Miami Beach faced pushback for installing a curfew over the weekend on guests and locals after a pair of fatal shootings last week, but now it will not impose a 12 a.m. ET curfew this coming weekend.
Instead, the city of Miami Beach will ban liquor sales after 6 p.m. ET, according to the Daily Mail.
Locals fired opposition at Democrat Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber for allowing lawlessness rage on the streets and then punishing lawful locals with the curfew.
The City Commission voted 6-1 to close liquor sales after 6 p.m., while just four out of seven voted for a curfew.
"A curfew is not a long-term solution, and that a second 72-hour closure would only serve to punish 'law-abiding businesses,'" according to Commissioner Ricky Arriola.
Gelber blamed guns for the unruly spring break crowds.
"The volume of people in our city, the unruly nature of too many, and the presence of guns has created a peril that cannot go unchecked," he claimed, according to the Daily Mail. "It is clear that even an unprecedented police presence could not prevent these incidents from occurring.
"While most may come here to enjoy the amenities of Miami Beach, the overwhelming volume of visitors, a few that come with bad intentions in the presence of guns creates a wholly intolerable situation."
It's the third consecutive year Miami Beach violence and unrest has forced a curfew.
Last year, the city imposed a midnight curfew following two shootings, also on Ocean Drive. The year before, authorities made about 1,000 arrests and confiscated dozens of guns during a rowdy spring break that led Miami Beach officials to take steps aimed at calming the annual festivities.
Republican Mayor Francis Suarez of nearby Miami pitted his city's governance in contrast to the Democrat-run City of Miami Beach on Newsmax's "Eric Bolling The Balance."
"We don't believe that government is the answer to all problems," Suarez said. "People associate the city of Miami Beach with the city of Miami. They're two different cities."
Suarez noted that a curfew in Miami Beach would potentially send the criminals to his city after hours.
"We are surging our police force; we are a law and order city," he said, adding "we're not going to permit lawlessness.
"That's just not acceptable in the city of Miami. We draw the line at lawlessness, disrespect, disorder, and people hurting other people or their property."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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