The Electric Zoo Festival received national media attention last year when two attendees passed away from drug overdoses. This tragedy then prompted New York City officials to close the final day of the festivities. The festival’s permit to hold the concert on future dates was revoked due to the belief that the festival organizers did not stress the need for adequate security that could combat the amount of illicit drugs attempting to enter the festival grounds.
In response to losing the permit, festival organizers have hired “Mike McKeon, whose firm, Mercury Public Affairs, raised $32,520 for Mayor de Blasio’s campaign and inauguration.” The roll of the lobbyist will be to convince the Mayor of New York that Electric Zoo will provide a safe environment for all of those attending and the tragic events of the previous year were an isolated incident.