Violent crime is becoming rampant in South Beach

[Maria de los Angeles]

I bet those types of stats are everywhere in Miami-Dade though. South Beach is no idyllic refuge from reality. In fact, you'd think there'd be more crime because it's so damn congested.

Two Escobars in a stabbing? Sounds like a family thing to me.

[Matt Meltzer]

Yeah, I think people have always been prone to fighting, and I'm gonna guess it was probably worse in earlier years. Men trying to prove they're Men all the time and whatnot. I guess with Latin Machismo, though, it happens more here.

How, then, do you explain the perpetual correlation between economic downturns and rises in violent crime? It can't be a coincidence if it keeps happening?

[coach]

I definitely think economics has an influence on crime. Obviously, it's not the only factor, but for sure one of them.

[LowDog]

That is really not that bad, think about how big Miami is, and think about how many people are drunk or on drugs on South Beach. Trust me every major city has it like this if not MUCH worse.

I think we have more stabbings in copenhagen and there are only like 1 million residents. Miami has 5 million

[Blackford Oakes]

That is really not that bad, think about how big Miami is, and think about how many people are drunk or on drugs on South Beach. Trust me every major city has it like this if not MUCH worse.

I think we have more stabbings in copenhagen and there are only like 1 million residents. Miami has 5 million

Maybe Posner's book is in fashion and they want to bring back the " hey day."

This spree, if that is what it is, is nothing compared to what's listed on the NY Post Daily Blotter on a daily basis.

[rk]

I think we have more stabbings in copenhagen and there are only like 1 million residents. Miami has 5 million

The numbers cited in the original post are just for South Beach, not all of Miami, not even all of Miami Beach. In that light that is a very high crime rate, much higher (per capita) than just about any other city.

In fairness, one should look at numbers over a longer period than 75 days to get a more accurate average. This could be an anomaly, but still a cause for concern.

[LowDog]

Yeah but its still miami beach, a pretty big gathering point for Miami. Most of the stabbings in copenhagen is in certain club streets and other minority areas as well, because that is where people who are partying are walking mostly.

[Miami Photojournalist]

The city really needs to do something.

I always love it when people say stuff like this.

What would you like the city to do? Station cops on every block, 50 feet apart? That would cut down on crime. But who's going to pay for it.

How does a cop stop someone from stabbing another person unless he's standing right next to the stabber?

Sadly, the city attracts a ghetto element because of the number of clubs and businesses that cater to that crowd.

Perhaps if we had more bookstores and libraries and art galleries and fewer places that serve alcohol until 6 in the morning, things would be different.

But a lot of what happens can also be attributed to a steady decline in values and morals. People also do a lot of stuff on South Beach they wouldn't think of doing in their own neighborhoods.

I lived on South Beach for about 6 years and left late last year. Here's why: Random Pixels and Loose Talk from Miami Beach: <i>Random Pixels</i> says goodbye to South Beach

My advice to people who still live on South Beach? Move.

If you don't, be prepared for things getting steadily worse.

[Jess]

People also do a lot of stuff on South Beach they wouldn't think of doing in their own neighborhoods.

It's the whole mentality, 'what happens in...stays in...' I hear that a lot here.

[Matt Meltzer]

But I mean, there's trashing the street, and there's stabbing sombody. Yeah, a tourist might be a litlte more apt to litter here, but the kinda person who's gonna shoot somebody over a bar fight or whatever? They's probably do that back home too. Because I'm sure their jail back home is a lot nicer than ours.

[Blackford Oakes]

An item on the news report today advises Volusia County ( Daytona ) indicated that their crime statistics are way down and they're attributing it to the poor economy. The unique circumstance is that Bike Week had weak participation this year and Spring Break visitors have also tailed off. It could be that each city reacts differenty in relation to crime during an economic downturn.

[Todd Packer]

Geez, look what a former Miami Beach police cop did last week...this is like something of the Sopranos. Scary to think these mob-like tactics are going on here in broad daylight.

Former Miami Beach cop arrested in kidnapping - Miami-Dade Breaking News - MiamiHerald.com


Click this for the detailed blow-by-blow account...interesting read.

http://media.miamiherald.com/smedia/...filiate.56.pdf

[tinkerbell]

I heard people say that as well..what happens in MIA stays in MIA. Eh not really. With the technological advances around what happens in your town doesn't always stay that way! You must be cautious of your behavior anywhere you go. I ran into someone who lives across the street from me in Sobe and had no idea she was going! You never know who you are going to run into or who will see YOU when you're out.

[Doug]

In some ways, I'm glad that Miami Beach is different than "hometown, USA". The transient nature of it invites a certain kind of openness where people have the freedom to discard social masks. I believe that quality is what made it an enclave for creative people. However, I agree with Random Pixels that in the last few years, many businesses in South Beach have started catering to a more ghetto kind of crowd. Not ghetto as in poor, necessarily, because the bling bling is more noticeable than ever...just lack of cultured, creative people. They are still here, mind you, just a little harder to find. When I first discovered South Beach in the mid-90's, it felt more like Ibiza -- sexually open, adventurous, a world village. But now it feels more like Vegas with all the glitter, bottle service and ostentatiousness of it all. Fortunately, this is a town that regularly reinvents itself, so it may revert once more to its former ways!

[tinkerbell]

I didn't think Miami would have that type of crowd. Last time I visited briefly it seemed like it attracted a lot more upscale people. Then again it wasn't spring break. I wasn't expecting to see so many people from the urban areas there. Perhaps it's a recession and it attracts a different crowd of people. Hopefully Memorial Day will be different. I keep hearing it's a blast.

[Matt Meltzer]

Yeah, seriously, and I asked this before, what was up with the SB crowd this year? It got so much more ghetto all of a sudden. The economy? The marketing of the place? I just don't know....

[Jess]

I didn't think Miami would have that type of crowd. Last time I visited briefly it seemed like it attracted a lot more upscale people. Then again it wasn't spring break. I wasn't expecting to see so many people from the urban areas there. Perhaps it's a recession and it attracts a different crowd of people. Hopefully Memorial Day will be different. I keep hearing it's a blast.

Tinkerbell, if you didn't like the Spring Break crowd, you aren't going to like the Memorial Weekend crowd much either.

[Lucky_213]

would you guys say it's got more "ghetto" in general or just over Spring Break and Memorial weekend?

I do remember stretched of Washington Ave being rather ghetto as well as downtown, but has this spread more to Ocean, Lincoln and Collins also?

[Jess]

Just over SB and Memorial weekend. Washington is awful between 5-8th st in the evenings but anyone who is local knows that.

Lincoln Road is always filled with a nice crowd.

[Lucky_213]

Sounds like a god-send that I'll be in SoBe the weekend before Memorial Weekend...can hopefully catch the locals before the vacate SoBe for that weekend!