SURREY CITY COUNCIL: RAVES BANNED

Surrey Raves Have Been Banned.

Despite pleas from rave party organizers and security personnel who work
the events, city council voted 5-4 Monday to outlaw the all-night parties.

Scott Blessin, operations manager for Slipstream Entertainment, a rave
security firm, addressed council Monday, suggesting an all-out ban would
simply keep "good" raves from coming to Surrey.

City council is concerned about the ability to control large crowds of
teens and the events' association with drugs.

Blessin said reputable organizers control the crowds and frisk youth for
drugs at the door.

In addition, anyone trying to sell drugs at one of Blessin's raves is arrested.

"I would not be involved in raves if it was just about drugs," Blessin told
council.

"It's about music-it is actually a business."

Coun. Bob Bose said it's better to regulate the parties through strict
legislation rather than ban them outright.

"We'd be better to subject raves to some evaluation process," Bose said.

"You can make all kinds of demands (through the permit process)."

Coun. Marvin Hunt equated the ban on raves to the city's ban on bonfires at
Crescent Beach.

It's not the bonfires or raves the city has a problem with, he said, it's
the drugs and alcohol consumed when they occur.

"Ban it," Hunt said.

"Get it over with. I don't think we want these in Surrey."

Hunt had the support of Couns. Dianne Watts, Gary Tymoschuk, Barbara Steele
and Mayor Doug McCallum.

Couns. Bose, Judy Villeneuve, Jeanne Eddington and Judy Higginbotham felt
regulation was better than a ban.

Outside the meeting, Blessin described council's decision as unfortunate.

"It was close," Blessin said.