At last week's Village Council meeting, the main subject was Halloween in Coconut Grove and how to rein it in. But to be honest, the police all present, felt that Halloween was not a problem or an issue. They felt that when people film things that happen and then broadcast them on YouTube, which was the case with a police altercation last year, that that makes a problem out of nothing.
Not that the police don't have issues with drunk people, but if people didn't broadcast it, then it would just be police business as usual and not an issue for the Grove.
The "disorganized chaos," as Village Council member Kate Callahan called it, really is a Halloween thing that happens all over. Not just in Coconut Grove. Containing it may be a problem.
The police feel that it does not get rowdy until late, the early evening hours are manageable. The Grove's midnight Police Lieutenant Jeff Locke said that there are 117 officers in Coconut Grove on Halloween night and if they could just move the crowds away from one area, which is in front of CocoWalk, it might work better.
John El Masry, owner of Mr. Moe's said that Halloween in Coconut Grove is "one of the last remaining events that keep the Grove in people's minds." It's true, it is a link to the past that should remain. Halloween is a very big night for businesses -- bars and restaurants, they make a lot of their yearly earnings on that night. Retail stores close up early and it is not an event for them.
Council Member David Collins said that if you go off to the back streets on Halloween night, like on Matilda, you'll see many underage drinkers showing up late in the night with "fists full of liquor." So this could be the main issue, and not the people who are served legally in the bars.
The police said that it is basically a safe event. Last year there were no businesses damaged and no one was hurt. Other than an altercation with a drunk person or two, it was not very eventful.
Olav Smit, from The Grove Spot, felt that since last year, Halloween was on Sunday, it was a big lead up all weekend to the main event. People drank Friday, Saturday and then went crazy on Sunday. This year, since Halloween is Monday, it may not be the case since people work on Monday and need to sober up for that.
In the end, a 12 member committee was formed of residents, business owners, village council members and police, to come up with some sort of calming solution for Halloween in Coconut Grove.
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