revised Bill press release

[Kit-Kat]

Press release to battle the Bill
going to...

The Party People Project refuses the proposition of _Footloose_Bill 73

The Party People Project (P3), a community organization formed by members of the rave scene in alliance with the Toronto Dance Safety Committee and the Toronto Rave Information Project, is concerned that Bill 73, the Raves Act 2000, may become law before the end of June without adequate involvement from a body that can properly represent the many diverse communities and business people effected.

Not only does Bill 73 attempt to homogenize the separate issues of raves and drugs, it's definition of "rave" encompasses thousands of cultural events including Caribbana, Pride Day, Fashion Care—any event with paid admission, occurring in a private dwelling after 2 a.m., where the primary activity is dancing. It attaches freedom of speech and the right to assembly to 6-month applications process for municipal permit and fails to detail who will be granted the authority of license.

If Bill 73 is passed on TK date, a countless number of people will be effected—thousands of ravers, hundreds of promoters, club owners, cultural institutions, DJs, hotel chains, clothing companies and parents alike. And while Liberal MPP Sandra Pupatello's bill 73 purportedly offers legislation to improve the safety of raves, the P3 believes that the Protocol for the Operation of Safe Raves (developed by the TDSC and passed unanimously by Toronto City Council last December) and the recommendations made at by the jury at the inquest concerning the death of Allen Ho present a stronger solution.

In the last twelve months, it is estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 people aged 19 to 43 attended raves in the Greater Toronto Area alone. The majority of these parties took place in city—owned buildings with adequate toilets, running water, and ventilation, with 'Paid Duty' police officers, such as the Better Living Centre or the CNE grounds. However, should such parties be prohibited, a majority of people within the community believe raves will be forced underground, to abandoned buildings and fields—to places like the parking lot Alan Ho attended. Have we learned nothing from this loss?


For more information on the Party People Project (P3), we encourage you to contact: Alex D, - 416.778.4115

Author: Katherine Balpataky kathbalp@hotmail.com - 416.963.8506
second draft
for release ASAP (the week of June 11)

 

[Mark McC]

I've revised this as follows, but I would specifically run it past Don (trance@theiceberg.com) in order to clarify the call-to-action details (e.g. pointing out absurdity of provincial legislation that just re-delegates rave-regulation responsibility to municipalities) as discussed in Tuesday's meeting. thanks. -mmcc
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The Party People Project concerned about _Footloose_ Bill 73

The Party People Project (P3), a community organization formed by members of the rave scene in alliance with the Toronto Dance Safety Committee and the Toronto Rave Information Project, is concerned that Bill 73, the Raves Act 2000, may become law before the end of June without adequate involvement from a body that can properly represent the many diverse communities and business people effected.

Not only does Bill 73 confuse the separate issues of raves and drugs, its definition of "rave" -- as an event occurring between 2 and 6am, not held in a private dwelling, to which participants pay admission and where the primary activity is dancing -- encompasses thousands of cultural events including Caribana, Pride Day, and Fashion Cares. Bill 73 attacks freedom of speech and the right to assembly with prohibitive, anti-dance legislation.

If Bill 73 is passed on TK [no firm date that I know of -- rumour has it that they want it law by month's end], countless people and events will be affected -— not only ravers, promoters, club owners and DJs, but hotel chains, clothing companies and many other legitimate businesses. And while Liberal MPP Sandra Pupatello's bill 73 purportedly offers legislation to improve the safety of raves, the P3 believes that the Protocol for the Operation of Safe Raves (developed by the TDSC and passed unanimously by Toronto City Council last December) and the recommendations made at by the jury at the inquest concerning the death of Allen Ho present a stronger solution.

In the last twelve months, it is estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 people aged 19 to 43 attended raves in the Greater Toronto Area alone. The majority of these parties took place in city—owned buildings with adequate toilets, running water, and ventilation, with 'Paid Duty' police officers, such as the Better Living Centre or the CNE grounds. However, should Bill 73's prohibitive legislation be passed, it will undo the community-building work accomplished by groups like the TDSC and TRIP; furthermore, it will take no account of the Ho Inquest jury's outstanding recommendations. Have our politicians and policy-makers learned nothing from the inquest into the tragic death of Allen Ho?

For more information on the Party People Project (P3), we encourage you to contact: Alex D, - 416.778.4115

Author: Katherine Balpataky kathbalp@hotmail.com - 416.963.8506
second draft
for release ASAP (the week of June 11)

 

[Mark McC]

I think I have an idea for focusing this release and giving it an attention-grabbing thrust.
The Ho Inquest's jury included among its recommendations a clause specifically suggesting that the politicians involved in drafting and debating Bill 73 seek the input and participation of the rave community.
I recall Alex D saying that Sandra Pupatello has spoken about working with and/or supporting the TDSC, TRIP, etc. -- claims which, as far as Alex knows, are not true. I think we should contact Pupatello's office and try to get a straight answer from her on this issue. Whatever we find out we'll have something to crystallize our press release around.

 

[Mark McC]

[in case you didn't get this email:]
I've just called Pupatello's office (WITHOUT naming myself as a PPP member, btw) to ask the question I'd outlined in my prior message -- eg "Has the committee debating Bill 73 sought rave community input?"
While I didn't get to speak to the big P herself, her office staffer Aaron told me that the committee currently considering the bill is waiting for the government to let them bring it before a Senate committee. Apparently, it is at that time that the rave community will be invited to participate in the proceedings. I asked Aaron when this invitation might be extended, and he said he didn't know -- they're wiating for the government's green light and they hope to present it to the senate committee "sometime this summer." I asked to be invited and gave Aaron my home phone and private email address.
This tells us a couple of things:
1. we might have more time to strategize on the issue of the Raves Act 2000 than was previously estimated;
2. as per Katherine's recommendation, we will probably want to prepare a separate press release synchronized with that invitation; and
3. my proposal to include in our current PR a statement of the PPP's concern at not being part of the bill debate will now sound retarded.

I hope this news is of some use to the cell's discussion on how to proceed with the Bill 73 press release. if you haven't already seen it, i would also direct your attention to Will Chang's note on Tribe's TDSC board that they're waiting to hold a press conference until the news is "hot" again (as clippings guy, i can attest that rave news has pretty much stopped cold as of last week).

cheers
mark mcc