The Grinch Whole Stole Halloween

Update on Halloween
Members of the DTNA board, especially Edd Dundas, have been active in creating changes to the annual Halloween night chaos in the Castro. The following is some information of planned changes as reported in the EVPA newsletter.

A resolution introduced by Supervisor Bevan Dufty on July 1, 2003, was adopted by the Board of Supervisors to make Halloween in the Castro an official City event. This opened avenues for funding and greater coordi- nation of services. Additionally, now streets where activities happen are called "venues."

PERIMETER: A perimeter was established for the event as well as a "no traffic" perimeter, which is larg- er than the event perimeter. The event perimeter is as follows: Starting at Market, south on Church to 19th St. west on 19th to Diamond, north on Diamond to Market, east on Market to Castro, north on Castro to 15th, east on 15th to Church. The "no traffic" perime- ter will be essentially the same on the east and south with an extension to Roosevelt to Castro to Duboce back to Church on the north and west sides. Duboce and Church will be closed to traffic so that MUNI can get the N & J lines through. There will be posted at Market and Van Ness and Market and Valencia "No westbound traffic past Dolores." Up on Roosevelt, States, Beaver, 17th & 15th will be blocked. Henry, 14th, 15th, & Beaver will be closed to traffic from Castro to Church. Venue will be set up and closed off at 6pm rather than close off streets as the crowd grows.

ALCOHOL: All laws regarding open containers will be enforced.

CHECKPOINTS: Since there is a defined venue perimeter there now will be checkpoints. Volunteers paired with police or Jane Wamer's officers will monitor these. There is still discussion over collecting a "donation" as the Castro Street Fair.

EMERGENCY ACCESS: They plan to use the Rock Med approach where teams of healthcare personnel can be dispatched to a particular location to assist the patient. The problem remains as to how to get emer- gency vehicles into the area. To decrease the chance of some injuries, the lampposts, Decaux toilets and kiosks, MUNI shelters, etc. will be "greased." This is a common practice at other venues around the City.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ISSUES: MUNI will suspend service on the 35,37 and F beginning at 8pm. The 33 will be rerouted. Castro and Church Stations will be closed at 8pm and bus bridges will be In effect. MUNI has also offered to run shuttles from predetermined points near the venues back to Civic Center BART. No traffic on Duboce between Castro and Church and no traffic on Church between 18th and Duboce to allow for the N & J cars to operate. There have been discus- sions with BART to remain open until 1 am (or later) to assist in folks getting out of the neighbor- hood. Bevan will continue to discuss this with them.

PARKING: There will be no parking on Market, Castro, 18th, Collingwood, Church in the effected areas.

ENTERTAINMENT: The proposals to have 4 stage areas, smaller rather than larger to help spread out the crowd. These stages will close at midnight. There will be an RFP sent out through the Film Commission for the development of a Halloween Guidebook, that explains the event, the entertainment options, public transportation issues, etc.

PUBLIC RELATIONS: There is a request out for television, radio and newspapers to advertise the changes to Halloween In the Castro. There will also be a letter sent out to residents in the area notifying them of the new Halloween procedures.

SPONSORSHIP: There is a desire to find corporate sponsorship for this event. Halloween in the Castro means a massive party in the Duboce Triangle, Buena Vista, Hayes Valley, and Eureka Valley and beyond. Matthew Bajko, writing in the Bay Area Reporter two weeks ago noted "...a remarkable change from just two years ago, when business leaders in the Castro pleaded with news organizations not to cover the street party..." this year, "Comcast, Viacom, Clear Channel Communications, KRON channel 4 and the company that makes energy drink Red Bull have already lined up to sponsor this year's Halloween event... stages will be placed at Castro and 19th, and all along Market at Castro, at Noe, and at Sanchez."

Supervisor Dufty will hold the last planning meeting at City Hall on September 8, from 6pm to 8 pm. He can be contacted at 415/554-6968.
http://www.dtna.org/news/halloween.html