Watch CBS News

Rally To Urge City Leaders To End Urban Beach Weekend

MIAMI BEACH (CBS4) - Saying 'enough is enough' several community activists are gathering forces for a rally Friday evening in front of Miami Beach City Hall to urge city leaders to end Urban Beach Weekend.

Herb Sosa, who publishes the online magazine Ambiente, is a leading figure to end the unofficial Memorial Day weekend event which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to South Beach.

In an open letter to Miami Beach Mayor Matti Bower, Sosa writes that the Urban Beach weekend "shows our city as nothing short of a warzone - Filthy streets, a drive by shooting, multiple cars crashed in the process, and total chaos on the streets. This is unacceptable and must be controlled before we totally lose our city, tourism & residents. It is not limited to Ocean Drive or Collins - there isn't a residential street in South Beach not affected by tons of garbage, crime to our vehicles, excessive noise 24 hours a day, and simply a lack of respect for our community, citizens & property."

Peter Joseph Tapia has set up a Facebook page is support of the rally and ending the Urban Beach weekend. The page has more than 3,200 'Likes'.

On the page, Antero Blanco posted:

"Tomorrow we all gather to demand MIAMI BEACH remains well-preserved and a safe haven for all our residents and tourists! Unruly and unlawful visitors are NOT welcome in our city!"

Tapia said the rally, which will begin at 6 p.m., will hopefully send the message to city leaders that their neighborhoods should remain safe and respected, and not overrun by 'Fear, Mobs & Filth'.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.