Comfort Zone Busted in Early Morning Raid
On a quiet Sunday morning when most Torontonians were still sleeping off their St. Patrick's Day outings from the night before, party-goers at the notorious Comfort Zone at Spadina and College were bounced by Toronto cops on a massive raid.
Local news sources Citynews and the Toronto Star were quick to cover the story, stating that authorities claimed it was a "routine" sweep. Yes, a "routine" sweep around 6am at a nightclub infamous for illegal after hours activities.
The writers at the National Post however, took their coverage further when they not only focused on the Comfort Zone but also erroneously turned their attention to the Silver Dollar nightclub next door. Dan Burke, booker of the Silver Dollar was quick to defend his club, maintaining that the bust will not affect the operations at the Silver Dollar.
Also: Official Toronto Police news release concerning the bust and arrested parties.
Photo: Something is Up by Mike Stroud
Comments (349)
routine? I would bet that every cop in this city knows exactly what comfort zone is and what goes on there. The owners must have some deal with the cops honestly. its beyond me how this place remains open. when it doesn't open till 6am and goes all day. I have been there once and I can safely say that everyone was under the influence of something other than a few drinks.
All I can say is that I'm glad I wasn't there! This is crazy! I still haven't heard from a few people that I know were there... Not too sure what to expect. The reports say that it went down at 6:30am, but CZ doesn't open til 6 and granted the line up outside would have been pretty big...
c'mon its CZ....what do you expect...i remember way back when i was attending the CZ if you were starting to lose your high, a bouncer would come by and give you a bump so you wouldn't pass out...lol..ah thank god those times are over...but hey most people don't even notice it happening...maybe it didn't happen much now..but in the past..it was more drug influenced...not to say that CZ today isn't as bad..but i think we could all manage a few more hours of sleep instead of a few more hours of drug use...
dude, it was not routine!!! there were 200 cops in there, with at least 50 swat team members. They ran a HUGE operation, shit was hitting the fan. 90% of the people in there got charged, all the doors were broken down, walls were taken down, pool tables, bathroom stalls couches - nothing was left unturned. they even had to call in paramedics, people were kicked around, strip searched, even molested. what a horrifying experience, and to think it was our first time in the place after hearing about it for so long... what are the odds eh? i should go out and buy a lottery ticket now!
cz opened at 4 am, shit when down at 6:30.. first set people people to come out were a/ clean (didn't have any drugs on their person) b/ didn't have a record. i was one of the fortunate ones, and i got out at 8:am after they processed me.
"Church" (where you go Sunday morning) is the least surprising establishment in the city for a raid... but I'm surprised at the number of arrests being reported. 150? How do cops arrest 150 people inside a venue? You'd think that by the time they got to the 50th and remaining 100 would think to ditch their stash, and then what crime are they committing?
there wasnt a way you could ditch your stash, like i said 200 cops. swat teams came and got everyone on the floor, face on the concrete and put plastic handcuffs on everyone. everyone around me had soooooo much shit on them, from every drug imaginable to hundreds of dollar separated. it wasn't the routine 5 cops mission man, 200 COPS, i kid you not. almost every one in my section had their own cop. 14 Division, the Drug Squad and the Emergency Task Force staged the take-down in a massive way!
JM - Molesting? A bust like this, I can see peoples rights getting trampled on, but are you really claiming the cops were...copping feels on people rather than patting people down?
this girl with me said she got felt up, cop was apparently trying to help her stand up and instead of grabbing her elbow he decided to grab her by the waist and up. the reason we needed help getting up was because they tied everyone up within the first 5 minutes of the raid and then relocated us. fortunately for us, the nightmare ended quickly at 8 am when they realized we were a bunch of randoms with no drugs and no records, which was apparently very uncommon. we were shoved out the door quickly at that point.
I was there as well. I have never had so many guns pointed at me. The police had assault rifles, it was very scary. The police seemed very violent and disorganized and many people were bleeding from the being thrown down on the ground. It seemed a real unnecessary show of force. My hands are still numb from the plastic cuffs!
I was there as well and one of the first dozen to be processed and let go. I can tell you one thing for sure they were extremely excessive.yup, everybody was arrested but few were charged. I lay face down cuffed for a good 45 minutes and everytime I moved to try and stay comfortable I had a boot jammed on the back of my head telling me not to fucking move! They intimidated the shit out of people, girls were crying, people bleeding and sent to the hospital. I'm talking innocent people that were released without charge. I was in the processing wagon when a woman cop brought this poor guy in bleeding from the head, the ears, just a mess. Her comment was that he was injured during the execution of the warrant. He was injured through police brutality. Nothing more, nothing less. This club has been going for 10 to 15 years and now they execute a hardcore raid. What were they doing...collecting intelligence for the last 14 years.C'mon, it was extremely excessive and unnecessary. Intimidation and brutality is all it was. There were 50 to 70 cops from the SWAT team, to gangs and guns, uniformed cops, undercover cops and the ems teams. These guys were real pricks on a night when 6 people were shot elsewhere in the city and they want to attack a group of people dancing on Happy Pills...c'mon. Ever seen a nightclub with 3000 people in it on alcohol. They turn into instant assholes with everyone beating the shit out of each other. This place has a great friendly atmosphere, with fun music and everybody having a great time. Then you have a place like the Matador thats with 500 yards of 14 Division thats been running for about 40 years with very little incident or cop activity outside of the odd cop that goes there after hours to drink and party. This I know for a FACT. There even trying to make this place a Heritage site. Its no secret you can buy a watered down mickey up in the front corner. The comfort zone has security at the front patting everyone down on the way in, no alcohol AT ALL and a really fun communal atmosphere for people into HOUSE music that have been out dancing and just dont want the night to end. Listen, I understand the need for crowd control and all that when executing a warrant but I work extremely hard all week, pay my taxes like a good boy, having never had a run in with the law and do not deserve to be treated they way I was. These cops were all there doing a meet and greet with each other. I saw at least 15 cops going around shaking hands and introducing them selfs to each other slapping each other on the back and congratulating each other. It was like a high school reunion for them and I'm pretty bloody pissed off about the whole thing. There are drugs everywhere in the city including our high schools, public parks and shopping malls....are they going to go around and start throwing people to the ground checking there pockets. If 20% of the population does drugs I'm sure pretty much 20% of any gathering will be guilty of that be we have rights and need to stand up for them. I truly hope I'm not the only one this pissed and that enough people stand up for this and acknowledge that it was unnecessary force, intimidation and Police brutality. These guys need to have a little more respect for there fellow man.....over and out
I wonder what happened? The CZ, and what goes on in there on a nightly basis, has been an open secret to anyone with an even passing knowledge of the Toronto club scene for years. I figured that the authorities just turned a blind eye because nothing really bad ever happened there (ie. fights, ODs, murders). I'm looking forward to hearing more details, but it certainly seems very random. The early reports about the behaviour of the police are a little troubling as well.
"everybody was arrested but few were charged"
In other news, 200 sweaty, furiously-pupiled, extremely talkative police officers were seen lying in a big pile in a nearby park Sunday afternoon, cuddling and grinding their jaws.
So now the police can go on TV tommorow morning just in time for the Monday morning news and tell everybody in Toronto what a great job they're doing, and tell us about all the people they arested, and all the drugs they confiscated. And the police will tell us how much safer our city streets are now as a result of their fine work.
Meanwhile, the piece of shit who organized the raid will end up with a promotion, which is of course, the only REAL reason this raid took place.
This is pretty disturbing news, and the general feeling I am getting from this is that the police acted with way too much force. I obviously hope there is major fallout from this, but it seems like cops never suffer the consequences of their actions.
I am a semi-regular CZ attendee, but not in the usual way. I go there to distribute condoms for a City of Toronto-funded organization. In fact, I wonder who from my organization was signed up for this morning's shift - I hope they didn't get arrested!
Listen,
The whole bust was a failure. The guy who died was prolly wearing a CZ wrist band, and they thought the drugs he died from came from CZ.
They tore the place apart from the inside out, and they found NOTHING.
They busted a few dealers prolly, but the club was innocent.
It'll reopen in a few weeks, the bust was a FAILURE
Fucking pigs are idiots.
Wow i got so lucky... i was out partying till early morning at another venue which name i dont want to disclose. Anyways we were all still in a dancing mood and didnt want the night to end so everyone with me wanted to go to comfort zone. I have only been there once before but didnt like the venue. After my friends told me how the redid the place and its better than before i decided to sit down in the car for a smoke with everyone and decide on my next move. Lucky for me i decided to just go home and dj at the house and just relax. I would have hated to have to be in a situation described above.
We all know what comfort zone is about but what surprises me most is some other larger venues in the city which are more famous dont ever get raided. I wonder why they singled out comfort zone i am sure they could have found more drugs in the same morning at a different club.
Now about the police behavior during the raid i totally believe danielle and others who have stated their opinion on the bust. Basically it was a free pass for the cops to go in to there and do what they want. They expected everyone to be on something in there so they though they can get away with murder inside there. I wish someone had video taped the behavior of the cops because i doubt anyone who was harrased/assaulted bother to file a complain. My advice to anyone who felt the cops were to aggressive or to daniella friend who claims to have been felt up please file a complaint.
This is disturbing. Why now? Why in such a manner? Was someone not properly paid off? What is the official reasoning? What do the local Municipal, Provincial, Federal representatives say? I too would be curious to hear Adam Vaughns comment on this- I can hardly say I have spent almost anytime at CZ-but if one wanted to design a Safe Streets campaign they could do worse than to allow spaces to exist where people could safely congregate in the morning an through the day rather than wandering the streets intoxicated-
The entire situation is suspect- But I think one thing in particular should be hilighte for review-
Can police get a warrant that allows them to search everyone in a public space? Is that legal? Should it be?
The thought of the entire population of any form of establishment being cuffed, searched, and having their files pulled is rather disturbing. Is this a common practice?
I hope more comes to light on this - and it sounds very much like there should be some kind of review of police behaviour in this case- If nothing like that happens I think the public should cry foul on the Police Review Board-
The National Post article actually kind of disturbs me a little. If you click on that link, you'll still see the headline "Dozen's rounded up in raid on chinatown nightclub" with a large photo of the Silver Dollar Room.
Even though they've been shown they were mistaken with their original story, they decided to keep the existing story up. And instead of offering a retraction, they simply put up a quote by the Silver Dollar's owner making it sound like he's defending a guilty club.
"swat teams came and got everyone on the floor, face on the concrete.."
Now that is a fate I would not wish upon my worst enemy.
*shudder*
It's a sad day in toronto when its cops turn out to be power hungry, trigger happy assholes that seem to gain sadistic pleasure and bravado from its peers for their shameful actions.
From the stories I've heard of the raid that night the cops really thought they had a 'free pass' on their actions.
From breaking basic human rights to using beyond excessive force to females being inappropriately treated they seem to have run rampant behind the closed doors.
I really hope someone is held accountable for how the whole operation was executed and I hope we see a few law suits slapped at these assholes in the near future. Until then, I guess we can all feel a little safer in the city upto the point when we ourselves become victims of similar circumstances.
Or we could just wait and find out what actually happened instead of immediately believing everything a few people posting on an internet blog say.
Somehow I doubt that most of those allegations are true. Molestation? Honestly?
I still love that place. I was not there that morning but have been going allot. It's all about the music.
what were the cops supposed to do? continue ignoring the CZ?
but now that its over, CZ can go back to its original vibe, no doubt with some apprehension and hesitation.
This is what the drug-free part of society wants. this is how their cops react.
To answer the question of "why now?" No doubt the police have a certain quota they have to pull in; there is no conspiracy; no pay offs - NADA! This is all about stats and getting the drugs on the table for tv cameras.
While I empathize with people who say they've been roughed-up, what the fuck do you expect? You're in an illegal club/ drug haven with loads of drugs on you? Jesus, do you think you're above the law and entitled to a sit-down chat???
"It's a sad day in toronto when its cops turn out to be power hungry, trigger happy assholes that seem to gain sadistic pleasure and bravado from its peers for their shameful actions."
"Trigger happy" ??
There are cameras in the club.
Anyone who got sexually harassed or assaulted by the police should ask CZ for the tapes.
Then, you can file a complaint, or even a lawsuit.
The police had to choose between a few things that weekend.
They either had to handle the shootings, or go after something a lot easier.
Anyone who has lived in this city for 10 years or more would automatically know, that toronto police are COWARDS.
They go after the easiest tasks, they find ways to do their jobs as easy as possible. They never go after the big fish, because they are pussies.
This is why our shootings never decrease, the murders never go down and true crime will always flow the city.
The toronto police work for crime. They sell the drugs they confenscate when they're not on shift and they steal any money they can get.
It was an easy picken, and they knew the club made a lot of money, which they stole from the office/safe as well.
It wasn't about the drugs.
It was a ROBBERY.
What a joke this is!!!
You expect the cops to keep turning a blind eye to this kind of shit!!! This place is a drug den, The VAST majority of people that go the CZ are going there for drugs...Coke...Speed..GIB......XTC etc. and you expect the cops to let this go one with out any kind of bust???
As for "CZ is about the music man!!!" what a pile of shit that is...These dj's are not talented Dj's/producers, from Europe..they are just local guys spinning some tunes to trip out to.
And as for the dirtbags that are saying.."OMG WOMAN WERE MOLESTED BY THE POLICE AND MEN SAVAGELY BEATEN..."
Get a grip..This is not A raid by the Khemer Rouge
Noone is right or wrong here, Comfort Zone is known to be hell and heaven to many and I'm sure while the ones enjoying the vibe and all (like myself, I went back after years and I was dancing to Deko Zee killer beats) it was truly something I ll never forget, however I've also experienced some traumatic times, seeing people passing out, completely out, some have died, as we all know and while we cannot point fingers, having a place open for another 12 hours of partying on Sunday, it is a major temptations to those who have already lost many brain cells. Look, I'm older now, I can see the danger, I'm VERY LUCKY, I m a decent human being, work hard, University education, etc etc, I had the most amazing times at CZ but when i see those kids, completely out of it, almost anorexic, I feel awful, is an ugly truth. I hope this is a wake up call, and if CZ IS TRULY about the music, then let it be that way, the truth is, noone is there completely sober!!! I tried it once and I couldn't even enjoy the music I so much love because I was so scared, I saw some pretty nasty things.
Maybe this was just a big wake up call, maybe someone could have died that day :( Anyways what I DO NOT tolerate is the excessive force the police used on the patrons, treating them like dirt, some girls telling they were molested, I believe it. That is why noone is truly right or wrong, nothing was absolute that morning. You should report if you were mistreated, don't be silent about it even if nothing gets done, do your part. Police are NOT that innnocent we have seen much corrupted officers, ESPECIALLY when drugs are involved.
no really, im not putting up a reaction post. i've heard first person accounts of that night from people who were there and there's a lot that happened in a short span of time which are best told by people who went through the ordeal themselves. i really hope people come forward with this thing and we can all look at it for what it is.
i think one thing we are all forgetting is that the comfort zone was a legal establishment that served patrons and was famous for its music all over the city. so for the police to break in and treat every single individual like criminals and junkies has got to be unacceptable.
i'm very much interested to see what the press conference thats scheduled today brings out to the media.
I have a feeling that the cops were looking for and found alot of drugs.
FUN FACT....Drugs are apart of violence....I am not saying that anyone at CZ was violent...although the bikers and gangsters that contribute to the drug trade are VERY violent...and i am pretty sure the patrons at CZ on a whole were large consumers
I dont think the raid was carried out because the cops dont like Acid Techno.
Are you fucking kidding me? It's a raid, FOR FUCKS SAKE that was open illegally after-hours!!!
It was NOT a robbery and if any money was taken, it was done so because it would be evidence. The money would be labelled as profits from crime and confiscated.
The police do not work for crime and nor do they sell drugs on the side. Get a crip, people. Just because we're lefties, doesn't mean the police are against us. Jesus Christ.
The cops really know how to pick there fight!! Go after consenting adultes, if it is in after hours clubs or strip clubs!!??? How many 10000 's of $ are spent on these raids ???!!!! Month's of undrecover investigations..... Solve the real crime and let the people who are just having a little bit of fun after long day of work have some fun!!!
Me and are husband love Zone. The best music in town, we 've been going for 2 years. we heard all the stuff about it and promissed we 'll never go... One day, good friend's b- day.. we went. It was not like what we heard!! Yes, it is a bit sketchy, but everyone is friendly, music is fantatic You can never dance the way you dance in Zone anywhere alse. I accully feel safe there. Nobody is agresive or rud or just asshole.
Go to reguler club!!! I'll be hit on by guys and scare my husbend will get hurt if he stands up for me.
Like I sad: PICK YOUR FIFGHTS ,POLICE, LET PEOPLE HAVE FUN AND FIGHT THE REAL CRIME!!!"
I am pretty sure extensive drug use and Illegal operation of a night club would be considered a "real crime"
@torontonian.
CZ wasn't open illegally. It doesn't serve booze, and can therefore open whenever it wants.
POLICE JUST WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO ALL THE UNDERGROUND DEALERS MAKING A KILLING SELLING RIGHT UNDER THERE NOSES..SOMEONE OBVIOUSLY DID'NT GET PAID OFF RIGHT OR THE POLICE WOULD OF LEFT IT A KNOWN SECRET.. NONE OF THE BIG GUYS WERE THERE SO ALL THAT MONEY IN LABOUR WAS A WASTE OF TIME...THEY JUST WANTED TO TRY TO SCARE EVERYONE IN THE SCENE...FUCK THERE ARE DRUGS IN EVERY BAR, CLUB , HOUSE JAM...WHY BOTHER A BUNCH OF G'D OUT PEOPLE NOT CAUSING ANY PROBLEMS...
@ dilla
Lets not kid each other....
CZ maybe alowed to open for whatever hours they want because they dont serve booze...
But lets be real....The people attending are not buying orange juice and cereal at that time...
The place is used to drugs
Tell me then - if it's not illegal, why was it busted? And please don't give me some stoner conspiracy answer.
While the legal system will have to work through whether or not any crimes in fact occurred, I've experienced similar police behaviour to the brutality described above. After five years of fighting the complaint and legal process, I walked away from my experience with two apologies and a cash settlement from Toronto police. So with that, I offer a bit of free advice:
File a complaint with the police if you feel their actions were beyond what you believe is fair, reasonable and aligned with the powers and responsibilities of a police officer. It isn't a quick or easy process. If you get anywhere with it, it'll take you years to see results. This might be the most flawed system of police accountability of any Western jurisdiction. But, bottom line, if you want cops to respect your rights then file the complaint. I was arrested at a political demonstration and the message to me was "Don't come back," clearly that's what was intended by the massive amount of resources dedicated to this raid.
For specifics on the complaint process visit http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/professionalstandards/complaint.php.
For anyone who was present at the raid, write down everything you can recall about the raid ASAP. The longer you wait the less vivid your memory and if you ever have to testify about your experience using your notes will make you much more credible. Next, find as many people as you can who were also present for the raid and get them to also write about their experience. Keep their contact information so you can reference each other as witnesses.
You have up to six months from the date of the incident to file a complaint so you don't need to rush. Collect all of your thoughts and take the time to describe every aspect of your complaint in a letter to the Toronto Police Service (details at the link above). The more specific your complaint the better the chance you have of being successful in getting the justice you're seeking.
Be prepared for the police to tell you that your complaint is without merrit. That was their first response to me. You have the right to appeal that decision to the provincial police oversight body, the Ontario Civillian Commission on Police Services. You will get a fairer evaluation of your complaint from OCCOPS.
Finally, though you don't require a lawyer to file a complaint, if you can find one who will offer you advice or a bit of assistance in navigating the system, that is optimal.
Oh god.
I could imagine what the meth heads in that club will do with any cash settlement they might get.
Sounds like more crimes were committed when the police were in there than before they stepped foot in the joint. Stupid pigs.
Slugzkea - Please get your facts right. European Djs actually HAVE dj-ed there and very recently. Also, just because a Dj is from Europe does not mean they are the only ones who are talented.
Laidback Luke - Producer and talented DJ from the Netherlands was there in December. Just one example.
I've had more problems and seen more violence at the Guvernment Nightclub from drunken party goers. I've been molested in there in the Orange Room and bouncers ignored my pleas for the offender to be thrown out and my friends beaten. I've had no problems from a few visits to the Zone. This raid co-incides with a recent change in ownership, a new afterhours opening elsewhere with ex zone employees working at the new place and one of the patrons dying from a drug related death. There are no "Bikers" in there... this rumour makes me laugh. Mainly a bunch of people from all walks of life - students, professionals, and yes, a few people who probably abuse stuff a little too often, but they don't cause problems. They keep themselves to themself and just dance.
The main question about this very public raid I have is "why now?"
I'm already hearing crap uttered about the place in work and it's shocking how much influence the media has on people.
Also - the club is NOT illegal!!! How can somewhere operate for 10 years and be illegal? It was busted as cops were looking for gang member activity - that is illegal, not the club itself.
@ Marie.
Give me a break.
This is not 1998 people need to find something better to do with thier time then OD in a drug den at 7 Am
John Marks and Adam, both are great comments you've written.
This is not a black and white issue, and those who have opinions, should consider both sides without such insulting comments.
@torontonian
It's moments like these where cops earn a name like pig. Call them what you want, but it's amazing to me how naive some posts are about the extent to which cops can abuse the power they are given. It's true that those of us who were not at the CZ during the raid do not know what happened, and the chances are very good that the media will not accurately depict what took place. However, given the history of the Toronto police and the details of some firsthand accounts, it's not hard to imagine what went on. Someone mentioned the surveillance tapes ... I will bet good money that the tapes will either be confiscated "as evidence" and never shown, or they will magically disappear. If they ever surfaced on the net, I'm sure Toronto would go wild. Video footage of police brutality seems to be the only way to wake some people up to what goes on.
@marie
Funny how folks are too quick to blame the media for reporting the wrong side of events and yet, others are so quick at painting the police with a single brush stroke.
I'm sure the "first hand" accounts you hear will no doubt be non-partisan and balanced!
Seriously people your at an after hours place at 7 am that is known by everyone to be a drug haven, and yet some of you feel that the police are in the wrong? I hate cops too, but have some common sense and do something better with your time then be up till 7 at the hole that is CZ, drug user or not.
A massive, coordinated police raid on a well-known bastion for hard drugs (distributed to and used by underaged patrons) should have been forceful and swift. Things shouldn't come to blows/blood unless patrons resist and more force than necessary (for cooperative suspects) is required.
Sounds to me like it was handled as it should have been handled: storm the place, force everyone into a position that allows police to sort out the good from the bad, take away those breaking the law, and let go the rest.
It sounds like a lot of e-tards on party hour 24 are upset that they had their face to the concrete for half an hour before being let go. A drug raid isn't ever a pretty scene, and if you set yourself up in a place like CoZo there may be a price to pay once in a while.
I'm surprised how many people are defending the club. Yes they were open legally, and yes there is ALWAYS illegal activity going on in the CZ.
But to say there is a quota for cops is ridiculous. To say that they robbed the CZ is ridiculous. To say the cops should look the other way is ridiculous.
We all the CZ's rep. If you go there, you may not being doing lots of drugs or any drugs at all but you should expect the place to be under scrutiny.
For the rest of the e-heads still thinking its 1994, relax. Another venue will open soon enough to dance and dose your life away.
its not the first time zone's been raided and it won't be the last... every now and then the cops have to make a sweep and make their presence known... they do uniformed walk throughs of the place sometimes ... they know what goes on in there... zone'll be back... and it will get raided again... the circle of life according to the laws of the universe in zone!
@slugzkea
'As for "CZ is about the music man!!!" what a pile of shit that is...These dj's are not talented Dj's/producers, from Europe..they are just local guys spinning some tunes to trip out to.'
you sir, are an idiot that obviously knows nothing about the scene or electronic music whatsoever. some of the most talented djs/producers in the world have passed through the comfort zone - and the locals that do spin there have telent coming out of their arse - sydney blu - check out beatport.com right now - number 5 track in the world right now - yeah, she's got no talent - you idiot.
According to the Toronto Police Services website, they are having a press conference today at 1pm. I think this will tell the police side of the story.
First of all, let's tell it like it is: Comfort Zone is a venue for people to continue doing drugs from the night before. Yeah sure, there are people there who are not high, but they are the exception - for gods sake, the place OPENS at 6 a.m. So, enough with the "cops are assholes for arresting a bunch of innocents", etc. - it's crap, and you know it. That is a risk that you assume when you decide to rock hard. Not trying to preach - I like to rock too - but please cut the BS for ht epueposes of discussion.
That said, there seems to be confusion about the cops. THE POLICE ARE DIRTY. THEY TAKE BRIBES TO "LOOK THE OTHER WAY" FROM PLAZES LIKE CZ AND THE OTHER AFTER HOURS BARS. OF COURSE THE COPS KNOW ABOUT CZ AND ALL THE OTHER ONES. THE ONLY REASON THAT THEY DO NOT GET RAIDED IS BECAUSE THE DIRTY LYING SLEAZY PUNK COPS EXTORT MONEY FROM THE BAR OWNERS.
CZ doesn't pay protection, the cops likely decided it was time after enough complaints from locals.
You can sue the police in small claims court. It doesn't cost much to file the claim, and the cops always settle rather than go to court, where they would have to testify. You can only claim up to $10K in small claims court, but you don't need a lawyer and it costs way less. File a claim for injuries sustained as a result of the use of excessive force by the police. CZ is, as far as I know, a legal establishment, so the mere fact that a person was there would not make the person a 'default' criminal, such as a person in an illegal after-hours bar. Consequently, the cops have no justification for the degree of force apparently used.
And press conferences aren't much better than some of the responses on here; they just have better grammar.
http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/media...03.17-1300.mp3
Live audio feed of the Police Press Conference
People think the act of being arrested is an act of violence in itself. I was treated like everyone there. I wasn't on anything but coffee, was told to lie down, was handcuffed, was searched, processed let go, that's it. People that had the same treatment as me were crying and hyperventilating and begging the police to stop, and I'm not talking about women,(the women around me were very mature about everything) I'm talking about 200 pound slobs, crying for their mommies. "OFFICER I CAN'T BREATH, OFFICER I THINK I'M HAVING A HEART ATTACK, OFFICER I WONT BE ABLE TO FACE MY MOMMY IN THORNHILL IF YOU ARREST ME" If you talk to all 200 people there, you will get 200 different stories, if you watch everything like a fly on a wall (like those supposed security tapes) you will see a well organised raid with no panic provoked, they moved in, and got everyone on the floor within 30 seconds and started processing. I was one of the lucky ones that got out within half an hour so I do feel for those who were there for three hours. I am not a fan of the police in this city, but , they did their job the way they were told and, other than the guy with gauze around his head, noone was hurt. Now the question is, why this place and not the 5 other places in the city that not only have lineups to the washrooms with dealers standing by the door, but also serve booze. Not that I want those places closed (other than the fact that you can't take a piss because some cokeheads are having a private party in the loo) but why not them first?
^^^Great post^^^
A raid is never usually a great thing to go through..
Get it together, move on...
Geez.... drugs are everywhere, and they treated Comfort Zone like it was some big meth lab. What happened in this case? Simple.. someone didn't get paid so the cops moved in....
To all those who are defending the cops and saying that these kids got what they deserved, let me ask you - why does it bother you so much that people are up a t 7am having a good time, whether on drugs or not? Jealous that it's not you?
Well looks like all the people just trying to have a good time were being not so nice.
"It is alleged that drugs, which included heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and GHB, with a
value of $30,000, were seized, along with $35,000 cash."
That being said..
I sued to go to after hours when i was a wee lad aswell, but hasnt that fad passed???
Like common who listens to Goa Trance anymore?
It doesn't bother me and I'm not jealous at all. Been there, done that, moved on.
The point is that when you knowingly engage in illegal activity you can hardly cry foul when you get caught. The way some of you are carrying on it's as if you believe there is some grand conspiracy to stop the kids from dancing. It's Footloose all over again.
The CZ has a druggy reputation. It's hardly surprising that the cops knew about it too. It's far more likely that they were responding to community pressure.
Yeah, that's another thing. Isn't it a little embarassing that there's an after hours rave club still operating? In 2008? We don't want that getting out. Other cities will make fun of us.
LOL @ TRIPPER
Also if you check out the police statment it specifically mentions why the raid took place.
I find it so funny that people don't think that drug use/posession is a crime. Just becuase you have a pocket full of drugs and not gang banging in Rexdale does not mean that you are not BREAKING THE LAW
the day I see Bush arrested and there is no more war, I'll stop doing E, til then peace love and dance
For everyone who is upset about this raid there is a wonderful program out there it is called Narcotics Anonymous. Check out the website find a meeting and go to one. If you are one of the lucky ones you will get a life shortly thereafter.
All of this because some dumb rich white bitch's brother CHOSE to do drugs and overdosed on them.
Then cried to the police, putting CZ to blame.
Keep crying you stupid fucking whore, your brother got what he deserved.
NO ONE, not the club or anybody forced the drugs down his throat, his choice was his own demise.
I could only wish you died along with him.
you fucking stupid bitch.
Think of how many jobs you killed for people, but you'll never know what that's like since your mommy and/or daddy pay for everything.
UPDATE:
The drugs they found were off the people partying there, and not from the club.
The cash they siezed was from the SAFE in the office, which they broke into and stole.
The only thing that can shut down the club now is fire violations.
They had nothing on the club.
WHITE RABBIT WAS A FLOP! SPREAD THE WORD
There's also over 10 lawyers trying to get everybody out, and I heard that most charges will be dropped.
The cops FUCKED up, and they didn't get the tapes to the cameras, haha.
So anyone who got felt up by the police, or beaten, CZ still has the tapes.
Lawsuit people, lets fight this!
@ slugzkea
Fight what?
A raid on a club for known drug use?
I dont understand.
Secondly, You don't think that the law has any requirement to raid an establishment that after another regional Police dept. investigation shows that drugs purchased there after someone dies?
Try to think through your K-Hole think for a moment
WTF! I thought the cops were paid to leave us the F alone at the Zone. This is BS, just because some guy OD'd and died after attending - that's why all this went down. TO THE FAMILY: it's not the CZ's fault your kid died, he would have gotten drugs either way, at least he had a safe, fun place to use. Now we will die on the streets - is that better for you?
First of all, I don't do k.
Second of all, the club does not sell drugs.
If you knew anything about clubbing, all clubs have drugs.
You can't find them all when you search people, it's like boarder crossing.
The cops can't stop all traffiking, same thing applies to the clubs.
There's something to fight, because the warrant was to bust the club for selling drugs and they found NOTHING.
THE CLUB DOES NOT SELL DRUGS.
so fuck you.
There's also no proof that the drugs came from CZ, or that they were purchsed from CZ.
Just because the moron od'ed and died wearing a CZ wrist band doesn't mean he got the drugs from there, or even dosed them there.
He coulda dosed them while he was at home and was too fucked up to realize that he was still wearing his wrist band.
even though comfort zone has a sick music this place is a hell...unfortunately that place ruined a lot of lives. not everyone can handle drugs very well, and we all know that drugs keep that place jumping. some people over do it and some even die. they lose jobs and relationhips. its a fact. I would be really happy if somehow CZ would be a cleaner place. meaning less druggies and fags. period
Also, the woman who was working coat check, it was her Birthday that morning.
The cops took her tip cup, full of her hard earned tips, and REFUSED to give her, her money
Her own damn tip money she earned, on her birthday.
You call that justice?
That is theft, Fuck the police. Fucking cowards. Yeah nice bust, White Rabbit Pussy Shit.
Go hunt people in Regent or Rexdale and leave peaceful clubs the fuck alone.
Wow to wish someone would die along with whomever OD there, wow drugs have cause some major mental disability, watch yourself kid, what u wish to others sooner than later can happen to YOU!!!! How sad is this
That is correct - I bring and use drugs to every club I attend, including CZ....so the bust was a waste of time, inspired by some rich family who lost their son - f'in stupid man. Good waste of tax dollars once again - 200 cops at $200 each (at least) = $40,000 tax thrown in the garbage. Everyone is gonna get off and CZ (or another after hours) will be in operation by next week. Good job everyone.
It's about time. I used to attend Divine Sunday's there for 2/3 years from 1999-2002 and when I went there for a gag about 8 months ago with a friend we were in shock.
Back in the day when clubs like X-It and Industry were still running people would head to the CZ to keep the party going, sure there's a few people still in it for the beats but the majority of people there now are complete junkies. I mean the crowd there now looks like something from a horror flick.
Don't get me wrong there were always a few heavy hitters, gangsters, :), but not the extent of crack and crystal heads that there are now. The rave or party scene has been dead for quite some time and I think the Zone should stay closed for good.
It won't happen to be because I'm not a drug abuser.
And i ain't no fucken kid, I defend the club because there's way worst places.
I'm not saying the place was all bright and sunshine, but it definately didn't get what it deserved.
I wouldn't work at any other club, especially the ones in the shooting district for that main reason.
Barely any fights happen there.
Barely anyone leaves on a stretcher there, and there's no stabbings to my memory of the years being there/working there.
Say all you want, my evidence is practical.
CZ will live.
Believe me Rick, I stay in touch with a lot of the DJs who spin at places like Footwork and so on, it's nothing like it was b4...
The comment about the raid being inspired by a rich family, I think I agree with that. I've been to cz my share of times, and I remember seeing crazy things. BUT, like people have said, if you WANT to surround yourself with that kind of stuff, then go for it. why the hell not? If the guy didn't OD there he probably would have OD'd somewhere else. I have intimate knowledge of how our justice system works, including the Police, and I think that the people involved were just doing their job. They don't know what's happening waaaay above them, up the chain of command. Everything was probably planned, just get in, do it, make the "public" (ie, the guy's family) happy, and then you can go back to your routine.
On the other hand, I woudn't care it cz was gone for good. I watched an old man, older than anyone should be to party like that, sit in a chair and choke on his own vomit. He wasn't drunk that's for sure. I told one bouncer and he didn't even care. I went and found another bouncer that I was familiar with and told him. He took the guy somewhere...who knows. Things like the G-out room? The room you only get to be in if you are so f'd you can't even sit up. I've heard of people getting raped and robbed in there because they can't defend themselves. The whole place is a sad example of how pathetic humans can be.
Anyway, whatever, I'm not judging. People are going to do drugs no matter what, but you can't really deny that that place is revolting.
John, I've been partying since the Zone was called BUZZ and before that. I've attended parties at Footworks and still party, not as often as I used to, but still do. It's up to you and the people your with - positive vibe = good time. You may be right, it might not generally be all as good as in the past. But this is about something different. Places like CZ should remain in operation - there is nothing wrong with it.
Please slugzkea, you are so full of shit. Every weekend some is going out on a stretcher, just instead of bleeding they are twitching. One is better then the other? CZ is an open sore that make all TO clubs look bad. The only reason they don't have a liquor licence is because they would not get one if they tried it is just too notorious of an address. The major dealers do pay to have people in there, and no not the cops they pay the owners of the bar. You need to give you head a shake and realize that it is a negative influence on our community as a whole, that is why it got raided, OD'ed Hamiltonian or not it is a shit hole and should be shut down. That scene was good ten years ago, try living in today.
The fucking pigs will never receive justice for this pathetic event. Another fucked up situation in this world.
HMM - that the CZ is revolting is your opinion. The place gets top DJ's from Toronto and around the world. It is a fun place with the best music in the city. I saw I guy choke and pass out at a Kelsey's - so what! Lets close down the Kelsey's chain now. People use drugs at CZ, its no secret, again who cares. People use drugs at every club - big deal. We need a place like CZ - I will defend that to the end.
What is this really? The police are idiots and can't resolve all the gun violence in the city so they raid a club full of people just wanting to have a good time and dance? It's a waste of my tax dollars employing over 90 officers to do this. Then more of my tax dollars wasted on charges against 30 people, court hearings and jailing them. REDICULOUS!!!
The people posting here about how the cops couldn't possibly have had any corrupt intentions here are the ones who must've spent the past decade dazed in a basement...
exuser: people leave twitching on a stretcher everytime there is and Ultimate Fighting match too. We all know the risks when using drugs so that has nothing to do with it. CZ is an amazing, euphoric underground place - it should remain open. I will attend, regardless of people exiting on stretchers. If you can't handle it, shut up and stay home.
People leaving on a stretch every weekend?
Buddy, i work there, every weekend.
The last time some one left on a stretcher was a girl who g'ed out at coat check and smacked her head on the counter.
and before that, it was over a year ago.
So be quiet, stop talking nonsense. Better yet, tell me your name so i'll ban your ass and you'll never be able to party there again.
You people who defend this place are completely fucked! DRUG USE AND DISTRIBUTION IS ILLEGAL! If you choose to use it and do it, use discretion. The younger punters are all heat score attention grabbers. Do you really think this was inevitable? Bravo cops... Keep it up :)
GG, drugs are illegal, who fuckin cares! So is speeding and not wearing a seat belt. Drugs will be used, there is nothing you or anyone can do about it. You think if the cops close CZ that's gonna change? NO WAY, we will continue to party and CZ should remain in operation.
Yes, bravo busting a place of little to no violence while people are getting shot raped and murdered daily.
Bravo indeed.
A lot of drugs are legal as well, for example: the cure for asthma are cortic-steriods.
yeah that's right, steroids. do you know how terrible steriods are? they are worst then any street drug you can imagine.
Do some real research.
BAck in my CZ days, 5 -6 yrs ago, the COPs or piggies as some would like to call them, would come in and patrol ther at least twice on Sundays. One in the MOrning and another pair in the eveing. I even remember one of them chatting with addie as he dj'd. They were always there. Even hanging outside chillin in there patrol cars for hours. So this whole raid seems just a little bit strange. There is definately something bigger than, oh there's drugged out people in there, let save the community...
As for the treatment of teh goers by the cops. We all know cops are assholes, wether it be a parking ticket to j-walking. They are assholes. so something like this raid ofcourse people are going to come out bleeding. what's going to come out of their behaviour? nothing...They believe they are god's gift to our city. Well, they are not. I don't think God made that type of Assholes!
I've attended CZ at least 200 times, I've never witnessed any violence, anyone hurt, anyone needing medical care or anything negative whatsoever. It is an amazing place to dance and meet fun people. Long live Comfort Zone.
I'm not a patron of CZ, but what upsets me is that this was a raid... on space that I perceived to be safe place to experience to escape life. People choose to go that private space, with a like minded community of people that choose that option. The individuals that were at that space on Mar. 16, 2008 at 6:00am were dancing to music that took them to another level. Some were there not using too, unlikely but so.
The idea marketed and sold that drugs are bad; well not all drugs? but those drugs that don?t cure, but that make your mind go to another space and time? that make you see things and feel things totally different. That white powder that you sniff that you know will take you out of the world and make you feel alive, then will make you feel the exact opposite? those tablets of ecstasy? that?s just wrong to feel, and to enjoy. Yeah, that?s completely wrong. Yeah, should totally be avoided and we should lock up all those people that were there a supporting a local club and subject them to searches, harassment, scorn, because when we do? we will live in a safer world? because those people had $35,000 to seize and some of the tablets to a different type of life.
Maybe targeting individuals is the way for the target (aka WAR) on DRUGS should work to knock out this terrible drug issue this country faces. But maybe we should, have a raid on every single residence and maybe every single car and person should be searched daily at every corner to sniff out this terrible, terrible problem. Or maybe we should just get on with it? education is the key. Establish rules, and sell it, at the local drug store? think of the profits? and creating safe places.
The people that don?t want to, don?t have to? those that choose can. Period, let?s start focusing on other issues and problems. Drugs are not going away today.
Of course, Rick, drugs are illegal. You tell me that that today's CZ Sunday crew are concealing what they do? It's out in the open for everyone to see. Finally the cops are doing something to stop street level drug trading! That's why they have a DRUG SQUAD. And about murders being committed... That's a different dept. Same with speeding... They have other cops for that!!!!
Ban me? I would not be caught dead in that place! Christ I grew out of that when it was still cool. You are simply lying. There is an EMS team there every weekend, just because you throw them out as they OD does not mean that they had nothing to do with your club. The fact that you get them far away enough from the door to make it not your problem is disgusting. If you really do work there you know how disgusting of a place it is, wake up and get a life, there is a lot more to this beautiful world then getting high in a dirty dark basement, and or living off the avails. You are truly pathetic and I wish you would get some help. No normal/sane person works in that environment unless they are there trying to help people like one of the earlier posters who hands out condoms.
They only bust illegal drugs because they can't tax them.
Anyone can over-dose on pharmasudicals just as easily and as horribly as street drugs.
It's all about the mooolah, which the cops got anyways. They robbed CZ's safe and instead of finding drugs, they found money.
So in the long run, they earned some easy cash that day, beating up people and groping women.
GG, the cops wasted their time and our tax dollars by raiding CZ yesterday. When Toronto hosts an AC/DC concert - do you know that they (the cops) can seize way over $35,000 worth of drugs and they know it. These venues should be left alone. This raid was percipitated by the pressure from a family that lost their son to drugs - that's BS - leave us alone. These are way better ways to get drugs out of our community and it starts with education.
exuser you're an idiot and very ignorant to say that any patron or staff of CZ is not normal or sane. It shows who the truly insane one is here - you are buddy
Police allege staff members at the nightspot were participating in the drug dealing, and authorities are currently working to have it closed down permanently.
"Drugs were being used openly, drugs were being sold openly. Tables were being set up like flea markets, where people could look at what they wanted to buy," Roseto alleges.
Fazio's heartbroken family spoke at the press conference.
"At the beginning of the year my brother was introduced to the drug called GHB. On January 27th after having a good night out with friends, he ended up taking GHB and overdosing.I don't want another family to feel the way we feel. I'm very happy that a place like this has been closed down," said Andrew's sister Sarah.
"Is life so bad that you have to take these drugs to disappear for a while?" questioned his grieving mother Karen. "This cost me my son. Until you lose a child you don't know just how bad it is. He made a big mistake.
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_20699.aspx
It is what IT IS people.
@ Rick
Someone choking at Duff's on a chicken wing is a little differnt then a 40 year old man choking on his own vomit due to drug use and then being dragged to some demented "G'ed out room".
People do drugs and die, people walk across the street and die - who cares. The boy dieing has nothing to do with CZ. Yes we openly use drugs at CZ - we also openly use drugs at a heavy metal concert at the Air Canada centre. This will always go on - it you don't want to attend shut up and stay home.
Rick, be honest with yourself. Would you like your younger brother party at CZ till 6pm after being up all night! What if he was the one who died? How would your mother feel about that? How would you be able to cope with all this going on? You people should wake up! It's not about some rich family being the focus of reasoning for this raid. It's about morality! I've been to 488 since it was the Buzz! The place has always been a dark and dirty breeding ground for sketch! I would not want my kids going to do or see what I did there! I truly do regret it! After the party - Go home and sleep! Recreational drugs should be used in moderation... Not in the excessive manner they are done there!
I love how people get upset because thier favorite drug den gets shut down but have no sympathy for a mother that lost her child.
apetimberlake: Nobody forced the 40 year old man to take G. Why is the fact that he took G the CZ's fault - he would gave taken G weather CZ was around or not? If he was at home alone vomiting on his puke he would have died. If anything he was saved by the staff at CZ
Alright, I can't take it anymore. For people who are Zoners, you're going to find out who i am right now.
I have worked way too fucking hard, CLEANING that damn place for a few years, and fighting for a bouncer's position which was finally granted to me about half a year ago.
I take my job extremely seriously. We take care of people doing drugs there and when they show signs of Od'ing, we babysit them. We make sure they don't choke on their own vomit. We give them drinks, and we don't let them go home until we decide that they are sober.
We take care of our customers. Now imagine, I cleaned that fucking place, okay.
I CLEANED, that place for almost two years. You think i would back up CZ if i truely thought it was horrifying shithole?
Get real. CZ is by far a responsible, professional club.
I remember passing out in a toilet bowl at kathedral, piss drunk and they threw me right out.
I could of died from alcohol poisoning for all I knew, That's how they handle their customers.
Fazio's family can burn in hell. The club did nothing to their son, he did it to himself.
It proves how fucking stupid the Fazio family truly is for trying to blame their own son's incompetence, and their flawed parenting on CZ.
Fazio's, Fuck you.
GG drugs are not necessarily done in excess there, that is your assumption and you are sterotyping. Many do it in moderation and enjoy the music and dance. I hear what you are saying, that losing a family member would give a different prospective. I just believe CZ has absolutely nothing to do with the problem of people dieing from drug use - it will happen somewhere anyways. I've also attended 488 since BUZZ and as you may see it as a dark and dirty place, my experiences have always been positive, bright, loving, happy and friendly there at CZ.
Rick:
But the fact of the matter is that you need to stop living in denial.
Your trying to tell us that the atmosphere of drug abuse in that place is acceptable because CZ did not sell people drugs directly..
Common...This is a business....The owner makes cash from people using the club as a drug den.
slugzkea:
You need to keep it together...
Sane people do not work in that environment. A sane person may walk in there as a patron, but no sane person would expose themselves to that type of degradation for a living. I know a lot of people who have worked there over the years. I have a very intimate knowledge of this particular establishment and the fact that it has been allowed to stay operation to this point is appalling. If the death of this poor young man is what starts the public outcry to have this dump shut down for good so be it, but it needs to be done one way or another.
apetimberlake: then we will need to close every club in the city, because I've used and have found drugs in abundance in every club I've attended in Toronto. The only reason why CZ gets all the attention is because its one of the only clubs open in the early mornings.
i started going to comfort zone in 1998. that was my first time.i recently went back for new years eve of 2008. it was fucking amazing. i felt like iwas 19 again.when i went back i was 29. i have so many good memories from that place. friendly people. amazing music. dance for 15 hours straight. this guy who died. the whole reason why they had this stupid raid. you can purchase ghb anywhere. and anyone who mixes drugs or does to much is taking a risk. no one is shoving ghb down anyones throat. people make there own choices. u cant blame a club for someones death. because they are gona get the drugs in or outside of the club. over the years i have known many people that i used to hang out with to od and shit and die. i feel so sorry for them but its there own fault. just as long as you monitor your drug use and do it properly u can get fucked up and have a good time. this idiot who left some comment about how he used to go there a long time ago. now he is older and has a university education go fuck yourself k u fucking idiot. and all this happened because of this dumb bitch and her brother dieing. allbecause of her. comfort zone will still live. will never die. and i will still go back. fuck you all who think diff.
Yay!! This is the best thing to happen in TO for a long time!! So a bunch of losers get busted for drugs and having proceeds. Some of them were busted for immigration problems....but, let's forget that minor transgression. It's the drugs that I want to focus on! Let me say this again...YAY!!!!!!!!! it's about time! Wonderful news! Thank you Metro police! Keep up the good work. And to those who got busted....sucks to be you, eh? Shoulda practiced "reality" before it came up and bit ya. No sympathy here - and likely none to be had except from your loser friends. One more time - YAY!!!!
I love our boys and girls in blue....! Good Job!!
Rick, You have to understand, it is a HEAT SCORE! (to put in layman's terms) My issue is that it should have never been taken for granted! When you party there till late, the last concern is how many drugs you do. You just want to prolong the high. That's where the problem starts! That's how CZ promotes excessive drug use! Plain and simple! Go the fuck home. Sleep... Live another day! To party another day!
apetimberlake. hun why dont you shut up and go fuck yourself you idiot. people sneak drugs into every club.you call it a dump. your mother probably had you in a fucking dump you asshole. that guy died because he is stupid and did to much drugs. get a life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GG, you may want to go the fuck home and you should - you can't handle it. I will party till the next day and beyond at CZ or wherever else I so please. That's ridiculous - you trying to tell me when my party should end. That's none of your business. And weather CZ is open or not, the party will continue. Therefore, CZ has nothing to do with promoting excessive drug use - that's ridiculous. WAKE UP - it's personal choice - weather the CZ is open or not there will always be those who party this way and find somewhere to do it.
I have been going to CZ for about two years. Love that place and I always will. Do you think this is the only place you can abtain a controlled substance? What about the bust on Queen East last week? The Guvernment? Drugs can easily be obtained in and outside the clubs. The raid sunday will not stop anything that has been going on. One club closes and two open up with same access to the same shit. To the family that lost their son, yes, that was very tragic. How much fucking GHB did he consume? What about the old guy who began to vomit? I was there, I saw him sitting on the chair passing out. People tend to consume drugs and they have no fucking idea what to expect. People mix shit without knowing the effects. I have gone to CZ and stayed completely sober several times. There are much worse consumables than what was uncovered at CZ.
Slugzkea??? Can't you get a job somewhere else!?! A kid has died from over-dose and you show no remorse. Are you still fucking high?
My goodness! Look at all the spelling and grammatical errors on so many of these posts.
Seems the drug users are all quite dumb - and those smart enough to NOt do drugs are quite, uh,....smart! Makes sense, eh? makes me wonder what these people do for a living? bet they aren't brain surgeons or pilots. Likely working (IF they are working at all...) at places where they are paid by cheque that can be directly taken to a Money-Mart. Prove me wrong.
corey hun do you have a life. wait let me guess you are some boring student. thats probably not that great looking. has no life probably no girlfriend cause your dick is thin like a pencil.or your fat and fucking ugly. keep your stupid comments to yourself. some people love going there . maybe its not your type of thing. but it is for alot of other people. go jerk off to some porn or something u idiot. i know all the security there some are my friends. and fuck would love for you to say that shit to there faces u would get fucking pumbled. loser . that place will reopen . if not there some where else. so all of you people who think what happened was good.think again. cause that place willalways be around....
You all don't get it. Slugzea, the Comfort Zone or anyone of its staff has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEATH OF SOME KID. Weather he purchased the drugs there or not, he would have abused drugs and died. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CZ.
ahhh gay boy does this look like a fucking english class. i dont think people are here for english study. why dont u shut up and go stick your dirty cock up some guys ass you fucking fag!!!
Of course i can get a job somewhere else, but what i worked so hard for and fought for was taken away so quickly for the wrong reasons.
It was my favorite job, if you lost your favorite job because of some spoiled moron you would feel the same way I would.
In the long run, I didn't lose my job, because the club didn't get shut down. It's being repaired as we speak, I just lost a few pay cheques that's all.
so HAH! ha, ha, ha...CZ lives.
Mr Nine... You've said it all! :) Too many drugs will mess you up! Party till you drop Rick! Cheers :p
CZ is a place to get high nothing more, has been for a long time. Leann you are suffering from Euphoric Recollection. That means you are only remembering the good stuff that happened when you were "dancing for fifteen hours straight." The fact that you are thirty years old and attack a dead boy and his family because you are concerned about the loss of an environment shows how truly sick you are. There is a place call the Center for Addiction and Mental Health quite close to CZ, you should check it out.
Actually, that occured to me as well. The hardcore (ahem!) CZ supporters seem a little inept at basic English writing skills.
Coincidence?
Yeah a kid died from an overdose and damn right I'm not showing remorse, because he died due to his own fucking stupidity.
I don't sympathize for morons. It's like when you see people tripping over a curb because they don't look at where they are walking.
To me, it's one less inferior being off the planet, which is what we need.
yessss bflo. thankyou . people make there own choices. what do you guys not understand. its anyones own fault to consume to much drugs . doing drugs is like a game. there are rules. and if you dont go by the rules you pay. and sometimes it causes death. but we all know this. so people stop blaming this shit on cz. and get a fucking life....
exuser: don't tell me or anyone else why we go to CZ - it is not about getting high stupid. You don't know why we go you ignorant fuck! Just stay home and don't come near the place and shut the fuck up. Why do you care if there is a place where druggies can go and kill themselves (since that's what you think is happening there)? You should be happy.
hey apetimberlake you haven't said much but "whats the matter with this guy". And you were quickly burned on every other stupid comment you made, so why don't you get off here - no one cares what ur saying
Rick.
You burned me?
By saying its "my" right to sit around like an idiot and get wasted in a dump.
Fuck off.
Rick Rick Rick Rick Rick.... Take a deep breath! We still love you! To all who do party! Do it responsibly! That is all from me! :)
Har har har I'm quite aware where CAMH is since I work and live in the area, you fucking moron.
Why don't you stick to the topic and stop being so bias.
excuser you know what the funny thing is.i finished high school. i went to college.and i just turned 29.im not 30. pls there are people that go there that are well over 40 years old. i dont even do drugs. haha you fucking idiot. why dont you go back to the dumb where your mother had you. let me guess your mother fucked her brother and that s where you came from.i wasnt even there yesterday havnt been there since new years. you idiots who keep on blaming this shit on the club your fools. get a fucking life . that place is wicked. and oh well some guy died his own fucking fault. that stupid bitch ruined it for hundereds of people. if people cant do drugs properly dont do them at all. its there own faults . exscuser hun. let me guess your dick is small. and your fucking ugly. so there for you need to make stupid comments. why dont you go and shove your small dick up your ass. you fucking loser. or go fuck your mom im sure you like to keep it in the family
The fact of the matter is I do not want to see people die. I know all about dependency and how deadly it is. I will let you guess what I do for a living **hint hint.** People will do drugs. The issue is that CZ has been allowed to survive for so long. Too open. Too obvious. Too well known. How many people have had their first "taste" there, leading to their eventual downfall. That is why these places must be closed. They cannot be accepted as a normal part of the community, unless they are controlled and monitored in some way. The place is just a free for all. Can't be allowed to happen. We need to have proper safe sites with staff that are trained properly so that less people die.
excuser hun no one cares what you think. you loser. go get your small dick extended and maybe you can get some pussy. or better yet get a broom handle and shove it up your ass you fag. people dont just go there to do drugs ive gone there many times and just drink. get a life. people go there for the music#1. friendly people. no one cares hun. i have no remorse for people who abuse and do to much drugs there just stupid. oh well. cant wait for comfort zone to reopen. gona be just as good as it was befor. and if it doesnt open there it will come where else. comfort zone will always live excuser , tripper timberlake go fuck yourself. k
slugzkea hun i totally agree with you hun. these people are idiots. if you work there im glad you are ok . u must be one of the sexy surbian guys that work there hehe. hope the boys are all ok.loveeee denny. anways ive had enough of these small dicked idiots.trying to say bad shit when no one cares what they say.hmm where to go this weekend maybe film lounge???
are you kidding me. anyguy i ever meet at film is well into there 30s. your talking like im some old gramma to old to party im fucking 29 just turned. hun maybe you are fucking ugly. have no friends,no life, and a small cock. so maybe now your a fag. that only takes it up the ass. nothing u can say will ever make me think that im to old to be at a bar like that . your just talking nonsence. hun its ok if you have no life and a small dick. that doesnt mean other people dont want to have fun and party and have a life. its ok hun that you have and no life i would be upset about stuff to . its ok u can cry on my shoulder boo hoo cry me a river justing timberlake
I used to go to CZ a long long time ago and it used to be about the music, but it somewhere along the way became the place to go to see how messed up you could get. I once went to get "security" to help some guy G-ing out and was told by this staff "Just give him a bump of coke" Now granted I was a bit of a novice and had no idea where to even get it from, but it seemed to me that this guy needed medical help and not more chemicals. But that is just my opinion, what do I know? For staff to say it is a reputable club is silly. CZ holds some very fond memories but it is a dump. I have photos from back in the days and the chairs are filthy, the are G-tards everywhere. The quality of the atmosphere at CZ greatly deteriorated over the years. Unfortunately I think the club has used up it's life span as it is now known, whether staff wants to admit it a place to see how high you can get and most of the patrons in there now are just plain scary. If people are still happy there and think it is reputable it is probably because they are looking through rose coloured drug clouded glasses and can't see the place for what it has really become. It would be nice to see the Zone get cleaned up a bit from this and return to a place with the best banging beats in town!!! Still you'd never catch me back there again. Maybe it's just because I've come to realize I just have too much class!! I feel for the family thqat lost there son but truth be told CZ as scungey as it is, is not the one to blame. He made his choice and unfortunately he paid for his poor choices with his life! My hearts go out to his family though!
When you work with people everyday who are dying from their dependency issues you earn a right to an opinion. As far as too old, you should be old enough to realize that that lifestyle is no good at 29 years old or "well into your thirties." If you do not there is a cognitive problem. Reality is a bitch, but CZ should be shut down for good and the rantings of the lunatics on this blog testify to the level of sickness the average patron of this establishment is suffering from. Thank you for the testimonial.
exuser: because you work with addicts, you are also providing a biased opinion here. The patrons of CZ are not neccesarily addicts with dependancy issues - you know that. And CZ does not contribute to the problem of addiction whatsoever. Go to Parkdale and Driftwood (to name a couple of places) and you will see what contributes to addiction. CZ is a place for music and dance for peoples of a scene which also includes drinking and the use of other substances - MOST OF THE TIME RESPONSIBLY
Someone lost a job, someone lost a son/brother, YOU BOTH blame someone else for it SO GET A GRIP OF YOURSELF.
The fact is: Slugzea, the Comfort Zone or anyone of its staff has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE DEATH OF SOME KID. Weather he purchased the drugs there or not, he would have abused drugs and died. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CZ.
The percentage of my clients who have at one time or another frequented CZ would disprove your opinion Rick. Like it or not it is a bad place, and cannot be accepted as part of the community because the management has not made any reasonable effort to limit the drug use and have made every effort to encourage it. Example; turning up the lights when the cops walk in, are you going to try to say they do not do that sort of thing? Bouncers using the radio to warn each other and the dealers when the cops come. The green room or the "g'ed out room". The "men" who work there are digesting for the things that have happened in that room while young women are passed out. The men are robbed and thrown out when they pass out. I am sorry I have heard the same story from too many victims for it not to be true. I know the reality, and denying it will not disprove it.
I have to agree with excuser. My example above...I went to staff to get help for a man I didn't know and I was encouraged to give him more drugs rather than seek him medical help. While not all staff that work there are bad,there were and I am sure still are a few that are NOT on the up and up. To say that there are NEVER any OD's is a blatant lie as I KNOW for a fact as I am good freinds with some one who used to be security there that they happen alot. ALot more than people are admitting there and until management and staff do something to change the reputation of CZ from a "place to get Messed up" to a place to here amazing dj's Like Miss Blu people should not be surprised or upset when they go qand get busted. It's time to openb your eyes people and wake up. I now live on the opposite end of the country and when I mention CZ to people here, people who have NEVER been to CZ they know it as place to get really really high. Not as a club that has killer beats. SO lie to yourselves if you wish but even other provinces know of CZ's lousy reputation!!!!
Slugzfugz- whatever the fuck your name is - you have no sympathy for a "spoiled brat" that was enabled to do drugs at your work? Well, I have no sympathy for you for having lost your job at a shit hole that turned a blind eye to open drug trafficking.
The place was a haven for drug dealers and all those that were exploited and bought off by them. END OF FUCKING STORY.
Sure, the clubs are on Richmond may be obnoxious but it is not nearly as bad. No doubt, if two or three people died from openly buying and consuming drugs in Tonic or whatever it's called now, the police would cave to public pressure.
exuser: I'm not denying that drugs are used there. That's the point - the point is we should have places like this. It's good that CZ warned the patrons when cops were there by putting up the lights, its a good thing they have a G-out room - these things help. If women were abused while G'd out that's a different story - those are disgusting fuckers, which by the way you will find in every circle in life. Do you not believe that one could drink responsibly? Are you aware that their is rampant, open drug use at a heavy metal concert at Air Canada Centre? The point is you will not stop this, drug use will go on. And like CZ there are other after hours and normal clubs where these acttivites take place. If anything CZ was the most responsible, because it was aware.
The g-out room is not good. Warning the dealers and users is not good. When someone is g-ing out they need medical attention, not a dark room and a bump. What planet are you on? FYI, I don't believe in drinking either. Alcohol does way more damage then good, just like illicit drugs. As far as the ACC thing, try comparing apples to apples. CZ is same place same people every weekend something can easily be done. Yes, people are going to use drugs at clubs, but CZ has taken it to a different level that is not acceptable. That is why it should be shut down for good.
People are once again missing the point. Yes other clubs have drug usage...however security does not encourage it at them. They do regular walk throughs and in not one of them except for at CZ can you see people doing lines off of a dirty end table. It isn't even hidden at CZ. It is out in the open because it is excepted by staff. Other clubs don't have a G-out room. They get the person the medical attention THEY NEED. Come on peole get realistic. CZ is not a good place. Lots of my friends USED to go there and none of do anymore because ONLY HARDCORE drug users go there! EVERONE knows that. Just ask around! I would certainly not be proud of the fact that I was still a patron in this day and age. It just tells us of us who and what you are. Quit defending the place. It is time it got busted, and time it got cleaned up if not closed. It is NOT a reutable club at all and most of the security were/are thugs. Come out of your drug enduced fog, take off your tinted glasses and go check out it out sober!! I guarantee you won't go back! it's scary!
Angel and exuser you are obviously ignorant to reality. The reality is DRUGS ARE BEING USED AT CLUBS - WAKE THE FUCK UP! The other clubs hide knowing this fact while at CZ it is open and accepted. Hence, when you use drugs at a club which is pretending to be blind to it, it puts the patrons in danger, while using drugs in a place like CZ where it is known makes for a safer environment. The people know how to handle the situation, THEY ARE AWARE instead of trying to pretend its not happening. I've frequented CZ for over 10 years going back to the true rave days when the place was known as BUZZ. I have only witnessed RESPONSIBLE DRUG USE, loving, caring people, a positive environment with 0 (ZERO) deaths or health incidents. That's why its been open this long - it is a safe place, it is open and we are all aware, making it safer. You are making up stories saying drugs are sold like at a flea market and saying we are doing lines off dirty tables. THAT IS BS - spread your bullshit rumours somewhere else. I know whats going on I see it every week.
exuser: if you knew anything real about G you would know that G'ing out is a normal part of its usage (by just an incremently high dose) this is caused. You would also know, and this has been proven by doctors, that the G-out is a completely safe coma state - this has been medically tested and proven. Therefore, a G-out room in a place where it is known G is being used is not only good, but critically important. Once again, WAKE THE FUCK UP!
after going through this ordeal on my first ever night out to comfort zone, a lot of thought, a lot of reading and a lot of researching - this is my conclusion, CZ is the Hell and the police (not everyone but most) were the devils. it's a dog eat dog world, and we got caught in the middle.
The Police realizes they did something wrong, otherwise they wouldn't have dragged out the family in their press conference, (i.e. look at other criminal investigation and their press conferences, there's so many holes in their version of the story). It was too much force, when most of the patrons didn't even have any drugs or records they could impose a charge on. 150 people in there were treated like criminals even before they were searched and processed; even criminals have rights (innocent until proven guilty in a court of law in front of your peers and a judge).
The club is obviously fcked as well if and as they facilitated drugs for a decade, there police were obviously in on it if it went on that long. there's an underlying message after all has been said and done a/ the police will and did get away with brutality towards regular people b/ they still can't and ultimately won't close down the club. So what was the point?
I am shaken and angry, but i don't know where to point my finger! sure you can accuse me for walking into a place which was fully licensed for after hours dancing and I guess it doesn't even matter that i am fulltime working professional in the financial district, university educated, pay my taxes, have no previous run in with the law and wasn't under the influence of anything legal or illegal.
In all fairness, I was probably treated better than everyone else in there but what i saw the police doing in there broke my trust in the system and has scarred me beyond repair. My guy friends who were also not in possession, nor did they have any previous record were kicked around, and my girlfriend was felt up by a cop. If it wasn't for a good cop who processed me, i would have faced the same brutality.
This is the most fucked up and neutral account of what really happened in there Sunday morning.
Mean-spirited alcoholic Pigs, seriously addicted to paycheques, really think they're REALLY doing society a favour? DOPE IS HOPE.....not that lousy poison the LCBO sells you, to screw up on, that keeps Pigs, lawyers, insurance companies and jailers employed...NOTHING scares the Pigs, like a large group of people having a good time!
Bunch of fucking losers at all raves and especially to all the fucking left wingers who hate the police and were at the club that morning - none of you bleeding heart assholes obviously have kids or careers otherwise you wouldn't have the time to stay up all night and get high till noon the next day. "The cops did this and the cops did did that", blah, blah, blah. I think they should let you do whatever the hell you want in your precious little club and hopefully you freeloading useless shitheads will all end up on a slab in the morgue. Hey, take all the drugs you want! (PS: Go kill yourself you snivelling little prick who blames the victims mom for all this...people like you are exactly the problem with Toronto today)
wow jm I can't believe that your 1st visit there was experienced by that BS that took place yesterday. I am also a fulltime working professional who pays my taxes and has no serious run-ins with the law. I can tell you that my experiences at CZ have all been positive and I always regreted that it had to come to an end. My objective: dance, dance and dance some more and oh ya, meet gorgeous women!
"tripper hun does this look like a fucking english class you u fucking idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
No. It looks more like Special Ed.
I've been going to comfort zone for 8 years but I went on maternity leave, Zone will allways deliver the best music, i have gone to alot of clubs in my time and by far Zone has allways given me the best experience. However it's sad that someone had to lose their life, you cant blame the club for someone putting something in their body... Just no how much to take... i hope that zone open's sooner than later
howie i am an investment banker for a huge bank in downtown Toronto and i was in there randomly. You can't make a judgment call on everyone in there, believe me if we were all druggies and drug dealers than out of 200 people in there only 33 wouldn't be charged; not to mention half the charges were possession and immigration. These offenses in a court look like babies compared to what goes on in the city, i.e. shooting, rape, gang violence, robbery, corporate crimes etc.
I've done lines off the tables there Rick with people on the couch next to me having sex. Yes it is dirty but I am not afraid to admit it because I have dedicated my life to making a difference. I've been in dependent individuals shoes and have recovered. Again you are just full of shit. No coma state is perfectly safe. Do you get your info from some ravers website or something? Take a course, read a medical book before you start talking shit. Yes a clean safe environment is needed for people to use drugs in, unfortunately CZ is neither clean nor safe. I know how to make G, I know the effect and the withdrawal symptoms, and I have used G. What else do I need to know about it, or for that matter please tell me something about it I don't know G was experimented with as a "positive" drug, but guess what it's negatives far outweigh it's positives, therefore it is not used medically outside any third world countries. I want to know how you can say throwing someone in a room that is g-ing out to get raped or robbed is helping them? They need properly trained people in case something should go wrong. The juice monkey wearing the security shirt is probably not properly trained.
rick i know, i can't believe it myself.. I was thinking of going out to buy a lottery ticket! what are the odds eh? If i wasn't an experience junkie, I'd feel much worse. It definitely opened my eyes, and maybe even scared me into acting a little less dangerously. I won't be going back to CZ, but i hope there will somewhere i can dance in peace without so much drugs or policing.
exuser: I said nothing about rape and/or robbing. You read bullshit about G, which is used to brainwash you so that u could teach other the lies. The last I heard Europe is not a third world country. It is used there as an anesthetic, it is also used to help recovering alcoholics. So please, my info does not come from raver sites but true doctors and scientists. Unlike the info you get which is tainted my government and anti-drug groups. You are a fool. G is a safe substance - the G-out is perfectly normal and safe. I have witnessed the G-out over 100 times, I have g'd out myself several times. I know the drill buddy - it is completely safe (as long as you have not taken alcohol or some other substances. G has no affect on the liver or kidneys as it is immedialtely metabolized to water and CO2 in the body. It is a natural occuring metabolite in the human body. Shut the fuck up, you don't know what you are talking about. Focus on real addicting drugs like heroin and crack.
..... and this is who they hire to help addicts at the CARC. No wonder everyone is still fucked. U suck exuser - get a new job, you can't help an addict - you have no clue.
Jim, self described experience junkie you don't walk into a place like CZ and not realize what you are walking into. Either that or you are totally inept when it comes to the street and you would probably be safer not living in a big city. It should have scared the crap out of you and it is probably a good thing it did. Maybe it will make you and your band of yuppie sight seers think twice before you start putting yourselves into dangerous positions. Have some respect for yourself and you station in life.
I don't work for CARC and again your information is bullshit. It is not used as an anesthetic on a regular basis, parts of eastern Europe where it is used is a third world. People can't afford to eat let alone proper medicine. It was experimented with to deter DT's (that's the alcoholic thing you eluded to) but that was 15 years ago and found to be ineffective. Oh ya and as far as the liver thing, true except when you take into consideration that the G you get on the street is not made with good pure chemicals and usually have traces of lead. Dude I know what I am taking about, I am not some government patsy. I model my practice on informed eclecticism with of course my ICADC certification.
Simply put... will you crackheads stop burdening society with your stupid decisions... yes it's your choice and life, but you're affecting everyone else's lives.
CZ openly encouraged illegal activity and turned a blind eye to illegal substances, and last time I checked, that's a BAD thing... and police go after bad things.
If the club had discouraged drug use and tried to weed out (bad pun) the crackheads, then the cops would've left the place alone. It's because it allowed all of that to happen, that the raid occurred.
That is the problem you see, Rick is you find some obscure information supporting your maladjusted response to life and you hang onto it. I could bring you a pile of scientific research showing G is not good for you, but because you read something that says it is OK, you will hang onto that because it supports what you like to do. Why are you arguing so hard for this place. It closes and that's your scene, go to Black, or Film or whatever the fuck else opens up tomorrow.
Leann you're a complete cunt. I hope the next time you get gang raped that instead of enjoying it like last time, the big cock you seek leads to your demises as rips well into your internal organs. Cunt!
excuser, EXPERIENCE JUNKIE as in like experiences not EXPERIENCED junkie as in addicted to substance.
I understand what you said. Do you understand what I said? If you don't I will dumb it down for you. You should not go to places like that. Don't bother bitching about the cops because you should have known better then being there in the first place.
Great comment thread. Very enjoyable. It reminds me of old school alternative discussion groups back in the day (Someone over 40 reading a CZ thread? wtf??)
There are many legalized drug addicts in this country. But they pay taxes and collect their prescriptions and the system is happy. And I'm not talking about mind altering drugs. Oops....anti-depressants and painkillers might be a tad mind altering.
The system is not ever happy to find people dispensing and self prescribing. Even though self-prescribing people manage to not kill themselves at anywhere close to the same rate that big-pharm manages to kill at(hello contraindications emerging after years on the market!).
It's about the taxes.
A very few people do end up killing themselves with over self-prescribing, yes. But most don't.
Alcohol kills far more. It is now also apparent that fast food is sending many to an early grave.
But don't worry, taxes get collected on those items so it's all good.
$65,000 represents a lot of unpaid taxes. Not so good. So the police will spin for awhile instead of the zone.
Church has a history of being assaulted....it seems to be kind of a human thing. It has something to do with taxes and death I think.
After reading all this I see the view of both sides here. First things first though. As someone that would normally side with the law , the police statement that was made public was flawed. A result of that, is the media taking things a step further by candy coating the 'truth' as they know it. The seized amount ($30,000) seams like a bullshit number. Especially if you divide that number by the amount of charges. Thats an example. Another is that when they rolled out a table with the seized items. Looks to me like they added more to that table as an effort to exploit the establishment and it's patrons. I would also like to highlight the part about drugs laid out on tables like a flea market presentation. Another bullshit call. I can't believe the cops would even say that. Patrons to CZ or any establishment know about plain clothes police, and how they're always around. For dealers to set up shop on a table would be as smart as wearing bright orange coveralls with the word 'dealer' patched on the back. We all know that doesn't happen.
My next point is about education. Anytime you get a prescription filled these days you also get a page with the order to educate yourself with side affects, warnings about mixing with other drugs, ect. My view on illegal drugs is that if your dumb enough to use, without looking up the risks, side affects, ect, then you deserve the shitty outcome. I believe the amount of drug abuse that goes on at Zone is no different the the drug abuse that happens at the other mainstream bars. Add alcohol abuse to the mainstream bar list 'cause Zone doesn't have a liquor license. I'm sure there's a lot more people passing out from drinking too much across the city then people passing out on GHB. So far I'm putting reality into this whole deal. I'm not trying to take sides here. I'm more about shedding light on this the way I see it. I'm proud to say I live a sober lifestyle, and have been like that for a long time.
I have to comment on the statement 'real Dj's are from europe, all others suck.' Unless you live in a room with no connection to the outside world, you should know that every genera of music has an underground scene. Just as there are bands that you have never herd of play on late night talk shows, there are DJ's that play small underground clubs. I know first hand that talent displayed at the zone is first class. These Dj's work there ass off doing what they do and it's a full time job for them. It's a business and yes, they do pay their taxes on there name and/or company. You mainstreamers should know that times have changed. Music is not the same as it was when you were young. House music today sounds different then it did ten years ago. To generalize the electronic music scene as a kids scene is stupid. To put an age limit on a style of music makes me laugh at anyone saying that. There's a lot of mature adults that go to electronic events across the world. It's a billion dollar industry. It's entertainment for millions of music fans everywhere. From the outside it looks like a bunch of people dancing to a beat that sounds like a broken record. For the fans, it's a vacation in it's self. Call it weird, whatever. Every person has there version of weird. There's lots of styles of music that people dance to that I don't like myself. I could talk shit about them. OR, realize that they do what they do 'cause there having fun. The electronic scene in Toronto is here to stay (like it or not). Mocking someone or group has gotten old. If your not involved with the scene then keep your opinions to your self.
It's too bad that the Zone got singled out in all this, when the problem is everywhere. Drugs will find there way into any bar, or club to be used. Even a concert with high security at the ACC can't stop the amount of weed that makes it's way in. Everyone needs to know that stopping drug abuse isn't easy. (like quitting smoking, and heavy drinking). Thats why we have rehab facilities. The best way is not even starting. Too bad for most people their first time is around friends that convince them to partake without knowing the negative results. It's sad to think about the lives ruined, family's broken up, jobs lost, that happen on a daily basis due to abuse. Yes it's the users own fault, but sucks they've had to learn the hard way.
First off it was bound to happen and i don't feel sorry for anyone. CZ is not about the music it's a place for people to go who don't want to go home. GO HOME. Anyone who goes back there if it re-opens is a retard that place is bait. As for the raid and police brutality thats stupid thats what cops do when they raid somewhere they don't have to be careful and nice. Good luck bringing a sexual harassment suit especially girls in there everyone has already touched you whats a few more to a coke slut.For the guy up above GHB is not safe or good for you. You can die! I had a friend who passed that way look it up its very addictive and very bad for you. There is no way for you to when too much is too much. Stop glamorizing drugs you are wrong and I hope to god you google GHB and get your facts right. Maybe after this we can get back to the music. At a place that cares about it's patrons and gets rid of the idiots spoiling it for everyone else. For patrons out there try going out to places that care and furthermore Saturday night is the party not Sunday get a life or a job or spend some time with your loved ones . Better yet try loving yourself and not a world thats not even real club people are not your friends many lives have been ruined by that place I'm glad to see it go. Class up the Trash.
I know a lot about GHB. I've done it for a long time. The problem starts when you don't pace yourself and think it's not working and do more. It was not addictive. I was able to give it up like my McDonalds eating habit. You should know that The emerg room at any hospital is full of alcohol poisoning. Also fatal. I respect my body. I'll admit to doing shit, but it was in moderation. Still bad yes, but at least I knew what I was fucking with and wasn't being foolish. Now I think everything like that is bullshit. I'm a personal trainer now and you couldn't even pay me to do a shot at the bar. I know I feel 100x better then anyone that goes out on a weekend binge. I bet I look a lot healthier too. You have to come to terms here an accept (if you like it or not) people will do as they please. Thats the way it is. One view here is that doing illegal drugs is so fucking bad and made out to be worse then things the law allows (like smoking cigarettes, and drinking alcohol) I Know GHB enough that they use it legally in a lot of countries as a sleep aid. They also use coke some places to freeze skin before stitching wounds. Lots of shit out there will kill you thats legal when you abuse it. I'm not standing up for any drug use. Illegal or not, if your doing something to have fun, then take it easy.
the city of toronto is a joke, they allow suburban fat white rich kids come party downtown and act like a fool, CZ is a joke, its full of overweight suburbanites, and those weird tranced asian fortune cookie sellers that came here off their boat, fuck the club scene, club scene is for losers that could never get laid in the real world and have to resort to trying to pick-up chicks that are high/drunk, fuck all the boucners that work in the club history, they are a bunch of wannabe UFC fighters, fuck the promoters that cant get a real job, and to all the DJs, get a real job and stop pretending to be funkmaster flex.
JM,
Unfortunately the so called "victimless crime" (recreational drug use) everyone compares to murder, shootings, gang violence etc has roots in organized crime. Just think the next time you decide to use E, GHB, K, etc that you're padding the pockets of people who are entrenched in the very crimes you purport to despise so much. So please, all of you people that think you're not hurting anyone with your "only out to have a good time" drug use bullshit, you're contributing to a much higher order you don't have a clue about. (JM, I wonder what your employer would think about your after hours involvement in a club where drugs run rampant...)
comfort zone client list:
-fat wops from woodbridge living off their parents wop bakery income
-4-foot-10 chinks from chinatown, thornhill, richmond hill, etc, all they do is dance around like a rat on crack
-wierd artsy fartsy cakers from OCAD
-wannabe squeegee kids
-parkdale trailer trash
-crackheads that do drugs, because mommy didnt hug them enough.
does this mean, that you can finally walk to breakfast on sunday mornings and not have to worry about stepping on some passed out chink that came outta CZ?
Define a real job there bud? 'Cause I'm sure anything a Dj does as far as talent isn't something you could figure out how to do anytime soon. To them it's a fun job. It's a billion dollar entertainment industry that is at an all time high in popularity. Job security comes to mind. Are you able to say you love your job? Not too many people get that privilege these days. Most people know door staff positions are usually students. Real job or not, the pay is good, and gets them through school. A lot better then flipping burgers, or cleaning toilets. If you hate fat, rich, meat head kids, cookie peddling asians, and toronto then stop crying about it and move. That shits not getting any better.
I was also there during the 6:30 am raid and as one of "the lucky ones" i was on the floor, handcuffed, searched, processed and released in an hour and a half.
The officers were very organized and had the lights on, music off, doors blocked and patrons down in literally less than a minute. I felt that the force they used WAS excessive, but it seemed nesassary to gain quick control over the patrons. A young man attempting to struggle was tazered very close to me and everyone was threatened with large rifles. When i looked up to ask what was happening i was told "to shut the fuck up and look at the floor" and my head was pushed down, but once things relaxed a little that same cop gave me a sweater and let me sit in a chair.
It's no secret that CZ is place to get high and dance to THE BEST, HARDEST, DIIIRTIEST house music you will ever hear. But i think it was getting a little cocky in it's approach. Every time i went in there there were G'd out people all over the place, drug use/deals done openly and their "searches" were a joke.
I love CZ too, and i hope to see it back. But i think that this bust is probably a good wake up call for everybody. Sometimes if you want to illegal things for harmless fun a little subtlty is a good thing.
CZ wasn't even pretending it was anything other than what EVERYONE knows it is. This raid is not surprising.
And it really killed my buzz. ;)
final word= fraud
buddy how old are you? 30, 35, 40? your defending DJ'ing as a real job? how hard is it to throw a couple turntables together and scratch some vinyl with your greasy fingers. Most DJs are lazy these days anyways, they all use laptops and digital shit, they aint man enough like that old school DJs, especially the ones in Spanish Harlem and Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Toronto's club scene is done, its a wrap, everything is bait these days, plus you got channels like city tv and CBC trying to dramatize anytime somebody gets roughed up in a club. If you wanna have fun these days, move outta mama's basement, find your own apartment, go buy your own liquor, your own hash, rent a few strippers, and MAKE IT RAIN!
people at CZ got off easy, if this was a black club, the police would have used excessive forced, dropped n-bombs, and dashed Uzi's into people's faces. In fact if it was black club, they probably would have pulled a shakedown and confiscate your money, search everyone's cars and punk you off. Look at the raids in Jane/Finch, no difference is happending, the same ol' man dem are running the streets, plus people will just move to different spots of the GTA, the CZ patrons need to stop whining cuz they got off easy, if was a blacks, it would have been much worse and the media would have portrayed everyone as gang bangers, even though less than 1% of all black people in GTA belong to a gang, but the media and police gotta characterize every young black person as a gang member, and every dumb suburban white person assumes any black person minding their own business is a dealer and banger, the GTA and southern ontario is corrupt, messed up, and full of too much trashy people.
The Truth:
Still waiting for you to define a real job. I don't have to prove myself to anyone. I'm where I wanted to be a long time ago, and I'm happy with my life. Thats worth more to me then any drug could provide. Your comments show your maturity, your lack of knowledge, and lead me to believe your a miserable red neck, racist fuck, that grew up in the sticks. Explains why your so narrow minded. Stop posting bullshit. If you have something to say then contribute. If your coming here to be an childish e-thug, then get back to your strippers and hash.
*Fuck. Just putting the work 'real' before job sounds stupid. Who are you to judge someone for they way they make a living? A job is a job. Might be easy as eating Wendy's and flipping wax in front of a nightclub, or shitty like fast food bullshit. If it's legit then who gives a fuck. Last time I checked, good dj's are doing better then some doctors and lawyers. Easy or not still gets them better food on their table then you'll ever get.
2 people overdosed after going there, which resulted in an undercover investigation for a couple of months. the raid obviously was planned after sitting back and watching people who dont have a personality needing to ingest crap into their bodies to give them one. what the people in there do is no secret. you get roughed up...not as bad as the other crap you're doing to your body
rohan--don't know why this got turned into a racial issue....i'm sure there was a mix of all backgrounds in there...it's 2008...cut it out.
DJ'ing aint a legit job, its a luxury job, its part of the make-believe club culture, club culture is the mosy overrated thing in the world. How can a DJ be a real job, when you have no health benefits, no steady paycheck. Im not one to question how one makes money, but I get offended when someone comes here acting all righteous and pretending their job is more of an essential service to society than a doctor, as a DJ you can easily be replaced and nobody will miss you, as long as people are drunk or smoking that sticky icky, they wont care who is working the crates, ya know what i mean?
DJ'ing is a business stupid. You actually believe its not a real job? You've stepped out of reality bud, your living in some fairytale land. It is a huge money making internation enterprise. What the fuck is wrong with you (The Truth), how do you now know that? Are you joking or are you really under the impression DJ'ng is not a legit profession?
COMFORT ZONE is not comfort zone anymore even thou they still open this weekend after hearing all this things why they don't bust the basement there's drug activity going in there too i'm sorry i love after hours clubs too but if they want to do their job they need to bust all the after hours clubs too i'll sacrifice not going to after hours club just too stay away from SKETCHYNESS good bye ZONE
Lol, let me try that again: DJ'ing is a business stupid. You actually believe its not a real job? You've stepped out of reality bud, your living in some fairytale land. It is a huge money making international enterprise. What the fuck is wrong with you (The Truth), how do you not know that? Are you joking or are you really under the impression DJ'ng is not a legit profession?
Yo stop bitching at each other this is all about CZ drug bust not djing shit aite let's get back to topic
Stop shifting the blame of the raid onto the cops; it's honestly so ridiculous.
The reason why it was raided is because the cops caved to public pressure. Normally, they wouldn't give a shit but because it started to get out of hand, they had to respond. The lesson is - don't rock the fucking boat.
What's your point in defending this drug haven hole in the wall?
I have been going to the zone (not regularly) for almost 6 years now. I see what goes on there, but honestly. Go to any after hours place, and you'll see people on drugs. Without naming any other clubs I can assure you comfort zone was not the biggest score.. However! I'm a woman and was never ever scared at the zone. It is by far my favorite place to party. People are friendly and yes... it is all about the music. The place as ugly as it is has a vibe like no other. With extremely talented local DJ's and DJ's from all over the world. There is a DJ scheduled to play there next month from Europe. His music is amazing and I'm planning to go, so please... Don't make this difficult. Let me dance for a few hours. Do not have me lie on the floor 4 hours. Most people there are not criminals at all. I'm a decent person at work every day by 7:00 am. I choose to go to the zone sometimes when I feel like. Not to do drugs.. I could do that anywhere else. But because the zone is such a great place to experience. If you don't know house music there is no point of trying to understand. The zone has music of it's own people refer to as zone music. No other place has it. We love it. Go worry about the kids selling drugs at schools and shooting each other.
As for the guy who overdosed... I'm really sorry to hear that. However. A certain place does not make people overdose . There will always be places for people to do that if they choose to. That guy should have been more careful about what he consumed. For those who don't know... If you take the cap off a coke bottle fill it with G and drink it.. even then you may get sick. If you drink just a little bit more.. there is a good chance you will fall asleep and never wake up. Trust me.. I know. Now, having said that I'm sure you can see that it is extremely easy to overdose. I'm sorry this guy was a grown man, should have known better. I'd say G itself should be taken more seriously. People should not consume it at all, just to be on the safe side and it would all be fine.
I think that from the logic that Rick and his GHBUDDIES are using i should be able to open up a shooting gallery or a crack den.....employ a DJ ...and Charge $10 a head and be left alone by the cops!
I am a tax paying citizen. I have a good paying full time job which I am committed to. I have never had any kind of brush with the law. I have never dealt drugs. I do not cause trouble.
But what happened at the Zone this past weekend makes my blood boil. I have lost all respect and confidence in the Toronto Police.
Here is why:
1) "Tables were basically being set up like flea markets where you could look at what you wanted to buy, and pick it."
What kind of bullshit is this? I have been to Zone MANY, MANY times and have never seen anything close to this. It's sad to hear the police blatantly lie about this to justify a reason for their raid.
2). Police used EXCESSIVE force...and I mean EXCESSIVE. From the people I know who were there - their hands were bound, they were made to kneel or lie down on the floor. Guns were pointed in peoples faces. Girls were crying. People were cut and bruised. There are ORDINARY citizens just going there to have a good time and they're treated like shit. I even heard once everyone was "detained", the cops were "Hi-5"-ing each other like they were celebrating a hockey victory.
As a result of this, I have lost ALL respect for our much revered Police Force. This is a shame as there are many honest, upstanding officers out there. It's a pity a bunch of rambo-testosterone enraged-power hungry cops have to disgrace them.
Next time I read or hear something in the news about a cop being hurt, injured (or perhaps) even killed, I will not feel so sympathetic.
I feel sad about the way an event like this has changed my perspective on the police, but I cannot stand by silently when I know what happened was unjust.
On a side note:
It's unfortunate what happened to the man who was killed in January. However, keep this is mind:
Are drugs easily obtainable in Zone? Yes
Does anyone force you to buy or ingest them? No
We are all accountable for our own actions. Hypothetically speaking, if it was me (knock wood) who had died, I would have no one else to blame but myself.
"Police used EXCESSIVE force...and I mean EXCESSIVE. From the people I know who were there - their hands were bound, they were made to kneel or lie down on the floor. Guns were pointed in peoples faces. Girls were crying. People were cut and bruised. There are ORDINARY citizens just going there to have a good time and they're treated like shit. I even heard once everyone was "detained", the cops were "Hi-5"-ing each other like they were celebrating a hockey victory. "
THIS WAS A DRUG RAID BIG BOY!!!
WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO DO ...COME IN WITH GLOW STICKS?
FINAL WORD: It's assholes like you with your ignorance and immature attitude that skew people's perspective on issues like this.
One day, when you grow up, you'll look back at what you have just written and feel ashamed.
But until then, you'll keep spewing out crap which you cannot justify in a logical matter.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not angry at you. I feel sorry for you, and judging by people's responses to you posts...they do too.
apetimberlake: I have no problem with something like that happening in a drug lord's house. Or if a deal was going down.
But there are "ordinary citizens" going to a "legal establishment". Keep those four quoted words in mind.
How would you feel if you went to the local movies, pub, or club, and be treated like that?
re; apetimberlake
They still should not violate peoples rights.. I mean how would you like to be tied up on the ground just because you're at the wrong place at the wrong time. The zone is not the only club people buy drugs.. this could happen to you at another location. Would you be upset?
X-Hale:
You need to get real.
This kind of raid would not happen at Sushi on bloor.
It happened at CZ because the drug use and sales is out of control.
Like an earlier comment, you cant walk your dog around that place in the morning with out having some drugged out idiot that got "to into the vibe" the night before scaring my chihuahua.
Sasa: Amen to that. Unfortunately for apetimberlake, things are only BLACK and WHITE to him/her:
You do drugs or hang out at Zone = Bad.
You do NOT do drugs and do NOT hang out at Zone = Good
For people like that, there is not inbetween. Sad, but true.
"Next time I read or hear something in the news about a cop being hurt, injured (or perhaps) even killed, I will not feel so sympathetic."
X-FAIL - you're a disgrace. It was a raid and I know for a fact that a tactical unit were on hand to ensure that no one was roughed-up or violated.
Ya'll are so full of shit. If this was some raid on a rexdale "ghetto" crackhouse, would you still decry the cops for "excessive" force? Doubtful. But because this was some downtown after hours place that was "all about the music", you act as if there is some larger conspiracy. There isn't.
POLICE CAVED TO PUBLIC SCRUTINY.
I'm suer a new place will open soon - if not the Crack Zone itself. Just don't be surprised when drug havens are raided, for fucks sake.
SASA: I'm not disupting the fact that "drug use and sales is out of control".
But if you were just going there to have a good time and you were treated like that, trust me, you would feel the same way I do. That's the only point I am trying to make.
It's easy for an outsider to justify what happened, but when you hear first hand accounts from people you know to be good and true, it's saddens and angers you.
Dont hang out in places where you can buy drugs in the open like at CZ and you wont have an issue.
The end.
If i am at Centre street Deli and it is raided i will give you a shout.
X-HALe
How am I an asshole? I came here with a legit opinion and posted. If that offends you then don't come back to the site. I said what I did because most, MOST, people are going by what is said on the news. We all know that a lot of bullshit from what actually happened. I had fun when I attended zone. I don't anymore because I have moved on to a job the requires me to have proper sleeping patterns eat right, and stay sober. I still like the music, there's a month of tunes on my ipod, all house. I Don't really like the zone anymore, but I have to say something when the cops bullshit their statements.
Children please it is a dump that needs to go. If you cannot see that then you need to grow up.
Final Word: My bad...my comment to you was directed at "Lisa". This isn't the best forum design (post are too close to each other).
My apologies. And I do agree with everything you said.
Final Word - just because you were able to walk away from that lifestyle easily does not mean that A - everyone can walk away from it easily, and B - it should be condoned. By not raiding the place regularly we are essentially condoning the activities that go on there. That is why CZ needs to be full on raided regularly.
What an idiot - apetimberlake you are the most closed minded, ignorant individual ever (I feel sorry for your family). I believe you used the acronym P.L.U.R. with me yesterday. For one second, at that point, I thought you were different. Or were you just making fun of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect? You need help man.
exuser - you're on some high-horse of getting everybody off drugs. ORDINARY/NORMAL PEOPLE are going to LEGAL ESTABLISHMENTS like Comfort Zone. Accept it buddy, you or any law enforcemeent will not stop it and they shouldn't.
I am not an addict, I am not a criminal, I have two wonderfull sons that I love dearly. If you met me, you would find that I am a good person and that we can have an intelligent conversatiion.
I love music, house/electronic music (I don't have to be high to enjoy it). I come from a time when I enjoyed the music in a huge underground scene in Toronto. IT WAS ALWAYS POSITIVE FOR ME. You and many others were not aware of the parties in the 90's - it was deep underground - SAFE, CLEAN, FUN, IM TALKING A HAPPY, POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT which you don't find easily - not even at your Catholic church establishments.
I carry this vide on. I never hurt anyone, I don't cause any harm to myself or anyone else. Don't judge, let me be free, CZ and places like that will not go away and they shouldn't.
I don't know why people come on here so vigilant against it. What busines is it of yours? - if you don't want to go there, THEN DON'T. Please we don't need your negative vibe present anyways. I and many others don't agree with the Mosques (because I don't believe in that religion) that are going up everywhere - does that mean that the community should shut them down? There are illegal gambling and poker gatherings that are taking place everywhere. There are extreme sexual fetish gatherings that take place every week in Toronto. I don't agree with these establishments and I will never attend. THAT'S ALL, what business is it of mine to make a big stink - these people are adults, they can make their own decisions and go where they please. IT GOES THE SAME FOR THOSE WHO ATTEND AND FREQUENT ESTABLISHMENTS SUCH AS CZ. LEAVE US ALONE, MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND DON't COME.
Rick:
I couldn't agree with you more. People are too quick to judge without fully understanding the situation. Perspectives are skewed by the media. They only show one side of the story. It's the ignorant people out there that choose to blatantly believe what is written. A word of advice: Listen to first hand accounts before you pass judgement.
Ignorance is bliss...don't you think?
Rick, I said sane/normal people would not work in a place like this. I stand behind that. The issue is that as a community we have been aware of this place and how dangerous it is for too long without doing anything about it. As far as all the other issues you bring up they are just that, other issues. As I have outlined to you before I am speaking from experience, not conjecture and hearsay. The scene has changed and CZ is different then it was ten years ago. It finally got raided balls out now all of the e-tards and g-tards are mad. It is a negative influence on the community that is why it needs to go.
Exactly X-Hale. And I read your other comments. I can't believe I live in a city policed by liers and criminals. For the police to enter an establishment and detain and search everyone is, in my opinion, criminal. And all the lies, the flea market table bullshit, the amount of drugs and arrests portrayed by the media is all bull. The patrons were treated like animals. Its sick, I almost wish an innocent patron was shot by the police and killed, so that a new family would emerge (like the Fazio family that emerged when their son died from supposedely drugs purchased as the zone). This new family would pressure for an investigation in police brutality - THATS WHAT TOOK PLACE HERE! Not to mention some kind of western film type robbery. Where, ON NO GROUNDS, the clubs door proceeds and cash WAS STOLEN BY THE POLICE (essentially the city of Toronto). The club was destroyed, walls torn - who's gonna pay for this? The shit was barbaric and primitive. Did the Fazio family also pay the police to go and do this, is that why it was allowed? Why was a warrant granted, was the warrant against the club? Or was the warrant for each individual patron in there? I know Comfort Zone DOES NOT SELL DRUGS. Although staff my be dealing, I know CZ is not involved. So how was a warrant issued? I don't get it, was the club the focus of the investigation or the patrons? The whole thing is a BIG SCAM.
I DO NOT AGREE WITH YOU, EXUSER, CZ IS NOT A DANGEROUS PLACE - YOU ARE WRONG. AND YOU ARE DISCRIMINATING, CALLING PEOPLE E-TARDS AND G-TARDS. YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT GOOD, ORDINARY CITIZENS THAT YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT. THAT IS IGNORANT - JUST STOP.
exuser:
You say Zone is a dangerous place?
I have been going there for years and in all my time, have never seen, heard of, or experienced one incident of "danger". I have never seen a fight break out. I have never seen anyone being harassed. In fact, I have never seen so many friendly people and smiling faces. And they are all there to enjoy one thing ... the dirtiest, filthiest beats that you will NEVER hear anywhere else.
On the flip side, I have seen countless fights occur in "regular" clubs, so much attitude and cut eye from everyone around. Put a big of alcohol in them and they're a time bomb waiting to pick a fight. Put them behind a wheel and injuries and death are unfortunately inevitable.
I use the term E-tard and G-tard because it is funny. You are offended because you are one of the people I am poking fun at. All of you paranoid conspiracy bullshit is just that, bullshit. It is dangerous at CZ, because of all of the rapes, robberies and od's that happen there. You can deny these FACTS, but it does not make them untrue.
Wow back and forth w. the same kind of comments.
There is a war in Iraq where many people are dying daily, yet we worry about an underground club getting raid.
There are so many illegal activities everywhere, sooner or later, places where drugs are openly used, well, may get a little shake up. I believe the Zone will open, back to business, people will still do what they do.
Respect each other, ultimately NOBODY forces ANYONE to take any sort of drugs. People do have will power. How many ppl smoke regular cigarettes, that is one of the # 1 cancer/killer terminal illness.
This argument can go on forever, bottom line is to set an example THRU ACTION, be good to oneself and others, noone is going to listen to any of you if you swear and handle this debate with such hate for each other. Not everyone @ Zone is a low class, brainless, druggie, however some cleaning up needed to be done there. Let's be honest here.
X-HALE drugs are not harmless. When a girl g's out and gets raped in the green room is no harm done? When someone is OD-ing and the bouncers course of action is to drag them far enough away so it is "not their problem" is that not dangerous? Please do yourself a favour and pull your head out of you ass.
exuser:
Did I say "Drugs are not harmless"? Please point this out and I'll detract my comments. How about you read with your eyes instead of putting words into my mouth? Or maybe your head's too far up your ass that your can't read properly???
And to comment about your comment. I do not condone rape. It's disgusting and rapers should have their balls cut off. But that is not what is in question.
The question should be:
- Did anyone force her to go to Zone?
- Did anyone force her to do G?
If the answer to the above are NO, her G-ing out is a consequence of her actions which she (and only she) is responsible for. Her getting raped is an unfortunate consequence (and let me point out, should NEVER have happened) of her G-ing out.
If the answer to the above are YES, then the person's at fault are those who drugged and raped her. It is not a result of being at Zone.
Just something to think about, (as you clearly are not) before you post your comments.
And if your feeble mind cannot comprehend what I just said, how about this analogy:
If you are walking on a tightrope (on your own free will) across a gorge (this is a small canyon, by the way) on a windy day, and you happen to fall to your death...who do you blame? The wind for blowing you over? The tightrope for being there? The gorge for being there?
Just some food for thought.
X-HALE CZ offers a comfortable environment for these things to go on, with no controls in place. If it was a true safe using environment then the rapes and other negative results of using would be minimized, because there would be people there who are trained and supervised properly.
As for the tightrope analogy, we can either offer a net for that tightrope or not. CZ is a no net environment. That is why it has to go.
Because some dumbass kid who barely knows their ass from a hole in the ground chooses to use too many drugs and gets raped or otherwise injured we should just write it off saying well she chose to use. Unfortunate consequence my ass. I hope you never make any bad decisions in your life if that is your way of thinking.
You make an argument to keep this dangerous disease infected place open because you like to dance!
FYI I am very education on the subject, in a traditional manner as well as a non traditional one, so don't even bother with the "feeble mind" bit. In case you have not figured it out I am an advocate for safe using sites, as well as a harm reductionist.
It's pretty clear from reading these posts who has and who hasn't been to CZ. It's also clear who has and hasn't got a clue about the Toronto club scene.
I've been in for a while, and I've been to Zone my fair share of times...and if you haven't, then you know nothing of what you speak.
We all know what goes on there, good and bad. The bottom line is that this was a raid born out of two drug-related incidents, to which the police needed to react to save face. Nothing more.
Let's try and keep ourselves objective and realistic here.
