WEEKEND MORNING COFFEE: Another Accusation Against Russell Simmons. Miami Has Had It With Spring Breakers.

 

 

♦  Music producer and ex-co founder of Def Jam Records, Russell Simmons, is being sued for sexual assault, harassment, and battery by a former executive of Def Jam Records.  The victim, who is referred to as "Jane Doe" in the filing, claims that Simmons assaulted her, created a toxic work environment, and derailed her career because of his shit bag behavior. The victim claims that Simmons assaulted her when she went to his apartment to approve a new video (she fought him off). Afterwards, he then created an extremely hostile work environment; and that despite telling him numerous times to leave her office and to leave her alone, the harassment continued. The Guardian UK wrote an article and it includes details about the assault from the filing so proceed with caution Read More

Russell Simmons in 2017. Photo: Mireya Aciero / Film Magic / TheGuardian.com

Comment: If you recall back in 2017, Simmons stepped down from Def Jam when he was accused of sexual assault and rape. I believe that complaint is still making the rounds with the courts. BTW, in the photo above Simmons looks like a dejected Ninja Turtle.

♦ Miami Beach officials and residents have had it with spring breakers coming to their town and trashing their beaches, roads, and behaving like their auditioning for a revival of "Lord of the Flies: Spring Break Edition".  The city is taking measures to break up with spring breakers by telling them in their own way to f-off ...but in "corporate-speak" with a new media campaign: Read More

"A new messaging campaign from the city declares that “Miami Beach is breaking up with spring break” and features an imagined text-message conversation in which the city says: “Hey Spring Break, we’re over.” “Come here, enjoy, but don’t come here looking for trouble,” Mayor Steven Meiner said. “We’ve had enough.”

If that doesn't deter spring breakers, they City of Miami is also imposing new rules for the South Beach area that includes:

• A flat $100 parking rate/per day in city garages and parking lots for non-residents
  
• Towing rate of $516 for non-residents
• Closure of beach entrances at 6:00 pm
• Restricted parking garages and lots after 6:00 pm to non-residents
• Security check points and checking of bags at beaches
• A ban on rentals of Slingshots, golf carts, electric scooters and other motorized vehicles from March 7-10 and March 14-17
• Closure of sidewalk cafes on Ocean Drive the weekends of March 7-10 and March 14-17. 
• Potential curfews
  

Image: miamibeachfl.gov

Comment: I don't blame city officials, residents, and business owners from imposing these rules. Will it deter spring breakers? Who knows. Those who don't like the new rules will find another city to trash. People don't know how to behave in public anymore. The days of civility and good manners are long gone in our society. The only way it's going to change is for the media to stop glorifying bad behavior, for people in power to call-out assholes behaving badly, and for those in leadership or in positions of influence to start exhibiting civil, respectful behavior themselves (and shaming those who don't).