February 26, 2001
 

To: Charlotte City Council

It's very disappointing that the Safety committee has greatly weakened the original proposal. I'd like to remind you of the many dangers that this toothless measure will allow:

• Regulation will legitimize the dance hall business. Their already strong political power will grow enormously. This will make any future strengthening of this regulation more difficult. (See attached article). Therefore it makes sense to have a strong measure first. Then if the provisions are too onerous they can be changed more easily at a later date.
• This regulation will create a new bureaucracy within the City government that will require tax-payer financing. Originally, an outright ban was proposed which would require little expenditures to enforce. Has there been any cost calculation to determine what that might be in light of the public safety committee's changes? In addition, this new government bureaucracy will be a political force too that will always be in favor of regulation(rather than banning like many in FL have already done).
• Allowing 16-17 year-olds in adult dance clubs is a big risk. This group is the most vulnerable to the physical and emotional rigors of the rave and most likely to feel compelled to use club drugs in order to reach "nirvana". Plus they'll have to reach this higher level faster in order to beat the 2 a.m. closing time. Then there seems to be little consideration that many of these youths(some with 6 month provisional licenses) will be coming from surrounding cities and out on the roads from 2 a.m. on. In Florida, if you are under 21, you must be out of a club by 8 p.m. Why does the public safety committee proposal ignore this genuine risk as well as the lessons to be learned from other communities who have already endured the carnage caused by these raves?
• Allowing 18-20 year-olds, at least past 2 a.m., is another mistake. While not quite as vulnerable I again point you to the lesson that could be learned simply by observing what has transpired in other States. Please do not ignore these important opportunities to reduce the mayhem caused by these raves.