The Truth:
"DJ'ing aint a legit job, its a luxury job, its part of the make-believe club culture, club culture is the mosy overrated thing in the world. How can a DJ be a real job, when you have no health benefits, no steady paycheck. Im not one to question how one makes money"
You need to shut up and do some research. DJ's develop followers that just love the talent and music they produce. You say no health benefits? Maybe so, but it beats flipping burgers at $8 per hour to gain health benefits. Look at some of the big names? PVD, Armin, Tiesto. Yes, you will probably say something stupid as in "They Suck" PVD gets paid $10,000 per hour to spin! He spun at Guvernment for 3.5 hours and got paid $90 GRAND! DJ-ing is an art, not something you learn over night. If you say that it is easy being a DJ? Try spinning 5 different tracks at once while mixing them on the fly. A "real Job" is a job that is important to you regardless of pay and benefits. It's what you love to do and are successful at. A "real Job" is something that cannot be defined by anyone but yourself.
^^^Hey Big Boy^^^
How many 35 year old dead beats are there spinning trance in shitholes like CZ compared to someone like PVD....SASHA....etc..
get a grip
Doing what you love is a real job, otherwise what's the point? Just to pay bills? Fuck that. That is what is great about living in this country is the oppertunity to do what you love. You don't get that in a lot of places. In Canada you can have your basic needs met through our social net. At the end of the day you have to wake up and look in the mirror.
^^^Hey Big Boy^^^
How many 35 year old dead beats are there spinning trance in shitholes like CZ compared to someone like PVD....SASHA....etc..
get a grip
Yeah, and I am sure they just popped out of their mothers pooch and had multi-million dollar contracts. You get a grip. Most of the DJ's that were regulars at CZ are also regulars at large clubs and some have albums out. Your so narrow minded...just because SASH and PVD have made it this far in their careers doesnt mean the local guys wont get a break somewhere along the line.
No problem X HALE, just be happy you are not a close minded person like many here, life is not black and white, not everyone who does drugs abuse them, not everyone who doesn't do drugs is a SAINT!!!! so stop making such small minded comments and realize there is 2 side to this and RESPECT ppl's opinion without getting so nasty and vulgar, maybe those need a clean up themselves. PEACE AND LOVE
The point of this is ... DRUGS ARE AGAINST THE LAW..POLICE RAIDED THE PLACE FOR ILLEGAL ACTIVITY.....THE END.
NOT EVERYONE THAT STEALS CARS DOES IT OFTEN....OR KILLS SOMEONE WHILE DOING IT...but the police should turn a blind eye top that aswell??
no you stupid m*thaf*cka.. just cos you standin in a parkin lot don't mean you're there stealin cars nor does it mean you should get treated like a criminal for it. so go f*ck yourself.
Now who is using LOL. Pls note the real LOL can actually have a discussion without such brainless vocabulary, example below.
no you stupid m*thaf*cka.. just cos you standin in a parkin lot don't mean you're there stealin cars nor does it mean you should get treated like a criminal for it. so go f*ck yourself.
If one is knowingly standing in a parking lot full of stolen cars, one can expect to be looked upon as suspicious.
Really, if a couple of kids got scared when they had an rifle pointed at them with their faces in their own grime it has probably done more good then harm. Maybe the lesson is stay the fuck out of these nasty places, not the cops are evil.
You need to pull your head out of your ass to LOL.
I completely sympathize with the family of the guy who died. I cannot imagine what they must be going through. But to blame this incident on CZ is fucking stupid. He would have got the drugs from one place or the other. His family must shift the blame away from CZ to their own son?s decision to doing what he did. He was 26 years old?.. not a kid. He should have known how much he can handle. Additionally, he did not even OD at the zone. How can you blame this on CZ? It does not make sense to me.
I have been to CZ tons of times. Friendly people. Great Music. I think it is fucking stupid to blame CZ for this guy?s death when he could not handle his shit and just because he wearing a CZ bracelet. I think it is ignorant for his family to blame CZ.
LONG LIVE ZONE- HOPE THE TECHNO NEVER STOPS
And I agree with slugzkea, the bouncers there do take care of their customers and i hold the CZ bouncers in the highest respect.
AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO LOOK DOWN ON THE ZONNERS YOU CAN SUCK A DICK.
I work hard during the week pay my taxes. You have no right to tell where,when and how i can party.
wow to be honest i never saw this coming.....afta the one time when i was in a parking lot headin to Zone with a few friends, the cops pulled up and asked what was going on. We said Zone, (of course they knew where our day was heaidn), and they said be safe......no problems....
I always thought of Canada as a country that understood certain things should be left alone (or at least monitored and dealt with professionally) WRONG!.
Durgs are here to stay. CZ only catered to those that really wanted to do them and party. It all seemed like a safe and 'comfortable' place to do it....each time it was all chill and enjoyable. Although, I am disturbed to hear about Heroin, but really how high in the cloud was my head in such a place.....that I will always love.
I open the paper today, and read that the Comfort Zone was busted. "Finally!" I thought to myself.
I used to party at the CZ. I remember BEFORE the CZ was called "Comfort Zone" it was called "Buzz". Needless to say, I've been part of that scene in the past and know what time of day it is concerning the nature of the establishment - so do you...
And so did the Police.
The CZ has been open for a LONG TIME, and it's ALWAYS been associated with the drug/dance culture. There's been stabbings, over-doses and rapes in this place (anyone remember what happened to that girl with the 3 bouncers in the 'green-room'?), so it only leaves me sitting here, scratching my head trying to figure out "what took them so long"?
Let's consider a few things, shall we?
How may times have you been sitting in the Comfort Zone on a Sunday afternoon, the place wreaking of pot smoke (before the no-smoking ban), people fried on E, and in k-holes, lining the walls while METRO TORONTO POLICE CONSTABLES come in off the street to make a quick patrol around the club?? I've seen it enough times to know something wasn't right.
How does former Mayor Mel Lastman show up to the Comfort Zone and threaten to shut them down if there's another "over dose" reported - without the police getting involved?
How does handful of people get busted manufacturing GHB in the Waverly Hotel, above the CZ with connections to the CZ, without the police getting involved?
How do the local ethnic "crime" gangs (you know who I am talking about) deal drugs freely in the CZ, while other ethnic crime "organizations" run the place after buying it from a local "biker gang" - WITHOUT THE POLICE GETTING INVOLVED????
The truth of the matter is this; the Police didn't simply "suspect" the Comfort Zone as a drug den; THEY'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS since the place has been opened, what sort of client?le it carters to - I almost be willing to guess they had their big toes stuck in the action, profiting from the illegal activities.
I'm sure if the parents, of the young man who died, were able to secure video surveillance from the club itself, and the surrounding businesses, they would have irrefutable proof that the police had "absolute knowledge" of what was going on there, and are just as guilty as the drug dealers, the owners, and the kid who died from buying and taking GHB.
It wasn't until the police were looking at some sort of liability that they cracked down on the place, 10 years after the fact - and who knows after how many related deaths and/or illnesses have taken place from people just walking in there to "score".
Someone needs to contact this family and let them know that the police knew very well about what went on at the Comfort Zone, but did nothing to stop it - and there needs to be a class action suit against Metro Toronto Police.
And the Comfort Zone need to be shut down...
Guys, I will agree the music is great, and the people are friendly but I won't deny the crime, or the dangers associated with the shady figures trying to sell 'who-knows-what' to people.
You can enjoy the music without the drugs - which is sort of the whole concept behind house music. It's about the music, and NOTHING ELSE.
Drugs have done a great disservice to the dance culture scene, and it's about time this social parasite called the "Comfort Zone" got what it had coming to it. Next time, it could be someone you love who dies, or it could be you - with no one to be held responsible for contributing to your death; not the owners, nor the drug dealers they let in, nor the Police who turn a blind eye (for whatever suspicious reasons).
What is with the constant reference to paying taxes and going to work all week? These are things a normal contributing member of society should do! You want a fucking cookie or something? It is like working and paying taxes gives you the right to do whatever the hell you want. This is the type of argument a child makes to a parent when they are still living at home and working full time.
One more thing...
The CZ has security cameras behind the small bar, next to the entrance, and probably behind the large bar next to the pool tables.
Just something to consider.
There's so much B.S. posted here, it's hard to decide where to start shovelling it. It's time people started to open their eyes about what's really going on at "Church" (that's what it's referred to by it's Sunday morning regulars). I used to be there every weekend, sometimes three times a week. I stopped going because it's a grungy place where anything can happen to you. The real surprise for me was how long it's taken to get raided on a large scale. The cops visited the place several times when I was there. Almost every time, the bouncers came through to warn us that the police were there, so we'd have time to ditch our stashes. Only once did I see anyone actually get arrested there. Go figure. The reason I stopped going there was that the risks outweighed whatever benefits existed in going there. First of all, there was always the risk of being arrested for being there, and for being in possession of drugs. I never met anybody in there that wasn't high on something. The rumour was that the owners paid the cops off, and that's why it didn't get raided. I even heard the head bouncer (at the time I was going) was an ex-cop himself. Whether that's true, I can't say. What I can say is it's unbelievable that so many people are claiming that the Zone was a safe place to go and dance and be high, that no one ever got hurt there. Bullshit. I've seen enough people OD'ing in there. My friend OD'd there. There's a G-out room right in the place where they take people who are G-ing out (overdosing on GHB). I was given drugs by bouncers there, so don't try to tell me the staff is innocent in all this. If they didn't have it, they'd find what I was looking for, or send the guy to you. They got paid off by drug dealers to send them business. When I was going there regularly, it was common knowledge that at least one bouncer was getting paid off by a guy who was getting girls G'd out, and taking them into that G-out room and raping them. That is no word of a lie. The bouncer was standing outside the room making sure nobody was going in there. So cut the crap already. I stopped attending "Church" when I got too disgusted to be there.
I can tell you for a fact that fights have broken out there. A female friend of mine had a gun put to her head in CZ after the guy who did it had beaten her down to the floor. They don't search everybody -- definitely not the people who pay them off. And don't try and tell me they don't get paid off, cuz I've had friends that did they paying. That same guy who put a gun to my friend's head was allowed back into the Zone the next week -- he was one of the dudes paying off the bouncers.
I've been in the G-out room when a guy was so high he was whacking a 10-foot long 2 by 4 off every wall and piece of furniture. Did they tell him to leave? HELL, NO! Nobody looked at him, except out the corner of their eyes, just to make sure they weren't gonna get hit. I knew guys who went there just to knock people out and rob them for their drugs and money. So it's making me sick reading all these comments where people are suggesting that the Comfort Zone is a safe environment to go and live the high life. It just ain't the truth. I've been to tons of afterhours clubs in my life. The Zone was by far the nastiest. It's the kind of place where you don't want anyone to touch you, cuz it's so hot in there even the walls sweat. Someone brushes against you, and their sweat feels like slime sticking to you. The only reason people don't do their drugs right out in the open more often than they do is cuz they're afraid an undercover cop in the place will spot them. But trust me, that's not enough to deter most people once they get high enough. I've seen people snort anything they could put up their noses in that place, and you don't put down your water bottle, cuz you don't know who's gonna slip what into it. My girl that G'd out in the place had someone slip it to her in a glass of Coke. The Zone's nasty enough when the lights are off -- once they come on, you don't wanna see where you've been partying.
Not everyone in the place is bad. There are good people who just go there to have a good time. But those good people are lying to themselves if they wanna deny what really goes on in the place.
In my opinion, the cops had to be getting paid off to turn a blind eye on the place. They've had undercovers in the place for years, they always knew what goes on there. It's not like they're just ignoring that drugs are being sold and taken in mass quantities there. They're ignoring all the other crimes that happen when you have a large volume of people crammed into a small place, who are all really freaking high on really hard drugs.
Oh, and by the way, I think it's funny that the Silver Dollar claims it is a serperate establishment. Come 11 a.m. they open up the stairwell connecting the two places, and once you've been searched, you can go up there. And trust me, if all you're trying to do is hide your drugs, it's not that hard. It's pretty easy to hide a pill. So if you want to drink, you can do that no problem, so long as it's past 11 o'clock. You wonder why people are ODing? Drugs and alcohol can be a lethal combination.
Then you have to consider how many people go there to sell drugs they know are bad drugs, cuz they know they can sell them to someone, make their money, and disappear in the crowds. People pop their pills without thinking about what's really in them. You don't know what you're taking when you buy it in a place like the Zone. But as long as they're open, people will keep going there, buying their drugs and taking them, turning a blind eye at the disgusting truth of what is really going on around them.
Cheers, Scott. It's nice to see I'm not so alone here. It's just time the truth comes out to Toronto as a whole. Zoners have known it for years, and so have the cops. Let's be real. Enough is enough -- people are dying here.
Yeah right ....exactly Yeah RIGHT! There has been a small handfull of incidents at CZ/Buzz in the about 10 years its been around. I know because I was there from the beginning. If you consider that dangerous, you must be afraid to leave your own house. I used to work for Canada's Wonderland security department. They report more incidents of robbery, sexual harrasment, fighting etc. in one 4 month season than CZ has had in its entire 10 years. WAKE THE FUCK UP! The place is safe considering....If you're afraid and believe it to be unsafe then don't attend. Everyone who attends knows what they are getting into - STAY HOME, it'll be safer for you.
The Comfort Zone is DANGEROUS - and promotes a dangerous lifestyle.
Street-drugs (or any drugs for that matter) are DANGEROUS.
I never got into G because I saw what it did to people but I did way too many pills, and enough ketamine to leave my body and talk to aliens - and let me tell you, NONE of IT is safe.
You are dealing with molecules and enzymes - things you can't test with the naked eye. Mind you, if you do enough drugs you develop a knack for detecting crappy pills and such, but this doesn't negate the dangers involved. Especially for new/unsuspecting users - which is probably what happened to this young man.
And it's not as though we can trust these Chinese-Vietnamese or Serbian(Russian?) dealers to put the safety of others before their desire to turn a profit.
Let me make the following... You can even take a dump in the CZ, and you're going to call it "safe"??? Oh, brother...
Allow me to restate the following observation due to typo's;
You can't even take a dump in the CZ, and you're going to call it "safe"?
If you think CZ is dangerous, you're a damn pussy.
Clubs down on peter and king are way more dangerous, since people get shot down there.
OMG Rick and slugzkea how can you two possibly still be defending this shit hole? You guys are such losers especially you slugzkea for being proud of being an employee of this place. How much of a douche bag are you for dedicating years of your life to this place? You are such an idiot.
and Rick a security guard at Wonderland!?!?! I have to admit that is about where I placed you in life.
Remember Dr Rick on how GHB is good for you? Superstar winner there! LOL
And we cannot forgot good-old Slug... Janitor of Comfort Zone turned bouncer... Momma must be proud of you! LOL
Kids reading this... These are the lowest of the lowest losers in our beautiful city of TORONTO!
Wow - amazing response - love to read them all but just want to say I'm kinda surprised that some people can't understand the innocent until proven guilty edict. I used to go to Buzz, then CZ, when I was much younger, all I wanted was a place to dance, really. I can understand a need for "forces" to be swift but not excessive. Can't assume everyone in there should be treated like a criminal. It makes me think much less of the city's governance.
the people that attend CZ are selfish, narrow-minded, and a detriment to our society. There are soldiers getting killed in Iraq, people homeless because of Katrina, children growing up in broken homes with no parents, yet we are supposed to feel sorry for people that "CHOSE" to attend CZ? The clubbers make no sense, you cant have your cake and eat it too, you want to do drugs, fine its your life, but you want to do drugs in a public place and not be bothered by the law? that makes no sense, if you were doing drugs in your own private home, then maybe you would have a solid argument, but CZ isn't a private home. Also its pretty selfish for people to whine about how they need a place to do drugs and dance to trance/eletronica/techno, etc., its SELFISH people like you that are ruining the city and country, oh so you cant do some ecstasy and dance, BOOO HOOO, poor baby, there are more important things in life that drugs and techno. Spend sundays at your local church, volunteer your time to the community, visit family, go to the gym, do something productive instead of frying your brain cells and accelarting your heart rate.
YO, SOME PEOPLE HERE ARE PISSING ME OFF!
SNORT THE DRUGS, DANCE, CHILL.
IT BOTHERS ME. THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO DO DRUGS TO HAVE FUN.
ONE DUDE SAID SOME CRAZY STUFF ABOUT THE YOUTH WHO DIED.
ALOT OF YOU ARE SOUNDING LIKE 30 YEAR OLDS DISCOVERING COMFORT ZONE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
I'M WORRIED MORE PEOPLE WILL DIE, I DON'T KNOW OF THE POLICE SITUTAION...BUT IF THEY ARE CORRUPT THAT SCARES ME.
ITS ALL COOL. DO YOUR THING, YOU WANNA SNORT DRUGS, DO YOUR THING. COPS CORRUPT? THINGS WILL RISE TO THE SURFACE.
ITS ALL GOOD. TO THAT DUDE THAT DISREPSECTED THE YOUTH WHO DIED, DON'T DO THAT KID...IT'S NOT COOL.
