The thousands of rafts flooding Miami Beach for Floatopia this past weekend might've seen their last ride.
"The disruption to our beaches, residents and visitors caused by Floatopia will NOT be tolerated," Miami Beach Mayor Phillip Levine wrote on his Facebook page, with the words "never again" on an image of the event. "Although this is NOT a city sanctioned event, I have already spoken to our City Manager Jimmy Morales and I plan to bring this up at our next Commission meeting to approve a plan which would STOP this event from happening on our beaches going forward. "
Traffic and trash engulfed Miami Beach as the event based around rafts and booze became "simply too large and disruptive," per Levine, "and has a very adverse impact on our quality of life, public safety and natural resources."
Click: https://t.co/l50oIdfvb6 @MiamiBeachNews pic.twitter.com/BcTb3zqp62
— Mayor Philip Levine (@MayorLevine) April 17, 2016
The Miami Herald compared the aftermath of Saturday's Floatopia to "a Sharknado sequel."
Meanwhile, Floatopia's Facebook page expressed disappointment, writing how protecting the beach was "the only thing we ever ask," while also clarifying they wouldn't facilitate an event that hurts a city they love going forward.
It's a fun event in theory. However, if the safety and trash can't be managed by its participants, it should cease to exist. Protect our beaches.