Judge takes dig at Miami Beach mayor, again orders Ocean Drive open
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It's been nearly a month since a judge ruled that Miami Beach must fully reopen Ocean Drive to cars, but the iconic street is no closer to reverting to its pre-COVID-19 traffic flow.
Why it matters: City officials have used court-granted extensions and a recent appeal to delay acting on the Jan. 8 order.
- Their strategy could continue even after the same judge on Wednesday again ordered the city to reopen the road.
Catch up quick: The South Beach strip, which became fully pedestrianized during the pandemic in 2020, reopened to one lane of traffic in 2022.
- The Clevelander South Beach Hotel sued, arguing the closure was illegal and burdened its hotel guests.
- Miami-Dade Judge Beatrice Butchko Sanchez agreed, ruling last month that the city must reintroduce two-way traffic because it no longer had the necessary permit to block the street.
- The city originally had a Jan. 31 deadline to make the changes, but it appealed to the Third District Court of Appeal, freezing Butchko's order until the appeal is heard.
The latest: Butchko Sanchez, who said the city was circumventing her order, overturned the stay Wednesday at the Clevelander's request.
Yes, but: The city can appeal that ruling, too, which would trigger another automatic stay, says attorney David Winker, who represents Better Streets Miami Beach as a potential intervener in the case.
- The city did not respond to a request for comment on whether it will appeal or comply with the ruling.
- Butchko Sanchez did not give the city a new deadline by which to reopen the street.
Friction point: Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner, a lawyer who issued a statement questioning Butchko Sanchez's January ruling, caught flak from the judge during Wednesday's hearing.
- "Is he an attorney? He needs to open the law books a little bit."