Two very completely different research on all sides of the topic in Miami Seashore – NBC 6 South Florida

The Miami Beach bar closure debate has shifted from a street rally on Wednesday to a duel with economic studies on Thursday.

How much does it cost to reset the closing time from 5 a.m. to 2 a.m.? That depends on whether you believe the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce-commissioned economic impact study or the city’s own cost-benefit analysis, and the two are vastly different.

According to a study by the city, when you factor in all of the money spent on police activities in the entertainment district, the city loses about $ 6 million a year.

“So it’s a terrible deal for our city, and that doesn’t even take into account the brand damage for our city, when these pictures of nighttime parties are broadcast around the world and really take our brand down, so this is a loss” for our city, ” said Mayor Dan Gelber.

The Chamber of Commerce study found that if bars close at 2 a.m., the city will lose $ 14 million in tax revenue per year and local businesses will lose $ 227 million in sales revenue over three years, and predicts more poor results .

“If that happens, significant jobs will be lost, more than 4,000 jobs will be lost in a year, and that’s because annual sales plummet,” said economist Hank Fishkind, who conducted the study. “It’s not just selling alcohol, it’s the loss of customers, the people who come to this area because it’s partly a wonderful area, has great nightlife, and is one of the few areas that has People can party late at night, and for a certain customer base they like to do it. “

Protesters gathered to take a stand against the proposal to change the last call to 2 a.m. in Miami Beach. NBC 6’s Ari Odzer reports

This is where competing visions of the city come into play: those who on the one hand support the continuation of the nightly party scene, on the other hand those who want to change the image of Miami Beach.

“None of our residents visit this area anymore, that’s all you need to know, we have to end this party district 2 and we cannot be tied to a business model that creates chaos and clutter and even crime,” said Gelber.

Each side said the other side’s study was flawed.

Fishkind said the city’s analysis overestimated police overtime costs because it includes special events. On the other hand, Fishkind showed a graphic showing the combined alcohol sales in five nightclubs. It showed the peak of sales between midnight and 1am, with 9% of sales coming after 2am. That means 91% of sales are made before supposedly close of business, which seemingly supports the other side’s point of view.

In November, voters will have their say in a non-binding referendum. Even if it is only a straw poll, said Gelber, the city commission would comply with the voters’ wishes on this issue.