VOA新闻杂志2024--Miami Beach Adding More Security Measures for Spring Break

Miami Beach Adding More Security Measures for Spring Break

　　The American city of Miami Beach, Florida is a popular destination for travelers during school break periods in spring. But, in the last three years, the area has dealt with high levels of violent crime during spring break.

　　So, city officials are putting in place new security measures.

　　The measures include parking restrictions¹ for non-residents and closings of outdoor restaurants on busy weekends. The city has warned visitors to expect curfews, personal property searches at the beach, early beach closures, road security checkpoints, and arrests for drug possession and violence.

　　Civil rights activists² say the restrictions are an overreaction to large crowds of Black people. And, business owners in the city's famous South Beach neighborhood argue that the new measures will cause them financial loss during one of the busiest times of the year.

　　Miami Beach has ordered such measures before, so the restrictions are not unfamiliar³ to the area. But, this is the first time the rules have been established ahead of the season.

　　Steven Meiner is the mayor of Miami Beach. "The status quo and what we've seen in the last few years is just not acceptable," he said.

　　Meiner said spring break crowds get out of control even with a strong police presence. He said the island city can only hold so many people. And the amount of people has often gone beyond what is safe.

　　Local business owner, David Wallack, opposes the measures. He said the city has always been a place of celebration. And he argued that limits on the numbers of visitors will turn the city into a retirement⁴ community.

　　Wallack and others have proposed holding a music festival during the third week of spring break, the season's busiest time. Supporters say such an event would help prevent the gathering⁵ of mobs.

　　But, Meiner said the city has spent millions of dollars on musical performances and similar events in the past. He said such offerings did not prevent violence well. He said businesses suffer when violent crowds gather and force them to close. And, he said the people causing most of the problems are not spending money in the city anyway.

　　Some civil rights supporters, however, believe the restrictions are racist⁶.

　　South Beach became popular among Black tourists about 20 years ago because of an event called Urban Beach Week. It takes place in late May during the Memorial Day holiday. Many locals have protested about violence and other crime connected to the event. Officials increased police presence during Memorial Day as a result.

　　Stephen Hunter Johnson is an attorney and member of Miami-Dade's Black Affairs Advisory⁷ Board. He said city officials are only cracking down so hard because many of the visitors are Black.

　　"Everybody loves this idea that they are free from the government intruding⁸ on them," Johnson said. "But amazingly, if the government intrudes¹⁰ on Black people, everyone's fine with it."

　　But Meiner rejects the idea that the city's actions have anything to do with race.

　　"I have a moral obligation to keep people safe, and right now, it is not safe," the mayor said.

　　Words in This Story

　　resident — n. one who lives in a place

　　festival — n. an often regularly occurring program of events or entertainment

　　status quo — n. the way things are now

　　intrude⁹ — v. to bring or force in unasked

　　obligation — n. something (as a promise or contract) that requires one to do something

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

4 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

5 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

6 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

7 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

8 intruding   

v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于

参考例句：

• Does he find his new celebrity intruding on his private life? 他是否感觉到他最近的成名侵扰了他的私生活？
• After a few hours of fierce fighting,we saw the intruding bandits off. 经过几小时的激烈战斗，我们赶走了入侵的匪徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 intrude   

vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰

参考例句：

• I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
• I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。

10 intrudes   

v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的第三人称单数 )；把…强加于

参考例句：

• An outraged movie like Stone's intrudes upon a semipermanent mourning. 像斯通这种忿忿不平的电影侵犯到美国人近乎永恒的哀悼。 来自互联网
• He intrudes upon our hospitality. 他硬要我们款待他。 来自互联网