What's up with the harassment of Grove patrons?
I've been hearing about police brutality and bouncer issues late at night, tied in with the 3 am bar closings. Are we having problems again with this like we did in December?
The right hand never knows what the left hand is doing. One hand is trying to promote and get more people to the Grove, including young people. The other hand is killing this effort by being rude and hostile.
I have been contacted by attorneys who are planning on pressing charges against the city and Coconut Grove due to the nonsense. It seems to be total confusion at 3 am around here. I may need to get out there with a camera one one of these nights.
First it was harassment of establishments, now it is harassment of the customers.
One attorney told me he has a saying: "Come to Miami on vacation, leave on probation." Nice message for people to bring back home with them.
The right hand never knows what the left hand is doing. One hand is trying to promote and get more people to the Grove, including young people. The other hand is killing this effort by being rude and hostile.
I have been contacted by attorneys who are planning on pressing charges against the city and Coconut Grove due to the nonsense. It seems to be total confusion at 3 am around here. I may need to get out there with a camera one one of these nights.
First it was harassment of establishments, now it is harassment of the customers.
One attorney told me he has a saying: "Come to Miami on vacation, leave on probation." Nice message for people to bring back home with them.
posted by Tom Falco at 1:00 PM
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23 Comments:
This 3am bar-closing rule goes against MOST peoples wishes.
It's a tyranical, retrograde, intrusive, abusive little law. It's the "government" stepping on our basic liberties, as grown ups. We can go to war ar 18 y/o, kill or be killed, we can drive cars at 16, but Papa Sarnoff dictates when we go to bed?
Next thing you know, our so-called "representatives, and a few elderly neighbors will tell us what movies to watch, or what food we should eat..
MOST people would vote, by a Landslide, if democracy was even considered here, to return to a 5am closings policy. All these obstrusive politician clowns are doing is sending drunk drivers to South Beach at 3am, and profoundly hurting our Village's private business.
This draconian stupid law
Agred. Ask any Grove patron (the ones that are left!) where they're going after 3am and they all say "driving to South Beach or Downtown." How is that safer for anyone? Bring back the 5am closings!
Agreed. The Grove is completely unwelcoming to "young people" who are consequently going to South Beach and even downtown to spend their time and their money. The grove should be bending over backwards to attract 20 something and 30 somethings to the Grove. They (we) have the most disposable income, we eat, we shop, we drink, we even like art. This is Miami, a 3 a.m. curfew is absurd. They should rescind the curfew and the cops out on the streets can redirect their attention to monitor for actual problems
Just ask any grove resident tax payer where they are going at 3:am.
They won't answer because they are probably at home trying to sleep by 3:00am.
The "patrons" come in, drink, break the noise ordinances, and provide a profit for the out of town investors who dont have to deal with it.
Enforce the existing laws!
"Just ask any grove resident tax payer where they are going at 3:am."
Most of us go out or stay in, whatever, that's why we moved here. If you don't like LIFE in the streets, why don't you move to the country, Coral Gables or Homestead.
I had a slight problem and was at the V.A. hospital early A.M. Saturday morning and saw two youths, obviously vets who had the hell beat out of them, but, I'm not sure, seeing their associates, friends and hearing their conversations inside emergency that we in the Grove need these people here @ 3:00 a.m., or any other time or other personalities like the bouncers had to throw out. Normally, I would post my name, but this crap would cut my tires.
The only people complaining about 3am closings are bar owners who want to blast their music and most of the owners don't even live in the Grove. Check it out - how many bar owners actually live here. They leave their establishments early and leave their managers in charge.
anyone else notice that the Grove died the minute the 3am closings began?
How about the Grove Residents who have a JOB. Yes we have to go to work the next morning, it is really tough with sleepless nights till 3 am. Yes we live in Miami a City that never sleeps. And Yes there are many of us that are on the road trying to avoid the many drunk drivers swerving all over the road at 5 am. I have to drive up to Ft. Lauderdale Int. Airport, and you know when I get into the Airplane I finally feel safe. Please have some consideration for everyone.
