Halloween
Getting rid of Halloween is the subject in Coconut Grove again, it was brought up at the recent BID meeting and it's been an ongoing topic. For some reason, some people want to see it gone. They don't like thousands of people coming to the Grove on Halloween night. I'm not quite sure why, because it is a money maker for the restaurants and bars and most of the other businesses are not affected because they are closed at night.
While some think there is trouble, it's not really out of the ordinary for any big event, the police have said that themselves at many meetings, they call it business as usual. The fact remains that there is sometimes trouble, but nothing that affects the Grove itself. There is not damage to businesses, windows are not broken, nothing is vandalized and it's a good time. If any one entity would complain, it would be CocoWalk since they get so many people in one small location, but they are in favor of leaving Halloween as it is.
I asked at the BID meeting what the concern was, why does anyone care about the crowds? I was told that the trash is an issue and the cost for police is another issue -- over 100 police officers are deployed here that night. But this is not a sanctioned event. No one is claiming it, no one runs it. It is an event that just happens. People show up. So the Grove is not paying for the police or city services which is the case with so many events.
At the end of the night the city cleans the streets and at the end of the day, the police are paid by the city. The police are going to be paid by the city no matter what and trash is going to be picked up no matter what. I am sure that most communities that deal with Halloween deal with this, too. As the Grove is off the hook for any responsibility, what is the problem?
Years ago, Ft. Lauderdale got rid of Spring Break, almost overnight, I think they may regret it now. But regarding the city expense to clean up and the police expense, keep in mind that this expense may always exist for the City of Miami because if people are pushed out of the Grove, they may end up at Mary Brickell Village or Wynwood or Midtown and all these places are part of the City of Miami, so in the end, the city is still paying police and paying for clean up. If Coconut Grove was it's own city, like say Key Biscayne or Coral Gables, I would understand the issue with all the expenses. But this is the City of Miami's expense.
One interesting concept that came up was port-o-potties. There aren't enough now. So perhaps all the bars and restaurants can chip in for those and that will solve what probably is a major problem. But the businesses may be hesitant simply because no one wants to claim ownership to this mad night in Coconut Grove and if they pay for port-o-potties, are they claiming ownership in some way?
The Grove is the Halloween place to be for so many. Early in October, usually October 1 or 2, I write a Halloween story about Coconut Grove, even if I am not sure of all the activities that might be planned, because that's a top search term on Google. Starting October 1, people are searching "Coconut Grove Halloween," and so I put a story there for them to find.
That's how popular it is. While South Beach has their wild event, we still have our wildness here and people are planning on it.
While some think there is trouble, it's not really out of the ordinary for any big event, the police have said that themselves at many meetings, they call it business as usual. The fact remains that there is sometimes trouble, but nothing that affects the Grove itself. There is not damage to businesses, windows are not broken, nothing is vandalized and it's a good time. If any one entity would complain, it would be CocoWalk since they get so many people in one small location, but they are in favor of leaving Halloween as it is.
I asked at the BID meeting what the concern was, why does anyone care about the crowds? I was told that the trash is an issue and the cost for police is another issue -- over 100 police officers are deployed here that night. But this is not a sanctioned event. No one is claiming it, no one runs it. It is an event that just happens. People show up. So the Grove is not paying for the police or city services which is the case with so many events.
At the end of the night the city cleans the streets and at the end of the day, the police are paid by the city. The police are going to be paid by the city no matter what and trash is going to be picked up no matter what. I am sure that most communities that deal with Halloween deal with this, too. As the Grove is off the hook for any responsibility, what is the problem?
Years ago, Ft. Lauderdale got rid of Spring Break, almost overnight, I think they may regret it now. But regarding the city expense to clean up and the police expense, keep in mind that this expense may always exist for the City of Miami because if people are pushed out of the Grove, they may end up at Mary Brickell Village or Wynwood or Midtown and all these places are part of the City of Miami, so in the end, the city is still paying police and paying for clean up. If Coconut Grove was it's own city, like say Key Biscayne or Coral Gables, I would understand the issue with all the expenses. But this is the City of Miami's expense.
