LA County Board Of Supervisors To Assess Public Safety At Large-Scale Events
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) – The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are expected to introduce an ordinance Tuesday that calls for an evaluation of public safety at events that draw in large crowds.
Under the motion, promoters would have to request a county threat assessment at least 120 days before any large-scale event that draws 10,000 people or more on county property or in unincorporated areas.
If assessment teams determines there is a strong probability that loss of life or harm to the participants could occur, the promoter will be required to work with county staffers on an action plan to manage health and safety concerns.
City officials said the plan may limit capacity, ban or otherwise limit alcohol sales at events. An age requirement of 18 or 21 for participants may be enforced and medical and law enforcement resources may be required for each event.
Participants may also be banned from bringing backpacks and large purses into events and searches may be mandated.
The ordinance comes at a time following the drug overdose deaths of Tracy Nguyen, 18, of West Covina, and Katie Rebecca Dix, 19, of Camarillo, in August 2015 during the HARD Summer music festival at the Pomona Fairgrounds.
The Fairplex is home to the county fair and dozens of other events, including music raves, swap meets, athletic events, car and dog shows and various expos.
Meanwhile, some advocates of the ordinance have warned the board that using undercover cops and drug-sniffing dogs may encourage festival-goers to consume all the drugs they have at once.
The county fair, along with large-scale indoor events with assigned seating, have been excluded from the ordinance because officials say they don't pose the type of health and safety risks they fear.
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