3am or 5am? If you close at 3, people drive somewhere else while drunk and then go home at 5. If you close at 5, then everyone goes home at that time alot more sober. So which is safer? 5am
Would it work the other way? I work at night and sleep during the day. Everyone going to work and having lunch keep me awake when I try to sleep. Let's stop lunches happy hours and all other daytime activites also. ?????????????
Yes business definitely died out for everyone in the Grove when early closing went into effect. These laws are made by miserable lonely people for lonely/antisocial/miserable/paranoid/nosy/religious people.
rescind the liquor licenses and close the restaurants by 9PM
it'll get rid of all those pesky service industry people that want to party after work
The only people in favor of the 3am are the same few local residents that complain about every thing. The village they want is called century village. The problem is, these few residents also have large bank accounts and weigh big with politicians. In Miami big money runs the show not majority rule.
Again, move a few streets over to the right, the left, north or south. Don't tell me when to go to bed, I'm 44 y/o. If you don't like LIFE on the streets, well, there Hio, Tenessee, South Dakota, cheap real estate.
Why is everyone signing in Anonymous, what are you tough people afraid of getting your tires flat? By the guys who own these clubs.??
Why do you need the government to tell business owners when to open or close? Why can't the owners decide? If they have no business after 3 A.M., they'll probably close. If not, they won't.
If drunk driving is a problem, enforce that law. Don't confuse business hours regulation with driving offenses. It's two issues.
we need to start standing up to these few loud people who seem to govern the grove because of their contant loud complaints. I have an idea. Complaints should only be heard from noon to 2pm because they keep me awake at night. Let's rise up!
I say summarily and swiftly execute any elected official if they were convicted by proof in court to have received illegal money from those who want to close down Coconut Grove early, then force those who paid them to exile on Guantanamo Bay for the rest of their lives.
So much for eccentrics, so much for bohemia and culture. The Grove is a destination b/c it's different--turning it into the next Gables or Brickell or South Beach ruins what's unique about the place. And part of that is bars being open late. If it's too loud: enforce the noise ordinance; if the drunks are a problem: enforce the DUI laws. Don't close the places earlier, that'll just run them out of business. And if you think busy bars were a problem, just wait til you see what boarded up businesses do to your neighborhood's desirability.
Sarnoff did it and has damaged every business in the Grove, his next campaign slogan will be "Teetotalers Where Art Thou"
First, the 3am closing was completely Sarnoff's idea. There is no question about that, and he may even admit to it (he was proud to say it at the time, but not so much now). For the il-informed person saying that the owners of grove establishments are out of towners, you are dead wrong. I personally know the owners of most of the bar/restaurants in the grove, and most (not including the cocowalk chain places that I avoid) live right here.
Bring back the Grove! If there are so many supporters of bringing back 5am, why don't we do somethign about it? With all these aspiring politicians and mayoral candidates, someone will want to court this block of voters. And I'm sure John, and the new guys from Temple would love to do anything they could to support an event (with some petitioning) to get the ball rolling.
I welcome you to come to my establishment on any given night and video tape us interacting with patrons and customers. My staff solely rely on tips and if they are rude or intimidating they do not make money. When we do have problems were someone has to be restrained or escorted out we do it with the expectation that they will want to return. Anyone can say that they were beat up by a bouncer but they will never admit to threatening, spitting, or assaulting a bouncer. Especially at the end of the night were the "liquid courage" comes into play. Come by and see for yourselves when we ask everyone to exit the premises the remarks that we have to put up with.
Finally the 3AM thing is a joke because if you want businesses to succeed why not cater to the age group that spends the most money. How many businesses can survive on selling art work that most of us cannot afford. Quit trying to be something we are not "Upscale". This is a nice town with friendly places to visit.
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