After a tragic shooting rocked the community of Doral last month, Mayor Christi Fraga is determined to improve public safety by updating nightlife regulations. Fraga plans to present a sweeping set of safety amendments named the "George Castellanos Ordinance" to the Doral City Council on May 8. These proposed changes are in remembrance of the 23-year-old security guard and Florida International University student who lost his life, leaving behind a young daughter, in a violent confrontation at City Place Doral's Martini Bar. The ordinance, as reported by CBS News Miami, will include mandatory metal-detecting wands at entrances and require establishments to submit their safety plans to local police.
Further details of the proposed amendments, obtained by the Miami Herald, highlight the inclusion of security cameras, the hiring of off-duty police officers, and the ceasing of alcohol sales at 1:30 a.m. Martini Bar, alongside others in the vicinity, currently entertains patrons until 4 a.m., but this could drastically change should Fraga's proposals gain traction. The mayor's move comes in response to the outcry from residents who wish to maintain Doral's family-friendly image. "If someone wants to continue partying after 2 a.m., then there's other areas of Miami-Dade County that [are] more acceptable," Fraga expressed her view on the matter in an interview with Nikiya Carrero of CBS News Miami.
Amidst the backdrop of local politics, Mayor Fraga has her work cut out for her. The council, at odds with her leadership after Fraga overturned lifetime pensions approved by the previous administration, also exhibited resistance by firing the city manager on allegations of conflict of interest—a move that came without her support. Even with this political turmoil, the mayor remains focused on pushing through the "George Castellanos Ordinance," hoping to align Doral's nightlife with its family-centric values.
The necessity for these revisions arose after the investigation into the Martini Bar shooting revealed gray areas in the current ordinance, which Fraga argues is too ambiguous. "They eliminated operational hours and only established sales and consumption hours," she told the Miami Herald, highlighting the legal loopholes that make enforcement challenging. The mayor's proposals not only target closing times but also practical security measures such as security cameras and mandatory ID checks, where every violation shall be considered a separate incident. With these adjustments, Fraga is aiming to patch up the ordinance, ensuring that Doral's nightlife is both lively and safe for its patrons.
As the city copes with the aftermath of the April violence, the grief is palpable. Among the seven injured in the shooting was a Doral police officer, whose name has not been released. The seriousness of the incident is underscored by the condition of Carlos Milán, who remains in critical condition at HCA Florida Kendall Hospital. Mayor Fraga, by implementing the "George Castellanos Ordinance," seeks to honor the young guard's memory and safeguard those who gather at Doral's night spots, turning a moment of tragedy into a catalyst for impactful change.
