Tuesday, the LA County Board of Supervisors voted to create a multi-agency task force in order to investigate the health and safety issues surrounding raves—in particular raves that are held in public venues.
The measure was proposed by Zev Yaroslavsky and Don Knabe. Mark Ridley-Thomas suggested that some kind of young person or persons should be added to the task force that would be made up of law enforcement agencies, medical and health professionals, music business types and so on.
(Heck, it’s nice to see the Sups get along over an issue for a change. Last week, they voted unanimously to send a sternly-worded collective letter to the loathsome Sam Zell about the LA Times’ faux front page, so maybe they’re on a roll)
The vote came in response to the death of 15-year-old Sasha Rodriguez who evidently drank from a water bottle laced with Ecstasy—a drug that had dropped in popularity around a decade ago but now has spiked again.
The LA Times covered the story here, KPPC covered it here.
Then, for Neon Tommy, Annenberg journalism student, Paresh Dave, has done an excellent job of giving a comprehensive overview of the many complex issues swirling around Rodriguez’s death and the subsequent temporary ban on raves at the Coliseum and now the Board of Sups new task force.
What do you think LA County should do about raves?
Photo by Winnie Jaing
Crazy kids of today are using dangerous drugs like Ecstacy!!
I remember the good old days of Woodstock, US Festivals and other rock concerts, when young people would NEVER, EVER use drugs.
Despite what Ronald Reagan told you throughout his 30 year political career, WTF, the marriage between drugs and music didn’t begin in the ’60s. Heroin was popular in the jazz and swing era. Opium dens were popular in the piano bar, cowboy days. You’re just not going to fine an American era of music that didn’t include widespread drug use.
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