Pubdate: Thu, 08 May 2014
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2014 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: Natalie Alcoba

MAMMOLITI PROTESTS REVERSAL OF MUSIC BAN

A city councillor who pushed to ban electronic dance parties at
Exhibition Place walked out of a council meeting Wednesday to protest
a bid to overturn the decision.

Giorgio Mammoliti said it's "irresponsible" for city council to be
having the debate without first disclosing statistics about how many
youngsters have overdosed on the grounds. He says statistics produced
by "venues" were discussed in a private session of the Exhibition
Place board of governors, on which he sits.

It narrowly voted to ban "all-ages" raves on the city property last
month.

"A child will overdose again at Exhibition Place if [Councillor Mike]
Layton and [Councillor Gord] Perks get their way today," charged Mr.
Mammoliti, who called the governing body a "kangaroo council."

"The two councillors that have arranged for this debate without
information today will be held accountable by myself and others if
somebody should die at Exhibition Place."

But critics of the ban have warned it won't kill the party, rather
drive it to riskier and less supervised locations.

"Cancelling these events doesn't mean they're all going to go home and
do homework," said Coun. Perks, who also sits on the Exhibition board.
"What it means is they are going to go to places that are less safe."

He told reporters he wants to follow advice from a coroner's jury and
Toronto Public Health that recommended holding the dance parties on
city-owned property, following a protocol that council approved.

The recommendations and protocol stem from the death of Alan Ho, a
Ryerson student who collapsed in 1999 after taking ecstasy at an
all-night party.

"This is actually making young adults safer," said Coun. Perks.
"People 14 [years old] to 24 and sometimes 54 go to see electronic
dance music at Exhibition Place and have a wonderful time. If you ask
any of the event promoters, they will tell you the safety and security
requirements there are double what they have at a private venue."

Coun. Perks said he has never read statistics that suggest electronic
dance music events on city property are less safe than events held
elsewhere. He declined to comment on Mr. Mammoliti's ominous
predictions about the fate of young attendees or pinning
responsibility on himself and Coun. Layton.

"Any sentence that starts with 'Coun. Mammoliti says' is better left
untouched," he said.

Council is expected to vote on overturning the ban on Thursday.
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MAP posted-by: Matt