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Miamians plotting their escape to a nearby town for a dip in the ocean can stay put now: Miami Beach is targeting a June 1st reopening date for its beaches.
The city commissioners met virtually on Friday morning and voted unanimously to reopen the coast and its surrounding hotels. While the decision still pends county approval, Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Giménez is waiting to take his lead. According to the Miami Herald, Gelber said Giménez is waiting for their signal. The two met earlier in the day with mayors and administrators of the county’s coastal cities. Key Biscayne Mayor Mike Davey shared a similar sentiment.
Miami-Dade hasn’t kept a united front when it’s come to phased reopenings, in part due to the county’s emergency order that allowed cities to delay their plans. Park reopenings were staggered and inconsistent across municipalities, including the City of Miami, which refused to open theirs until May 20—more than two weeks after the county. Retail and restaurants similarly followed suit, as the majority of cities diverged from the county with their own plans. Reopening beaches, however, is another story. If the coastal cities don’t agree on a date, smaller towns with beach access, such as Bal Harbour and Key Biscayne, could face huge crowds. "That could put us in a really rough spot," said Mayor Davey.
For now, city officials will be working on a plan for what the rules of the road will be, including ways to mitigate capacity and enforcement. Once a reopening date is set for beaches, Miami Beach hotels will be next.
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