New York's Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced yesterday that he does not blame Electric Zoo organizers (Made Event) for the drug-related deaths and illnesses of last weekend's festival but rather the festival-goers who took the drugs.
According to the local New York publication DNAinfo, Bloomberg said, "We've been working with this promoter, organizer, for the past five years and they have a stellar record. I can tell you that when we brought it to their attention, we didn't need to — they knew they had to put in as good procedures as we could think of and have been nothing but cooperative, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. The bottom line here is that you see people here who are doing drugs that shouldn't be doing drugs and you see the fatal consequences.
The festival takes place on city property (Randall's Island Park); therefore, the city has to be involved in insuring safety.
Electric Zoo announced that it would refund patrons for Sunday's cancellation. Three-day pass holders will get a one-third refund, Friday-Sunday-combo pass holders will receive 50 percent back, and Sunday-only ticketholders will receive full refunds.
