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Corpy seizes Castro Halloween Bash!
Clear Channel presents...
No longer the notoriously spontaneous street party that it once was, this year’s Castro Halloween bash will be corporatized, policified, and require an entrance fee. That’s right, everyone’s favorite radio monopolizers, Clear Channel, is “sponsoring” the party, typically froth with the nation’s most glamorous cross-dressers, an overwhelming negligence of the city’s ban on open containers, and 300,000 of the bay area’s craziest Halloween lovers.
Clear Channel, the same folks who brought us this spring’s sponsored pro-war rallies, owns over 1,200 stations, or roughly one in every ten in the country, and over 776,000 outdoor advertising displays, such as billboards and street benches. Along with Anheuser Busch and Wells Fargo, they have officially privatized the event, planning to erect 14 gated entryways, a search upon entrance, and a three dollar cover charge.
City officials have reported that more than 300 police officers will roam the streets of the festival to enforce the drinking ban. The event’s website cheerily announces, “As you arrive at the event, you will pass through gates where you'll be checked for alcohol and/or weapons and volunteers from one of our community partners will be collecting donations. Once inside, four exciting stages of entertainment await. Featuring live performers, DJs, costume contests and much more, there's something for everyone this year.”
Except, perhaps, for those who have for years reveled in the spontaneity and randomness of a community planned party without ad banners, billboards, required “donations” or corporate sponsorships. To accompany the expected advertising blitz will be the California State Alcoholic Beverage Commission, San Francisco’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Services, City Attorney’s office, Entertainment Commission, and Sheriff’s Department.
Read more about Clear Channel here:
http://www.corporateswine.net/clearchannel.html
Clear Channel, the same folks who brought us this spring’s sponsored pro-war rallies, owns over 1,200 stations, or roughly one in every ten in the country, and over 776,000 outdoor advertising displays, such as billboards and street benches. Along with Anheuser Busch and Wells Fargo, they have officially privatized the event, planning to erect 14 gated entryways, a search upon entrance, and a three dollar cover charge.
City officials have reported that more than 300 police officers will roam the streets of the festival to enforce the drinking ban. The event’s website cheerily announces, “As you arrive at the event, you will pass through gates where you'll be checked for alcohol and/or weapons and volunteers from one of our community partners will be collecting donations. Once inside, four exciting stages of entertainment await. Featuring live performers, DJs, costume contests and much more, there's something for everyone this year.”
Except, perhaps, for those who have for years reveled in the spontaneity and randomness of a community planned party without ad banners, billboards, required “donations” or corporate sponsorships. To accompany the expected advertising blitz will be the California State Alcoholic Beverage Commission, San Francisco’s Police Department, Office of Emergency Services, City Attorney’s office, Entertainment Commission, and Sheriff’s Department.
Read more about Clear Channel here:
http://www.corporateswine.net/clearchannel.html
For more information:
http://www.corporateswine.net
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http://www.halloweensf.com/mediainfoframe.html
http://www.sfobserver.com/sept03/castro.html
Newsom and Dufty were present last February 6
when police officers brutalized and arrested peaceful
queer protesters outside the Lesbian Gay Bisexual
Transgender Community Center. On that evening, Gay
Shame protestors in festive attire were handing out
flyers, and were ironically denied entrance to their
own Center by the SFPD. According the police reports,
officers told Newsom that he and Kimberly should enter
the building in the back, away from the protesters.
Newsom insisted they enter by the front door, which
necessitated a police escort. A squad of SFPD officers
escorted Gavin and Kimberly Newsom, straight
conservatives, into the building and then immediately
began attacking queer protestors. Violent SFPD officers
threw one person face-first into oncoming traffic, put
another into a choke-hold until he passed out, and
bludgeoned one woman so hard in the face that blood
poured out of her mouth and one of her teeth was
shattered. The spectacle of queer protesters being
bashed outside of the San Francisco LGBT Center, as
Center staff, the Newsoms, Supervisor Bevan Dufty and
gay politicos looked on (and did not intervene), was
not lost on local and national media.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/10/1650027.php
http://www.sfobserver.com/sept03/castro.html
Newsom and Dufty were present last February 6
when police officers brutalized and arrested peaceful
queer protesters outside the Lesbian Gay Bisexual
Transgender Community Center. On that evening, Gay
Shame protestors in festive attire were handing out
flyers, and were ironically denied entrance to their
own Center by the SFPD. According the police reports,
officers told Newsom that he and Kimberly should enter
the building in the back, away from the protesters.
Newsom insisted they enter by the front door, which
necessitated a police escort. A squad of SFPD officers
escorted Gavin and Kimberly Newsom, straight
conservatives, into the building and then immediately
began attacking queer protestors. Violent SFPD officers
threw one person face-first into oncoming traffic, put
another into a choke-hold until he passed out, and
bludgeoned one woman so hard in the face that blood
poured out of her mouth and one of her teeth was
shattered. The spectacle of queer protesters being
bashed outside of the San Francisco LGBT Center, as
Center staff, the Newsoms, Supervisor Bevan Dufty and
gay politicos looked on (and did not intervene), was
not lost on local and national media.
http://www.indybay.org/news/2003/10/1650027.php
will gay shame be banned from the castro party this year, becouse of their outbursts and fighting with police that took place last year?
can they charge a fee to enter?
IS WILLIE BROWN THE MAYOR?????
i don't think they can ban gay shame, but i think they will try to make certain types of people not want to be there.
the latest reports i read says that viacom and red bull are also sponsors. and i think the entrance fee is a "donation" but i don't know how strict it'll bee......
the latest reports i read says that viacom and red bull are also sponsors. and i think the entrance fee is a "donation" but i don't know how strict it'll bee......
There is no justification for turning a people's street festival into a corporate money fest. Just say no!
Vote with your feet! Converge elsewhere.
Vote with your feet! Converge elsewhere.
Let's all pray that heathen bands of anarchist hoodlums don't take advantage of the situation on Friday by running amok somewhere else, while the police are so busy with crowd control. But hey, it's San Francisco, so what do you expect?
It's almost a no win situation. If tons of people show up it will be a success for the corporate sponsors who already have a stranglehold on the airways and concert venues. If no one showed up it would be a huge coup for those who want to see events like this disappear (like the cops and mayor-to-be Newsome). Ideally, the thousands of people who plan on going will approach it just like every other year and not pay, bring booze and get rowdy. We should make them all pay for the attempt to co-opt a street party that originated for the people.
Obvious that
(a) you have never been to the Castro on Hallowe'en
(b) you don't know the difference between hoodlums, anarchists, freepers, lesbian businesswomen out having a relaxing evening, and some dude dolled up who happens to own ten Ben and Jerrys ice cream parlors.
(c) maybe you DO know what a freeper is
(a) you have never been to the Castro on Hallowe'en
(b) you don't know the difference between hoodlums, anarchists, freepers, lesbian businesswomen out having a relaxing evening, and some dude dolled up who happens to own ten Ben and Jerrys ice cream parlors.
(c) maybe you DO know what a freeper is
I live in the Castro and these are good changes, despite the addition of the sponsor. Each year this spontaneous celebration has been getting more dangerous with fewer costumed revelers and more out-of-town gawkers. Last year 5 people were stabbed and the crowd was generally surly and drunk. As a resident I welcome the police presense and welcome the $3 donation to pay for the police and entertainment. If we have to suffer a sponsor, I'm not thrilled but it's better than having the celebration close down for good due to violence.
Last year 5 people were stabbed and the crowd was generally surly and drunk. if we could keep the locals to a minimum this would not be taking place. the residents want a clean up of this area.
the organizers claim the donations aren't required. at folsom and the castro street fair they ask for donations but don't enforce -- instead they give everyone who's donated a badge so that you can see who's donated and who hasn't. and therefore a lot of people feel under pressure to buy the badge.
e.
e.
the more they try to restrict people from having a good time, the more pissed off people will get.
if they try to imposs too many rules on the people there very well will be some sort of riot.
if they try to imposs too many rules on the people there very well will be some sort of riot.
The simple fact is this. This is and always has been OUR party! Why 50,000 straight gawkers feel like they have to show up and make trouble every year is beyond me (maybe they're jealous?).
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
The simple fact is this. This is and always has been OUR party! Why 50,000 straight gawkers feel like they have to show up and make trouble every year is beyond me (maybe they're jealous?).
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
The simple fact is this. This is and always has been OUR party! Why 50,000 straight gawkers feel like they have to show up and make trouble every year is beyond me (maybe they're jealous?).
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
I'd like to see the violence and the unwanted go away too. But, HELLO... this is OUR Party and who the hell invited you Clear Channel (a.k.a. corporate party crasher) ?!
I can envision a several group reactions....
(1) The community will move two blocks down Market and the party will go on there.. and the businesses in that block will thrive for the night.
(2) The community will be so pissed off at the intrusion that they'll simply "crash" the gate and to hell with the metal detectors, which will have one of two results:
-- a) the commercialization of the party will be a huge flop and that will be the end of that.
-- b) there will be a major riot with lots of media coverage, and that will be the end of this kind of "sponsorship".
3) The community will take a look and see attitude. If things go well and the "sponsors" don't get in the way of our night... wellll we might be back next year. Personally I hope this is the option that most will go for and that cool heads will prevail, we'll all have fun, and the gawkers and bashers will be discouraged.
I'll be there in all my glory this year, but I'm going to keep a critical eye open and see what happens. If this "sponsor" and their political lackies don't keep their hands off what they should keep their hands off.. .I won't be back next year. At least, not where they are. And I think a lot of folks will simply take the party somewhere else.
Who gives a crap about the sponsorship? Most revelers at this party aren't going to enjoy themselves less because ClearChannel gets to hang a banner somewhere. What most definitely will impinge on their fun is the unprecedented ban on alcohol. I have been attending this event for years and it's really hard to imagine it refashioned as a family friendly product of City Hall. These guys have REALLY overreached. Oh, and regarding the histrionics over last year's stabbings, I can only say that on a percentage basis (over 300K people) it must still have worked out to be one of the safest party events on record. I would invite our politicians to take notice of their overwhelmingly young, diverse, high-spirited, and party loving constituency, because we're just beginning to take notice of them.
this year the party will be a lot safer and cleaner
the crowds will be supervised and well behaved!
what more can we ask for? sure some bad apples will be frustrated that they cannot ruin the party. tuff for them! the rest of us will make this party set the standard for all events
the crowds will be supervised and well behaved!
what more can we ask for? sure some bad apples will be frustrated that they cannot ruin the party. tuff for them! the rest of us will make this party set the standard for all events
The Gestapo, the KGB, and the Thought Police are having their party, and their having it within the inner-keep of the citadel of liberalism, San Francisco's Castro district.
Clear Channel, along with their clones, have destroyed radio, and now seem bent upon destroying freedom of expression on the street as well.
The Beastie Boys were more prophetic than they could have ever imagined. You've got to fight for your right to party.
I wish I had time to organize a rebellion or a counter party, but it's 4:00 pm the day of this black night. Instead, I encourage all those who cherish the constitutional right to gather in public places to resist the Nazi's in whatever fashion you deem fit.
Clear Channel, along with their clones, have destroyed radio, and now seem bent upon destroying freedom of expression on the street as well.
The Beastie Boys were more prophetic than they could have ever imagined. You've got to fight for your right to party.
I wish I had time to organize a rebellion or a counter party, but it's 4:00 pm the day of this black night. Instead, I encourage all those who cherish the constitutional right to gather in public places to resist the Nazi's in whatever fashion you deem fit.
It's 7:30 right now on halloween and I live at the corner of Henry and Noe, and it's raining pretty constantly. I think it's great that the first year the corporations put their dollars on the line, the get fucked in the ass and lose a boatload of cash.
Gene, please keep up posted: we need to know the weather to go to SF. Forecast is not accurate.
weather tonight in SF....
DARK! WITH SCATTERED LIGHT IN THE EARLY MORNING!
DARK! WITH SCATTERED LIGHT IN THE EARLY MORNING!
I haven't bothered to attend for years. Halloween at Robertson and Santa Monica used to be incredible fun but around the time AIDS hit and most of the guys in costumes died it wasn't very good anymore.
Once they closed off the street and made it an "official corporate sponsored event" it was only a shadow of its former self.
The party was at its best in the late seventies and early eighties when one could sit in front of the Greenery and watch the drag queens ride back and forth waving from their convertibles. It was a hoot. I usually slipped into a tube dress myself for the occasion.
Once they closed off the street and made it an "official corporate sponsored event" it was only a shadow of its former self.
The party was at its best in the late seventies and early eighties when one could sit in front of the Greenery and watch the drag queens ride back and forth waving from their convertibles. It was a hoot. I usually slipped into a tube dress myself for the occasion.
i haven't taken castro halloween seriously, nor gone back, since i was busted for kissing a guy on the corner of market and castro, by a small gang of thugs in blue, i.e. sfpd.
oh, we were really going at it, and drawing a crowd too, if i say so myself. i wouldnt have noticed (it was that good), except for the intervention of the forces of law and stuff.
we were fully clothed, standing upright, and stone cold sober too. i think maybe they were jealous because two cute fagboys were getting more attention than their all-year-long scary costumes!!
anyway, kind of hard to take all this rhetoric on both sides very seriously. as a fagboy, i can say with confidence that the neighborhood isn't mine, the party isn't mine and neither are any of these politicians and "community leaders" of the more self-appointed kind.
feh. clear channel (tm) is just the sign proclaiming things as they really are, sort of a "coming out" you might say.
oh, we were really going at it, and drawing a crowd too, if i say so myself. i wouldnt have noticed (it was that good), except for the intervention of the forces of law and stuff.
we were fully clothed, standing upright, and stone cold sober too. i think maybe they were jealous because two cute fagboys were getting more attention than their all-year-long scary costumes!!
anyway, kind of hard to take all this rhetoric on both sides very seriously. as a fagboy, i can say with confidence that the neighborhood isn't mine, the party isn't mine and neither are any of these politicians and "community leaders" of the more self-appointed kind.
feh. clear channel (tm) is just the sign proclaiming things as they really are, sort of a "coming out" you might say.
I sure didn't see much evidence of Clear Channel or any other NewWorldOrder beasty
types. Only sponsorship I saw was the omnipresent RedBull and the
SoundSafe music stage at Noe and Market. [SoundSafe is the remnants of the
2000 musicians of Downtown Rehearsal- evicted in 2000]. The live music stage--
along with video backdrop by Dimension 7-- was great. Overall this was a
vast improvement over the drunken fratboy/mission turfwars party of the past few years.
types. Only sponsorship I saw was the omnipresent RedBull and the
SoundSafe music stage at Noe and Market. [SoundSafe is the remnants of the
2000 musicians of Downtown Rehearsal- evicted in 2000]. The live music stage--
along with video backdrop by Dimension 7-- was great. Overall this was a
vast improvement over the drunken fratboy/mission turfwars party of the past few years.
Horrible. Too many gawkers and Clear Channel police thugs and not enough costumes. The girls are getting wise and going elsewhere on Halloween. I hope they can keep the new location secret for a while. Let's keep Halloween "in the family" so to speak.
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