AG CENTER CONSIDERS STAGING A 2ND 'RAVE'

Tulare Police Hope The Next Event Will Be Canceled After One In June Drew
25,000.

TULARE -- International Agri-Center officials will consider Thursday
whether to cancel a contract for a "rave" expected to draw 50,000 young
people in September.

A rave two weeks ago drew nearly 25,000 young people to the nonprofit
center. A handful were arrested and several suffered drug overdoses. Tulare
city officials have expressed concern about the all-night parties and the
crowds they attract.

"We were fortunate to have 20,000 kids out there and not have more
problems," Tulare City Council Member Linda Crase said. "There was drug
use. You're opening yourself up to things that are not good for a city.
We're pressing our luck."

The City Council has no control over what the Agri-Center does, Crase said,
but City Council members and police need to know about it so they can plan
for it and get used to the idea.

A rave typically targets young people and features multiple stages with
entertainment and loud, high-energy music. The all-night events have a
reputation as gathering places for youths to get high on illegal drugs,
such as ecstasy.

At the rave two weeks ago, youths mostly from Southern California paid $25
in advance and $35 at the door to party at the Agri-Center. Tulare police
arrested three attendees ages 15 to 22 on suspicion of possession of
illegal drugs for sale, including marijuana, ecstasy and LSD. Another nine,
ages 14 to 23, suffering from drug overdoses, were taken to hospitals in
Tulare and Visalia. No one died. All were treated and released.

The promoter has a contract with the Agri-Center for another one in
September, to which 50,000 could come. The Agri-Center board of directors
will discuss Thursday whether to cancel the September contract. The show
grounds normally are used for farm equipment and dairy shows.

"We're going to weigh how the event developed and turned out," said Gary
Shulz, executive director of the Agri-Center. "We want to weigh the impact
on the community. We want to be a good corporate citizen."

But the promoter sees raves as safe and low-key events.

"I honestly think it went really well," said promoter Pasquale Rottela, 25,
of Santa Monica. "I call it festival, not a rave. Raves are for 17-year-old
kids holding a party at a warehouse. Ours is a festival of camping, music
and entertainment. I absolutely love the venue."

But if it were up to the Tulare police, the Agri-Center leadership would
note the use of illegal drugs and cancel the event.

"There was a lot going on inside that needed law enforcement attention,"
Tulare Lt. Tom Munoz said. "We would prefer not to have another one. That
would be our recommendation."

About 12 officers patrolled outside the event, but next time at least 50
officers will be assigned and that will include patrolling inside the show
grounds, he said.

But Rottela said most of those who attended behaved well.

"It's as much a pain for me as it is for them," Rottela said, referring to
drug use. "Most of the people who attend these events are really good,
passive people. They say, 'Yes sir, yes ma'am.'"

In addition to the arrests and overdoses, about 15 complaints about loud
music were received from a neighborhood three miles away. The show grounds
are off by itself, and not near housing.

The California Highway Patrol in Bakersfield also logged nine accidents on
Highway 99 attributed to people leaving the event.

The Tulare rave brought revenue to the Agri-Center of $1 a person and a
percentage of food sales, but money isn't the key issue for the board of
directors, Shulz said.

The center can cancel the contract for legitimate public safety reasons,
although not because of loud music. The promoter made it clear that the
event would have lots of loud music, he said.

Shulz and others who witnessed the event seemed impressed by its organization.

"Security was good," Shulz said.

"No one seemed out of control," said Margee Fallert, a city employee who
spent a few hours there. "Everybody was hanging out and having a good time.
All the kids seemed kind of mellow."