Raves: Rick Caruso Calls for Resignation of Coliseum G.M. Patrick Lynch

By Dennis Romero Wed., Feb. 9 2011 at 2:36 PM

Rick Caruso is calling for Patrick Lynch to resign as G.M. of the L.A. Coliseum.

Rick Caruso, the influential developer who also happens to sit on the public Coliseum Commission in L.A., called on Wednesday for the resignation of the venue's general manager, Patrick Lynch.

Caruso's demand comes in the wake of a Los Angeles Times report linking Lynch's right-hand man, Coliseum events manager Todd DeStefano, with the promoter of a controversial rave that has had to come before Lynch and the commission for approval.

DeStefano was getting paid on the side for work for Insomniac Events even as he helped to manage the Coliseum for taxpayers. Here's what Caruso said:

"I have long been concerned about raves and have been steadfast in my insistence that they be banned as they are not safe and cannot be made safe. We have now learned that the fox was left guarding the hen house since our staff in charge of planning security at raves was also secretly working for the rave organizer. Our Executive Director Pat Lynch was aware of this clear conflict of interest, approved it and hid it from the Commissioners. Mr. Lynch needs to resign immediately, this matter should be referred to the DA, and I will say it again - raves need to be banned at public facilities."

The D.A.'s office is looking into the relationship between DeStefano and rave promoter Insomniac Events, which has been lobbying the commission to allow its parties to continue in the wake of it's troubled event in 2010 -- which DeStefano worked.

That party saw the ecstasy-overdose death of a 15-year-old attendee, 60, mostly drug-related arrests, and more than 200 medical transports.

Caruso has been the most outspoken opponent of raves.

He told us previously:

"I've got a huge concern about these raves and I don't believe there's a way to keep them safe. I'm going to continue to fight for a ban on the raves and I frankly think they should be made illegal in the city and the county.
"When you have an event that is focused around the culture of drugs the event should be illegal. It's different than going to a concert."

Tags:

coliseum commission, EDC, Insomniac Events, Patrick Lynch, raves, Rick Caruso

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Rick Caruso is so out of touch. I'll remember your name Rick. I'll help spread the word of your negativity. LA is in a financial crisis and all you people can think of is driving out business even more. The whole state is in a mess still currently... we can't rely on old farts to make this any better now. It's up for the youth to clean up the old reich's trash.

Djaaron07

Caruso needs to step down. YOU WILL NEVER STOP EDM EVENTS THEY ARE NOT RAVES! Raves are underground, non permitted parties that usually happen in warehouses with map points or info lines, little to no security etc..These are run like concerts. Yes some aspects need to be improved but you can't just destroy a culture and say drugs only happen at these events. They happen at concerts too, ever been to a reggae show or Steve Miller concert? You will get high walking in there and will see lots of people trippin. Lets not mention that though cause it was cool back then when the older people now were younger right? CARUSO needs to go, along with Mr. Romero writing these biased articles!

EDMgirl

"Rick Caruso, the influential developer... "

Dennis, you would write that about the main person in OPPOSING raves from continuing. You claim to just be the messenger, yet your stance on the matter reads loud and clear in every article you put out.

Tina

i think this creep pat lynch should not only retire but be thrown in prison for the death of this innocent 15yr old gir, and the other person that almost died, and all the kids that were almost trampled to deathb because this asshole wanted to make more money instead of thinking about the safety of these kids. and where the hell are these parents, why was this girl at this awful place and doing these drugs, or did someone slip her the drugs? but regardless, why arent these parents checking and following and snooping into what these kids are doing or saying they are doing. just a tip from a single mother of 2 kids. YOU watch, u snoop, u become a detective and FIND out what your child is doing what he/she says they are doing. Get It......

Karen442

Tina,As it was stated in an earlier article, Pat Lynch's children attended the raves. If he really had such reckless money hungry intentions, why would he ever allow his kids to attend all of these events?Making such harsh statements without any real knowledge is not only ignorant but dangerous.

Not only did the finances of the raves effect Pat Lynch, but the entire city of Los Angeles. 4,000 people worked during these raves. Local food vendors made tons of profit. Hotels booked completely in the downtown area Los Angeles developers have committed so much in developing. These are the people that are affected. Try to conceptualize that 1 out of 185,000 people died. Have you been to the Staples Center? Picture it completely filled up. Actually, picture 9 of them, full capacity. That is how many people lived. One girl died. Please consider what you actually know before you write things like this.

CaliGirl

Well, it would probably make more sense for you to comment had you been keeping up with this story from when it initially began. You'd know that the girl who died was a willing participant with her friends in using ecstasy. Also, for the record, I grew up with kids who had parents who snooped and were overbearing, trust me, they were typically involved in the kinds of things that you spent so much of your time trying to keep them away from. My advice, whether you choose to acknowledge it or ignore it, would be to consider building some trust with your kids and educating them on the dangers you may be concerned about, instead running a very high risk of driving them away and into some serious rebellion. Just a thought though :)