Ravers, rejoice—Electric Zoo is returning to New York's Randall's Island this Labor Day weekend for its sixth year in a row. Tickets for the three-day EDM festival will go on sale on Tuesday, April 29. In an annoucement released today, festival organizers stressed enhanced safety and security measures at this year's Zoo, including drug-sniffing dogs at all the entrances, increased use of undercover plainclothes officers, and a PSA campaign on the dangers of drugs—including, of course, molly.Last year, the final day of Electric Zoo was cancelled at the request of city authorities following the deaths of 23-year-old Jeffrey Russ and 20-year-old Olivia Rotondo. Russ and Rotondo suffered acute intoxication from pure MDMA and a mix of MDMA and methylone, respectively. The tragedy came after a string of similar overdoses at EDM events around the country, sparking a national debate about drugs and dance music culture that endures in cities like Miami and Toronto.This is the first confirmation that the festival will be reinstated to its home in New York. Earlier last month, under the direction of parent company SFX, organizers hired two powerful lobbyists, Patrick Jenkins and Mike McKeon, to persuade city mayor Bill de Blasio to approve the festival's permit. McKeon's lobbying firm notably helped raise funds for de Blasio's mayoral campaign last year, which seems to have helped in moving their lobbying efforts along expediently.In the announcement, the festival detailed a three-pronged plan to create "the safest possible environment for fans" via enhanced security, medical, and media campaign efforts. In addition to the use of canines and former cops with backgrounds in narcotics investigations, there will also be increased signage listing prohibited conduct and background checks on all vendors and employees.Fans will have to watch a special video before they can validate their tickets, and will be sent a securiy survey with each purchase. All of these tactics were recommended by the Electronic Dance Advisory Music Board, a leading security company, and a team of medical experts, according to the festival.Whether these heightened safety efforts will have an impact on Electric Zoo's outcome—and overall reputation—remains to be seen. But the festival's lineup will be released in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.@MichelleLhooq
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