One interesting concept that came up was port-o-potties. There aren't enough now. So perhaps all the bars and restaurants can chip in for those and that will solve what probably is a major problem. But the businesses may be hesitant simply because no one wants to claim ownership to this mad night in Coconut Grove and if they pay for port-o-potties, are they claiming ownership in some way?
The Grove is the Halloween place to be for so many. Early in October, usually October 1 or 2, I write a Halloween story about Coconut Grove, even if I am not sure of all the activities that might be planned, because that's a top search term on Google. Starting October 1, people are searching "Coconut Grove Halloween," and so I put a story there for them to find.
That's how popular it is. While South Beach has their wild event, we still have our wildness here and people are planning on it.
posted by Tom Falco at 6:00 AM
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14 Comments:
Would we rather have "Urban Weekend"?
WOW what is going on who is in charge here are we getting rid of everything fun.STOP !!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE STOP taking everything fun away from the grove i have a bussiness here and need every penny i can make to pay for these ridiculas rents...STOP
This is one of the things that always bugs me about some people that live in the Grove. They always complain about how "dead" the Grove is, how things used to be so much better back in their day (when a coke was a nickle and a gallon of gas was a quarter I think) but here is an event that is extremely popular and attracts a youthful crowd and they want it gone. EVENTS LIKE THIS ARE HOW WE GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK TO THE GROVE ON A NORMAL BASIS!! I'm a bit older now (30), but one of my first memories of the Grove was a Halloween when I was 21. I fell in love with the Grove, continued to come back, and just purchased a home here. I wonder if my path would of been the same without that Halloween. It's a younger crowd, can sometimes get rowdy, but all in all it's bringing money to the community. If you don't like it, stay home that day. But don't ruin everyone else's fun because you don't like to let loose every now and then.
Just mind boggling. I live and work in the Grove, but this is one of the many reasons Im thinking about moving. First they want to get rid of fireworks on the 4th and now this. Whats next? It is so frustrating hearing every day about crime and break ins, and the powers that be are too busy cancelling fun events to do anything about it.
Amen. It started with the early last call law that cost a lot when steady clientele to move out of the Grove into other entertainment centers.
Seperately, the nightlife has had a bunch of trouble for what, 20 years? High costs of running busuness and better accessible alternative locations have devestated turnout. And then the business climate turned unfriendly toward the nightlife.
The nightlife has really only been dead for about 7 years, let's not exaggerate to much. The Grove always owned Halloween, but I'm afraid that unless there are steps made to keep it - to make it fun, accessible, inviting - that too will move to Wynwood.
It is the little minded Center Grove Mafia at it again, their term is slowly drawing to an end and must do all the damage they can so business can go to other parts of district 2.
Thanks again for answering this NIMBY mindset with common sense.
I wonder if all their energy would be better used for new ideas on how to better manage the hoards of people, spread them away from Cocowalk, or better yet lure them into spending more $ to support the area - a Food Truck vs Grove Restaurant showdown at Peacock Park? A haunted house in some of the empty store fronts?
OK ive been keeping my mouth shut for to long as a resident of the grove but if this keeps on i see everybody moving to west kendall.i think the west kendall guy is making more sence to me now.seriously whats next in the grove? no more bed races no more arts festival..Hello this are the reason the grove became what it was.WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Someone recently made a very accurate analogy of a Pied Piper of Hamelin referring to Coconut Grove and its politics.
Follow the money! Follow the money! Follow the money! Somebody wants to turn the Grove into Sarasota. Nice brunches and no parties. Somebody is trying to attract house owners and not house renters. Somebody is trying to attract Condo developers and not club promoters. Somebody is trying to create a retirement village from a pirate's den. Follow the money my friends!
I know and its so sad.the grove was so much fun for all ages befofe now even my grandmother who life there says she ready to move out cause shes bored
This is what happens when Grove hippies get old - they get cranky and crotchety and don't like it when younger people actually still have fun. My bet is the same a-holes that changed the bar hours, and got rid of the Harleys are behind this one.
Oh, and the Grove already IS a RETIREMENT village. Just go to an event like the Howl in the Wood ... average age was about 63 at the last one I was at. Self-appointed saviors of the Grove like the BID and the Village Council do want to turn us into Sarasota. So how do you stop people from coming into the Grove on any given night, anyway?
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