NBC worries about Florida’s crackdown on spring break crime impacting business

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – While Florida locals are grateful for a hopeful reduction in fatal shootings, violent crime, theft and unruly crowds for spring break, one NBC reporter is concerned that the pendulum has swung too far in favor of safety.

“The crackdown on spring breakers in Miami Beach has helped reduce unruly crowds and fatal shootings — but it is also having an impact on local businesses,” the TODAY Show posted.

NBC reporter Sam Brock described the current scene on the ground in Miami Beach “peaceful,” but emphasized that lower amounts of crowds means less business for local shops and restaurants.

The state has deployed agents and resources to help local law enforcement, such as drones, license plate and DUI checkpoints, and more.

NBC focused on some business owners saying that the crackdown has dug into profits and the fullness of their restaurants, or that the parking restrictions have been “devastating.”

Viewers of the report responded critically, saying it’s more important businesses remain open and unharmed than be host to cracked windows, mobs, violence and even killings.

Bryan Griffin, communications director for Gov. Ron DeSantis, said that the impact of the heightened security is “businesses don’t face looting, rioting, storefront damage, out-of-control drunken mobs, strings of dine-and-dash incidents, etc.”

“Even the people who this reporter tries to lead into criticizing the safety measures express relief,” Griffin said.

“Oh come on… Chaos & violence is bad for business,” said Christina Pushaw, a member of DeSantis’ administration.

“Business is thriving in Miami and in Florida as a whole. We (residents of Florida) are not willing to accept huge spikes in seasonal violence, crime, murder, in the name of making some extra cash,” another said. “This is our home. Come to have a good time and obey our laws, or go elsewhere.”

“Is the impact on local business the ability to remain open?” one user replied.

“They’re not getting robbed and assaulted?” another said.

“‘No murders during spring break are bad for business,'” another sarcastically posted.

Another user replied, “Did you just try to spin less shootings into a bad thing?”