REDWOOD CITY — Here come the party killers.
Blaming the promoter’s inability to curb drug use at its events, two local politicians are trying to shut down a popular New Year’s Eve music festival where a pair of youths died from overdoses two years ago.
County Supervisor Mike Nevin and Daly City Mayor Sal Torres are urging Cow Palace officials to pull the plug on the Dec. 31 event being planned by Coolworld Entertainment, a promotions company.
In a letter to Cow Palace directors, Nevin and Torres said that by holding an all-ages party in the state-owned facility, directors were creating an environment that attracts drug users and exposes youth to a virtual pharmacy of narcotics.
“I’ve got nothing against music,” Torres said. “I think there is a serious problem when you have an event that is really a catalyst, a breeding ground for the use of illegal narcotics.”
Coolworld producer Sason Perry called Torres remarks an “unfair assessment,” saying his events are concerts, not raves or drug parties.
“We do everything we can to curb drug use and promote safe festivals,” Perry said.
For example, Coolworld is required to pay for 122 security guards and 20 Daly City police officers to patrol the New Year’s show. Signs are placed throughout the facility warning of a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs.
“You cannot control fans. You can’t legislate or predict what people are going to do. You can certainly clamp down and make it more difficult,” Cow Palace CEO Michael Wegher said.
At a 2002 New Year’s Eve party at the Cow Palace put on by Coolworld, Peter Hoang, 19, of Stockton, and Michael Uveges, 23, of Rohnert Park, died after taking cocaine, Ecstasy and marijuana. Six others were hospitalized.
Since then, undercover narcotics agents have descended on the shows. A September 2003 Coolworld event at the Cow Palace netted 61 drug arrests. Another on Oct. 9 saw 40 of the roughly 7,000 revelers jailed for drug violations.
“If they can’t find they can curb the drug use, then maybe it’s time to rethink what they are promoting,” Torres said. “Don’t risk the safety of my community because you feel you have the right to play and promote your music.”
By that logic, Perry said, no large concerts could be held anywhere in San Mateo County.
“Whether you go to a ballgame, a night club, a concert, any type of public function … you are going to have some drug use,” Perry said. “All you can do is do the best you can to try to curb that.”
The Cow Palace is owned by the state Department of Food and Agriculture and is operated by an appointed board of directors.
Justin Nyberg:
