Official: Coliseum Director Must Resign Over Rave

Los Angeles - A member of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission called today for the resignation of the coliseum's executive director over a report that a top administrator was working simultaneously for the panel and a company planning a major rave event at the venue.

"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," Coliseum Commissioner Rick Caruso said. "Our executive director, Pat Lynch, was aware of this clear conflict of interest, approved it and hid it from the commissioners."

Lynch could not be immediately reached for comment.

Caruso's call for Lynch's resignation came in the wake of a report by the Los Angeles Times that Todd DeStefano -- the commission's longtime assistant general manager for events -- was working for both the commission and Insomniac Inc., the company that organized the Electric Daisy Carnival, an electronic music festival held at the Coliseum.

The 2010 carnival was marred by the Ecstasy-overdose death of a 15-year-old girl who had attended the event.

DeStefano began working with Insomniac about two months before the June 2010 event, and Lynch approved the arrangement, The Times reported.

Lynch said he reduced DeStefano's salary and changed his title after he started with Insomniac, but DeStefano continued to work for the commission on the Electric Daisy preparations. Lynch said DeStefano might have taken part in closed-door meetings of the commission in which its dealings with Insomniac were privately discussed, The Times reported.

Lynch said he recently informed Commissioner David Israel of the situation and was told that DeStefano's ties to Insomniac were improper and that he should choose between the company and the agency. Israel confirmed Lynch's account. "I was unhappy," Israel, who became commission president last week, told The Times. DeStefano resigned from the commission staff in January to pursue a full-time career as an events promoter -- including for Insomniac, which is seeking commission approval for another Electric Daisy.

State law generally forbids managers such as DeStefano to participate in decisions affecting a company in which they or their immediate family members have a financial stake. Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office has begun looking into the matter. An official with the California Fair Political Practices Commission told The Times the agency is also investigating.

According to The Times, DeStefano acknowledged his double employment, saying that he received payment through one of three companies that he has operated from his home since 2006. He declined to reveal the amount Insomniac paid him. DeStefano said his companies have not been engaged in any other business involving the Coliseum or the neighboring Los Angeles Sports Arena, which is also run by the commission. He said he did nothing wrong. Raves have become a major revenue source for the commission, a joint authority of the state and the city and county of Los Angeles. Last year's Electric Daisy was the biggest, drawing 185,000 people over the two days.