Pubdate: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 Source: Flint Journal (MI) Copyright: 2005 Flint Journal Contact: http://www.flintjournal.com Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/836 Note: Prefers to print letters from people in the area of The Flint Journal Related: City of Flint website http://www.cityofflint.com/ Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raves.htm (Raves) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/opinion.htm (Opinion) RAVE RAID What's Next for Party Spot Should Include State Action Until last weekend, the phrase "Getting Lucky" applied neatly to the now infamous Club What's Next of Flint, whose past problems with liquor control authorities netted it small penalties. But the Flint club's luck should be running out in the wake of a police raid early Sunday. The raid turned up a plethora of illegal drugs, made available to a crowd of 130 drawn by promotions published on the Internet for a "rave" party called ever-so-ironically "Getting Lucky." Ecstasy, blotter acid, a psychedelic mushroom, the date-rape drug GHB and the animal tranquilizer Ketamine were collected along with such standards as marijuana and cocaine. While the zoned-out revelers' luck went sour as police lined them up and searched them, the community's law-abiding majority discovered a stroke of good fortune in reports of very cooperative police work, especially by the Flint Area Narcotics Group and the Genesee County Sheriff's Posse. These units had been believed to be in competition, but appeared to have had no trouble coordinating efforts with Flint's Special Operations and Crime Area Target Team units. They picked up rowdy dancing drug customers from Saginaw, Clarkston, St. Clair Shores, Durand, Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, Livonia and Taylor along with DJs from Ohio. Among 118 arrested, 17 are charged with felonies and others with lesser drug offenses. Of all the Flint-area's finer amenities, who would have thought an obscure establishment called Club What's Next, 2511 W. Pasadena Ave., would be such a draw? Its history is hardly wholesome, including the shooting deaths of two men in its parking lot in 2000. In 2001, a fine of $600 was levied and the club threatened with license suspension after the state Liquor Control Commission alleged the owner had failed to maintain appropriate records for four years and had not cooperated with investigators. The club's luck must have been running high then, as the state opted not to suspend its liquor license. Perhaps last weekend's reported sales of liquor to minors, along with the drug activity, will get the state's sorely needed attention. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake