It’s time for Miami Beach to drive a stake through Spring Break’s heart. But how? | Opinion

It’s long past time for the Spring Break party to end on Miami Beach.

But how to roll up the welcome mat?

Spring Break blew up again on Miami Beach this weekend, in the most tragic of ways. Two young people lost their lives. They were shot and killed in separate incidents during two nights of massive street partying on Ocean Drive, which the city, this year, as in years past, tried but could not completely control.

The city leaders, from Mayor Dan Gelber, to City Manager Alina Hudak and the commissioners, have tried everything they can think of with minimal success, mainly controlling the day partying but not the nighttime events. We get their frustration.

But there are just too many people, too much liquor, too many guns — at least 70 have been confiscated so far. Every night, Ocean Drive turns into a tinder box no matter how many police officers are on the ground. Some would add that late-night liquor sales are to blame; others say all the unruly behavior happens on the streets.

Thank goodness there were not more victims, given the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and their stampede after shots were fired. Gelber called a special meeting of the City Commission for Monday to discuss how to stem the violence for the remaining days, with emergency orders.

A curfew was issued and was to start Sunday night. No liquor will be sold on the streets after 6 p.m., and everyone must be indoors by midnight on South Beach. That, it is hoped, will eliminate the crowds, clear the streets and quell the violence, at least violence that endangers the public.