Electronic music festivals aren’t banned in LA, but will face tougher scrutiny
Yesterday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors made the decision against banning electronic music festivals completely from LA County. Instead, they will be approving or denying festivals of 10,000 attendees or more on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, the Board approved a motion to implement recommendations from the Electronic Music Task Force such as instituting an age limit of 21 years or older, and “improving security and medical response, ensuring appropriate venue capacity guidelines and staffing, providing educational and safety messaging, and providing adequate access to hydration.”
After two years in a row of drug-related deaths at Hard Summer, the organizers agreed to a minimum age of 21 years for their fall festival, Day of the Dead, in 2015. No one died during that event, which may have played a part in showing the Board that tighter security measures would allow attendees to rave in safety. There are many reasons that the city would want to have these festivals continue. One of the bigger ones is the sheer size of the economic impact resulting from the additional consumers that are brought to the area. For example, Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas, Nevada, has brought $1.3 billion into the local economy, since moving into the city in 2011.
Banning large electronic music festivals from the county entirely would have been a drastic measure, so it comes as a relief to many that it the proposal did not pass in its entirety. However, there will be fewer venues in the county where events of this magnitude can take place, as at least two have said they will no longer be hosting such festivals. Whittier Narrows Recreation Center decided not to bring Hard Summer back last year, and this year the Pomona Fairplex, “[is] not looking to host EDM concerts or related events in 2016.”
Via: LA Weekly
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