I USED TO HIT UP COMFORT ZONE IN 1998-99.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT GOES DOWN THERE THESE DAYS, IT LOOKS BARREN TO ME. WHAT DAYS IS IT OPEN? DOES IT STILL PLAY JUNGLE/DRUM AND BASS? LET ME KNOW.
Very odd, how the greasy Piglets don't seem to give a FIDDLER'S FUCK about all the scamming and thievery in government. But hey, the pussy assfucks, hiding behind their Glocks, don't want to stop sucking the Big Fat Dicks that pay them royally, to look the other way. Next time a cop comes within 15 feet of me, I'm asking him to get away from me.
Funny how the bouncers who work inside the front door never saw all those cop cars rolling up??
Let me guess, they had the morning off?
I defend this place for the "few" years i've worked there because there are much worst clubs, and other clubs that are 10x more dangerous than the zone.
If you don't know that of the clubs in this city, then you are the idiot.
In case you haven't read from the start of this blog, I'll review it for you.
- CZ never had one shooting in it's entire history.
- Barely any fights happen there in comparison to other clubs.
- The rumor of people leaving on a stretcher every weekend is false, the last person I saw leave on a stretcher due to something serious was over a year ago.
- You can take a shit there, as long as no one else has took a shit there first (during the event).
So if you really think CZ is that bad, that "dangerous" or that "shitty". well like i said, you're a pussy.
Or a priss. choose one?
Rick, you're a dumbass idiot, if you ask me. People don't report getting raped and beaten at Comfort Zone, cuz they're high out of their tree, and if they can even remember what happened (don't forget, GHB in high enough doses makes chicks black out completely), they're scared to go to the cops cuz then they have to admit their own drug use. And let me tell you how much the cops sympathize with people who are high on drugs.
Secondly, of course there are more REPORTED incidents at Canada's Wonderland -- how many hundreds of thousands of people attend the place in a season? Tons more than go to CZ. Let's talk percentages, not raw numbers.
Why are you defending the place so much? Guilty of something? Or just dumb? FOR REAL!
CZ stopped calling EMS because it was too much heat you jackass. No shootings, just everything else you can imagine, bravo!! Less fights then other clubs, it is not even a club you moron at least it is not licensed as such, doh! Go into the bathroom and take a shit while the guys from parkdale rob you blind and pay off the doorman. Fuck you Slug obviously you are never going to get it. Go get a job where you are a contributing member of society instead of a parasite.
WHO IS GOING TO TELL THE COPS THEY BOUGHT DRUGS OFF THEIR FRIEND????
OF COURSE THEY WILL SAY THEY BOUGHT DRUGS AT THE CLUB EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T AS TO NOT TURN IN SOMEONE THEY KNOW BUT STILL GIVE A STORY!
THIS OPEN DRUG FLEA-MARKET DESCRIPTION IS PURE FABRICATION. IT IS NO WORSE AT MANY OTHER MAINSTREAM CLUBS...GOOD AND BAD EVERYWHERE PEOPLE...THIS WAS A WASTE OF TAXPAYERS MONEY.
IF I O.D. IT IS NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MY OWN.
THE COPS KNEW ABOUT EVERYTHING HAPPENING THERE....THEY HAD TO HAVE BEEN PAID OFF FOR A LONG TIME BECAUSE IF THIS PLACE IS SUCH A PROBLEM TO SOCIETY SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE A LONG TIME AGO....OUR POLICE ARE BARKING UP THE WRONG TREE I'M AFRAID
AND FOR THOSE JUDGING OTHERS FOR WHAT THEY DO FOR A LIVING,WITH THEIR FREE TIME OR GRAMMAR OR SPELLING ON A DISCUSSION BOARD IS VERY WEAK. TO EACH HIS OR HER OWN AND IT SAYS WORLDS ABOUT YOU AND THE STRENGTH OF YOUR ARGUMENT WHEN YOU RESORT TO JUDGING AND NAME CALLING..(GAY BOY 9, COREY DORIAN, APEINTORONTO, THE TRUTH, HOWIE, IKE AND OTHERS)
Mountie if you think that there is no more drugs in this place then in the mainstream clubs, you either A) have never been there, B) are inept to goings on around you, or C) lying, because it is simply not true. CZ has been Toronto's biggest drug den for a long time.
FYI Film ranks a close second soon to be overtaken by Black if CZ shuts down (which it probably won't) because all of the CZ users will start going there.
Exuser have you been to the Guverment? It's just spread out over a bigger area but there are lot's of drugs going around in there i can assure you. I was speaking more to the good and bad people...i'm sure there has been some shady things going on in back rooms in licenced clubs with really drunk or drugged girls/guys. I said you can buy drugs there but they aren't set up like a flea-market in there. I wasn't inept to what was going on around me in there that's why nothing bad happened to me. I also met some really nice people in there that seem no different from those I work with everyday that have never been to CZ. There are some lost souls in there that have done too many drugs but there are also lost souls on their 20th drink of the night at 2am at many clubs across the city puking, slurring their speach and passing out in parks if they don't get into a fight first. There is no difference between a drunk or a drug addict, they are both addictions, why treat people who do one different than another? Because the government makes money on one? People are people no matter how they choose to get a buzz so why are some name calling and sayng people who go to CZ are all losers unless they have met ALL of those who go to CZ and one club gets raided and not others.
It's hypocracy and i'm sure alot of nice people went through hell that night for no reason...it'll be jumping again soon with all new people to replace those who leave. It was a waste of time....
and the cops who were high fiving each other that day were probably geeks in high school who had no friends and are bitter and jealous that they had never experienced a party like goes on there and never will, that's why they are acting like idiots. because if they had any knowledge of that type of crowd they would have known that excessive force wasn't warranted. i'm not saying they are all bad cops because some of them probably thought it was dumb too but those ones high fiveing disgust me.
i wonder if the cops will raid their own after hours establishment for york region police. "the barn" it is referred to on the west side of bayview south of mulock in newmarket it looks like a big brown school portable near baseball diamonds where they have their "social gatherings" well past 2am and get so pissed drunk they have to have on-duty cops come and drive them home (the ones who don't just go for it and drive pissed) i have heard this from inside sources it is not random speculation.....
the fuel for the parties are supplied by unreported confiscated liquor...party on hypocrites...
I guess I spoke too soon.
I thought I had given up but I'm honestly enraged by the sheer stupidity of some people.
Again, I reiterate - there was no conspiracy nor did the cops wake up one day and think, "hey, it's time we busted up Comfort Zone" nor were they being paid off. You all wish it was as simple as that so you can easily dimiss the fact that you were openly doing illegal drugs in a shit hole.
I don't give a fuck if alcohol is worse that your shitty drugs, so stop with the blame game.
I also don't give a fuck if you're doing GHB,e, coke, crack, whatever, because it's social darwinism plain and simple. Less compitetion for me, I say.
But please, stop whining about getting busted and roughed up for doing illegal shit or NOT doing illegal shit in a joint that enables it FOR FUCKS SAKE.
/end
I know the barn, it was blue wasn't it? Anyway, the whole ideal of villianizing the police is ridiculous. Do police have some of the same issues as the rest of the public, like alcohol and drug problems along with other social issues, of course! To say that raiding a club is a waist of time and money is untrue. There needs to be some deterrent to running this type of establishment. York Region in particular has had many problems with their police officers and driving impaired. They are by no means perfect.
As in intelligent human being who is aware of what happens in the clubs after spending a number of years deep in the scene I understand that being in certain areas and places will run me the risk of police scrutiny. That is why as an intelligent adult who has moved on with his life I do not go into places like the gov, CZ or Film. I don't need the hassles that are associated with that. If that is your scene then you know what is going on in that scene so you should have the cognitive ability to rationalize that being around these types of illegal activities runs some risk.
As far as government and taxes being at the route. Snap out of your conspiracy theoretical daze.
The flea market bit, I cannot attest to as I never saw it with my own eyes. The other things I have stated in this blog are things that I have experienced or witnessed over the years both as en ex drug addict and current addictions counsellor.
@ MOUNTIE
There is no difference between a drunk or a drug addict, they are both addictions???
BOOZE IS LEGAL DRUGS ARE NOT....THE POLICE RAIDED THE PLACE FOR DRUGS!
this whole situation is disturbing & sad.
All the media is so full of shit with their comments about cz. I have been to cz many times over the past 5 years and NEVER have the staff directed me to someone selling drugs, most times you can't even get any there and there are definitely no ?tables set up like flea markets for you pick out what you want?, how pathetic is that...do you sleep at night with all the lies you tell???? Get your facts str8. The staff is always patting down people entering the club. I have never seen weapons through this club and if there were any they are immediately thrown out.
CZ is one of the clubs I feel the safest out of all in the city. I never thought it would be but it?s true, everyone knows each other and we all go there for one reason and that?s house music and good friends. Us ladies can dance without having some drunk asshole all over us and starting fights with our guy friends.
It's horrible that a 26 year old ADULT lost his life due to an overdose, but really the sad truth is this is what happens when you are not careful of what you?re doing. I know lots of people who have taken too much of a drug b/c they were simply being complete idiots and they learned the hard way by almost passing out but they lived through it, some people continue to do it and some people are more careful. All partiers need to be cautious and RESPONSIBLE for their actions. This boy was definitely old enough to make own choices and really should of known better. I like to know where his friends were? Was he by himself when he died?
i don't think it's a government conspiracy that cz was raided. just think that the views of some people with regards to drug use or addiction and equating that to what kind of human being they are based on the legality of the substance is wrong. Drinking is seen as ok because it is sold in the stores and taxed but those who use drugs for the same purpose as alcohol are losers and degenerates and their establishment of choice deserves to be shut down. I worded that wrong in hindsight but i just think it was needless for so many to go through so much crap and i'm sure that for all of the money spent on all those cops in that raid to just nab 33 people on possession charges and immigration charges. the value of the drugs is in suggested retail value so was what was achieved worth those resources when the cz will most likely be back up and running soon?
gee thanks for the update allah! all this time i didn't know it was for drugs am i ever silly...keep reading it over and over dude you may get it one day.
^^^^^
Like I said, I hope Crack Zone re-opens soon; it enables losers and therefore supports social darwinism.
Thanks, CZ!
If all things on the media were true,
Why is the club re-opening tomorrow,
or Saturday by latest?
Because it was all bullshit. That's right.
Say and think all you want negative about the place,
It lives.
and it's re-opening very soon.
All the people at the Comfort Zone should get together and file a law suite against the police. It works better if you all stick together and it goes over good in court with more people. Come on people do this and get a lawyer.
Slug, it is not because everything is bullshit, it is because the people responsible for CZ, not the people that you know, but the real people responsible have been at the epicentre of Toronto's drug subculture for over thirty years. When you are at that level one little bust barley makes you miss a stride. That is why it has to happen very regularly in order to make the place less profitable. Just a reminder it is about money not music.
Good luck with your lawsuit. I have an idea, why don't you use the money you would normally spend on drugs and hire a lawyer. It would do you some good.
FYI the charges have to be heard before a place gets shut down. That does not happen a week after a raid.
I would not be talking about lawsuits due to the fact that the parents of the dead child can sue for negligence against the owners of comfort zone.
Just like if you have a house party and someone drinks to much and heads home and kills someone...You as the person that threw the party can be held liab.
Slugz,
The media was corrects about the information it was given - and the information given stated that the Comfort Zone would probably reopen this weekend but the city was going through various channels to shut them down for other violations.
It's not about violations against the AGCO, as the Zone no longer has a licence to serve alcohol. It's basically a 'social club' with probably a catering or vendors permit to sell water, gum etc. However, the place is not up to 'fire code' which is what will probably have it shut down - who knows? Basically, it's a matter of HOW & WHEN.
The Comfort Zone, as it is known, needs to be shut down, but this isn't to say that something better, or something more socially responsible cannot not be built in it's place. This something 'new' can still be called the 'Comfort Zone' - but without the drugs (which would be the real litmus test to gauged it's popularity based 'solely on the music'). IF the owners, and management CANNOT keep the drugs out, then they are irresponsible business men who jepradise the safety of it's patrons. They CANNOT be allowed to operate an establishment of that nature if they cannot hire security who can identify drug dealers, and drug use. And I know it's possible because I work as a BOUNCER, and have been doing so, on the side, for almost 15 years.
And don't tell me about people "sneaking' in dope. I've bought drugs from the little Asian guy that runs around by the wash-rooms next to the DJ booth. I've purchased drugs from the Serbian guy who was dealing there before him! And so on, and so on...
I've been part of that lifestyle, I know what it is about, and where it happens - Comfort Zone, and Film have been the base of this particular sub-culture for a very long time now. It's is wrong, and dangerous to the community. IT needs to be stopped. If another place should pop up somewhere else, such as Blak then it needs to be stopped as well.
I don't understand why you refuse to see this? If you need a job, let me know. I can probably get a you something more stable, with a MUCH higher rate of pay - at a better venue.
Funny how the people from the CZ cry foul yet there's usually ONE person who moves the majority of the drgus in that place...
Some other clubs have hired on site paramedics to help with patrons who are sick (overdose). A friend of mine was sick at CIRCA and they had these two nice paramedics taking care of her in a few minutes. I think if clubs are going to draw the "druggie" crowd they better be prepared for all that comes with it. The new comfort zone may want to keep this mind. You make your money from these people so its in your best interest to take care of them.
You people are so stupid. Get together and file a law suite
They know that you would not do anything alone, but together you can bring them down.
Straight people don't know how to do drugs. Gay people know better not to take to much. Being missey in public is a no no.
Straight people don't know how to do drugs. Gay people know better not to take to much. Being missey in public is a no no.
hey mr "come on people"....is that the best you can do to add to this discussion?
tell me what the difference is between gay and straight people that relates to the amount of drugs they do please....say something to back that statement up for me i'd love to hear you back that up
Circa is run by a real professional. This guy was the scene in New York prior to being deported back to Canada. Having a guy like this running a club in Toronto is practically an honour compared to the average meat head club owner in this city.
LONG LIVE FATTENING THE POCKETS OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T CARE IF YOU LIVE OR DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...So everyone on here thinks zone is full of retards, think again. I know of several people that go there by choice, not lured by an addiction. Smart as fuck individuals that have attended university and are well into careers that pay six figure incomes. Myself included. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but I could do anything I want to anytime I want. I don't make a point in going out to any nightclub at all. I don't talk about it a work, and couldn't care less if any one around me knew I went there. It's a free fucking country and I do what I please. Labeling people for their choice of bars is fuct. Like labeling me for eating fast food. Does that make me a fat fuck? My awards I get for being the best in the sports I play say otherwise. Judgmental Kids like you make me laugh. You know you were all born perfect, but they way you were brought up was shit. All you got now is no live, and your on here all day pointing your finger days after the shit at Zone went down. Thats a bitter shame. To all you kids that go to bed at 9 p.m. and hate Toronto's nightlife, get bent.
Well kids, the zone opens again this Thursday :) and weekend.
See facebook group "Comfort Zone"
Just be safe, show all these people that it is about the music, be careful, have fun, be loving, be respectful of your bodies :)
hopefully they shut down those disgusting gay clubs and gay strip clubs, they are a detriment to our city and draw a bad crowd, the city has to stand up to those homos and toronto, im gonna keep it real here, the politicians/ cops are a bunch of frauds, the only reason they allow the gay pride parade is for the income, free food, money, money and more money, they are all frauds, those politicians cant stand there in front of the cameras with a straight face and tell us they agree with those "gays". get rid of the gay clubs first, its a joke the city allows them to operate. CZ isnt a problem, just allow CZ to police themselves, but the only condition on which CZ is allowed to operate is if they close by 2am like everywhere else, its time for toronto keep it real, and since this is toronto discussion, get some power washers to clean up the dirty alleys and walkways and laneways in the downtown core, clean up those nasty sewers that emit all that smell, get the TTC subways on a 24/7 schedule, stop having so much construction downtown, ship all the bums into affordable housing, bring a permanent NFL team to Toronto, stop allowing the tv/news media to create false propaganda.
Earlier in the day I had an extensive conversation with a staffer at councillor Vaughan's office-
she informs me that they have as of yet received no complaints about this warrant or its execution- and have only heard support from the local residents association- who no doubt have only read the media reports of the 'drug flea market'
I think that people need to call in to express their concern-
also she suggests that those who have been involved directly will receive more results and so those who have been abused in this raid should contact-
Councillor Vaughan's Office
The Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Police Complaints
Editor's note: The comment section of this post has been closed and edited. Due to the nature of the latter portion of the comments (back and forth insults, no constructive debate, personal information posted, profane, lewd and offensive choice of words, etc), comments have been disabled, and a chronological string of comments has been truncated (unpublished, but they all remain in our internal archives).
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this, please feel free to contact me to discuss.
jerrold -- at -- blogto -- dot -- com
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