money Orange Crush Daytona 2023 organizer predicts 'not much of a crowd' in Daytona Beach
It looks like Orange Crush could be a non-event in Daytona Beach.
The organizer of the series of student-oriented events that wreaked havoc last weekend in Tybee Island, Georgia, Friday night predicted that there would be “not much of a crowd” for a scheduled gathering this weekend in Daytona Beach.
In case you missed it: Chitwood: 'Zero tolerance' ahead of unpermitted Daytona Orange Crush event
“I really kind of called it off,” said Kenneth Jacobs, CFO and co-founder of Orange Crush, a gathering attended primarily by students from historically Black colleges and universities billed as an “annual beach party and networking event.”
What is the Orange Crush event?
This year, the series of weekend events started with gatherings in South Carolina, Savannah, and Tybee Island, Georgia this past weekend. There is also an event slated for June 16 through June 19 in Jacksonville.
Jacobs said that the Jacksonville event is still on.
In Tybee Island, an estimated crowd of 50,000 visitors overwhelmed law enforcement and local businesses, resulting in 18 arrests, assorted driving violations, an assault and robbery, and event participants throwing items at police, according to media reports.
Volusia Sheriff reacts to Orange Crush: 'Zero tolerance' for violations
In the wake of that event, Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood on Friday designated a special event zone on the county’s beachside in anticipation of potential disruptions from Orange Crush.
“Expect strict enforcement of all laws, and zero tolerance for violations,” Chitwood stated in a Twitter post on Friday.
In Volusia County, the special event zone, which took effect at 3 p.m. Friday, is bounded by State Road A1A and Granada Boulevard south to Dunlawton Avenue, including the beach. It stretches west on Dunlawton Avenue to South Peninsula Drive, then north on Peninsula and North Halifax Avenue to Granada, then east to A1A, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The authority to designate special event zones is part of a "pop-up event" law passed by the Florida legislature in 2022. The law gives police the power to implement enhanced penalties for non-criminal traffic infractions.
Under the law, traffic fines will be doubled, modified trucks with lifted suspensions will be towed, and noise ordinances enforced. Those committing noncriminal traffic infractions or criminal traffic violations will have their vehicle impounded for a period not to exceed 72 hours.
Need for permit questioned
The special event zone will remain in effect “as long as is reasonably necessary to ensure public health, safety and welfare,” Chitwood said. “It will not remain in effect if/after the unpermitted event dissipates.”
Jacobs said that he is interested in talking with county and city officials in Daytona Beach so that the event can follow the required planning protocols for next year. At the same time, he questioned the need for permits to hold the event.
“When it comes to the permits that they want us to get, it’s a public beach,” he said. “It’s spring break time and you can’t stop kids from coming. There’s no need to get a permit on a public beach.”
Chitwood on Saturday morning said he was aware of social media posts stating that the Daytona Beach event wasn’t going to be happening, but that the special event zone would remain in effect for now.
“It will stay in place until we make a determination that it’s a non-event,” he said. “We don’t want to see happen here what was happening in Tybee Island. We’re monitoring social media, monitoring traffic. People will be held accountable. We can’t use social media to destroy communities. It’s not going to happen.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Orange Crush Daytona 2023 organizer not expecting big crowds
