San Francisco Citizens For Halloween Feel Tricked

image credit: tribe.net

Can the Gay Mecca kill queer fabulousness on Halloween? San Francisco officials are planning to end this world famous Castro happening, after failing to provide adequate security last year. Shootings resulted after a tense crowd was dispersed in a way that made the atmosphere even worse, neighborhood residents reported at the time. For most of it's history, Halloween in the Castro has not been professionally produced, which may explain the years of problems leading to last years shooting.

After the problems last year, an open community process was promised by elected officials, but then discussions were held behind closed doors, disenfranchising many residents and merchants, and side tracking a community-based solution. San Francisco's Sunshine Ordinance may also have been circumvented by anxious officials.
Now, 6 weeks from Halloween, citizens have given themselves a chance to be heard by hosting a community forum attended by 500 people. (See story, below).

Meanwhile, "Citizens For Halloween" wants San Francisco to create a successful Halloween event, as New York does each year, for millions of people. The New York event is replete with appropriate production values. This years NYC theme is "Wings of Desire" and it's website boasts many business sponsors, including The Village Voice and Whole Foods.

The NY Halloween is held in "The Village", the famed gay-friendly area that was also home to the Stonewall Bar, and gay liberation protests that launched the 20th century gay liberation movement. The NY party features a costume parade and 53 bands.

Which Witch Is The Good Witch?
Apparently San Francisco is prepared to cede its event lead to New York, and all of the tourist dollars that go with it. Stonewall Citizen thinks this is so very uncreative, so very un-San Francisco. Who, in the end assumes the right to end a gay cultural and populist event without community input?
San Francisco and Castro Supervisor Bevin Dufty sternly faced the cameras last week, stated that San Francisco will "batten down the hatches" on Halloween. He is supported by Mayor Gavin Newsom, who is expected to win re-election on November 7th, a week after Halloween.

The Story, from SF's KGO News...

"Castro Residents Fear Party Will Form In Halloween

After City Banned The Event

KGO"> By Debora Villalon

SAN FRANCISCO, Sep. 23, 2007 (KGO) - It's the party that refuses to die. San Francisco banned the annual Halloween party in the Castro. but community members are afraid thousands of people will still show up to haunt their neighborhood, this year.

Images of Halloweens past show the outrageous costumes, the huge crowd, the place to see and be seen. But recent Halloweens in San Francisco have gone bad with stabbings, and last year nine people shot and a woman trampled.

"We're going to batten down the hatches and do what we need to do," said San Francisco Supervisor Bevan Dufty.

The supervisor who represents the Castro insists word will spread- no party this year- and zero tolerance for those who persist.

"We're reaching out to law enforcement agencies around the bay area and trust me, there will be a very coordinated approach and the message will go out that we don't expect people to come," said Dufty.

And if they do come? Concerned citizens heard at a community meeting that paramedics will be ready; but there won't be any port-a-potties, checkpoints or weapons screening- because that implies an event.

"This is a plan of staging and responding," said Capt. Rich Dyer from the San Francisco Sheriff's Department.

San Francisco police skipped this meeting, so the best preview came from the Sheriff's Department.

"There will be barricades there, there will be police officers and deputies staged around the perimeter, there will be police officers in the Castro, but in terms of anything in place at the start of the evening, No," said Capt. Dyer.

To many listeners, that plan sounds like no plan at all.

"That's like trying to decree there won't be a rainstorm, it doesn't work that way," said Castro resident George Stoll.

"They're going to come to the neighborhood looking for the party that's not going to be here," said Martha Asten.

Some Castro merchants would have preferred the city just run the party better- not end it.

"It is so well renowned, people show up from around the world," said Asten.

Others are doing as the city asks, closing for business on Halloween, and letting the tradition go.

"All the merchants have mixed emotions about that because there's nothing we'd rather see than all the locals out in costume having a blast," said Jerry Cooper from swirl on Castro.

And there's a contingent arguing if New York can host a Halloween bash for a few million people, San Francisco should be able to handle a few hundred thousand, with planning.

"Crowd control can happen, big events can be thrown, the problem here is there's a trend in San Francisco toward killing large events," said Ted Strawser from Citizens from Halloween.

As Halloween approaches, the city will launch an ad campaign aimed at the entire Bay Area- explaining the Castro party is over, and encouraging people to stay home and enjoy their own neighborhoods. But the question is haunting: if you ban it, will they still come?"