redouble our first responder efforts."

Following a 2017 terror attack in Barcelona, the city of Miami Beach ordered temporary concrete barriers along the entrances to the popular Lincoln Road outdoor pedestrian entertainment area. The Spanish city suffered a massive terror attack when a white van went barreling along the Las Ramblas promenade, killing 13 pedestrians and injuring more than 120 others. Then Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine announced the increased security measures at the time.

Earlier this year, Miami Beach police initiated an unprecedented crackdown in an attempt to regain control of the beach as higher-than-expected crowds turned up for spring break. Specially outfitted police officers for the first time moved through throngs of spring breakers along the beach and confronted people who flagrantly violated alcohol and marijuana laws. See also Miami Beach Plans Unprecedented Spring Break Crackdown

The city also regularly employs temporary barricades along South Beach during high-impact periods like spring break and Memorial Day weekend to control large crowds.

"It’s happened again. Like Parkland and Pulse and so many other tragic and painful mass shootings. We have collectively become far too experienced in what feels to be a nonstop wash-rinse-repeat cycle of shock, grief, anger, frustration and hopelessness," Gelber said in Monday's email. "Still, we can’t just accept that this is the new normal, or allow the heartbreaking frequency of these moments to diminish their significance or our resolve to demand change."

Gelber, a former federal prosecutor, said Miami Beach already has one of the "most professional and effective" police departments in the nation.

"Our experience over decades of providing security to major events has given us substantial expertise most communities lack," the mayor said. "We were one of the first cities in Florida to put trained police in our schools within weeks after Parkland. We continue to train and expand our Rescue Task Force concept into any critical incident where speed is of the essence. We have a highly successful Intelligence Unit that focuses on preemptive efforts to stop events before they happen."

Gelber added that the city will continue to expand its community policing approach throughout neighborhoods and also its coordination with religious institutions.

"We are implementing high visibility watch details in our Entertainment District," he said. "But more always needs to be done."

The mayor said the city will also reach out to the local business community, including the Ocean Drive Association, Lincoln Road Bid, Hotel Association and other groups, to better coordinate private sector initiatives.

"While I am proud of our efforts to assist our religious institutions, we need to make sure we have implemented best practices everywhere — in every single church, synagogue, chabad and religious school," the mayor said. "I don’t want people to panic, and you shouldn’t.

"But it’s difficult to not think about our own community and our own loved ones when we see people just like us victimized by such random and senseless hate and violence. Our job, therefore, is to do what we can to diminish these threats so we can enjoy our quality of life in the community we love."