CHOW FIGHTS BAN ON RAVES

Kids will end up going to underground raves if politicians ban
promoters from holding the dances at the CNE, Councillor Olivia Chow
warns.

City council was to deal today with Mayor Mel Lastman's call to put an
end to city-sanctioned raves.

"To ban them, to drive them underground, creates dangerous
situations," said Chow.

"I would much rather keep an eye on them and create a safe venue,"
said Chow.

She called on councillors to separate the issue of drug abuse and
dancing. "We need to provide a safe space for people to dance and nab
those drug dealers," she said.

Police made 47 arrests at two raves held on the city-owned Exhibition
grounds. The first on March 25 attracted 13,000 young people while
another April 22 drew 8,000.

At the two raves police laid 95 drug-related charges and made seizures
of Ecstasy, Special K, cocaine, crack, hashish and marijuana.

Chow urged politicians to wait for the recommendations from the
ongoing Allan Ho inquest before taking any action. Ho died after
overdosing on Ecstasy in an underground garage amid 2,500 revellers.

"I support the mayor in his concern about raves," said Police Chief
Julian Fantino.

He said his force is now dealing with underground raves.