Is there any plan for weapons screening? Checkpoints? How will you enforce the prohibition of drinking alcohol on the street?

At the Police Commission hearing on October 10, the SFPD confirmed that there will be no checkpoints for screening of party-goers carrying weapons. Commissioner Joe Alioto Veronese pointed out that without a street closure, police have would have to have probable cause to search anyone for a gun or knife. He also argued that selective enforcement against people who look or act a certain way "raises a huge red flag" for the possibility of civil liberty violations. Police confirmed that they would be aggressively citing visitors for drinking in public, and for “public drunkenness.” We share Commissioner Alioto Veronese’s concern about civil rights violations on Halloween, and we hope the Police will be careful about using force with visitors who are otherwise obeying the law.

Will there be parking in the Castro on Halloween?

No parking will be allowed on Market between Castro and Noe, or on Castro between Market and 19th Street; the parking lots behind the Castro Theater and Walgreen's will be closed. Notices will be posted 72 hours in advance. Residents have requested that parking be prohibited on 18th Street between Hartford and Collingwood. Parking Control Officers (PCO's) will be deployed throughout the Castro District to strictly enforce regular parking rules (No double parking, blocking driveways, etc.). Tow trucks will be pre-positioned to assist PCO's with towing illegally parked cars.

Will there be any changes to MUNI or BART service on Halloween?

It has been confirmed that there will be no changes to BART or late-night AC Transit service on Halloween. The Church and Castro MUNI Stations will be closed at 8:30 p.m. There will be no underground service between West Portal and Van Ness. MUNI will run a special bus service from Van Ness to West Portal beginning at 8:30 p.m. No bus re-routing plans have been made as MUNI expects SFPD to keep the streets open.

Will there be a big police presence in the Castro on Halloween?

YES. The newspapers have reported that 600-700 police officers will be in the Castro on Halloween, aggressively citing people for public drunkenness, public urination, drinking alcohol in public, etc. At the Police Commission hearing on October 10, Deputy Chief David Shinn, who is coordinating the public safety response on Halloween, said, “If you come to the Castro to create problems, you will be arrested." This comment raised the hackles of several commissioners, who raised concerns about civil rights violations. It is not illegal to walk on the sidewalk, or to “intend” to create problems. On Halloween, this issue is a sticky one for cops – many people will be wearing menacing and scary costumes who have no intention of breaking the law. And because the Police have refused to block off the street, they will not be able to search people for weapons without probable cause.

Can I drink alcohol on the streets? Police have stated that they will be aggressively citing visitors for drinking in public, and for “public drunkenness.”

Is there a ticket, fee or donation this year?

In years past, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and other volunteer groups have collected donations for charity. This year, since there is no street closure, and no official party, there will be no gates, no tickets, and no entrance fee.

What is the City doing to protect the homes and businesses in the Castro on Halloween night?

The Police have said that they will be aggressively citing party-goers who urinate in public, and we assume that they will do the same for anyone damaging private property. However, we are not aware of any measures the City is taking to help neighbors protect their homes and businesses.

Will the streets be closed for pedestrians?

Rather than acknowledging that thousands of people are coming to the Castro, and closing the streets proactively, the SFPD plans to play it by ear. The Police have said that they are going to have barricades lining the streets, to separate the sidewalks from the streets, and they will move these barricades incrementally as the people crowd the sidewalks. They have also said that they will be citing people for jaywalking. We believe that this treatment of pedestrians is unreasonable and shortsighted. If they know that thousands of people are coming, far too many to be contained on the sidewalk, and they refuse to block off the streets for pedestrian use, ticketing people for jaywalking is unfair.

Last year, the street sweepers came through early, to get the crowds out of the street. Will this happen again? The police have not stated that there will be a time that they will clear the streets of people (using street cleaning vehicles or otherwise), but SFPD will use the Outdoor Emergency Address system and cruiser loudspeakers to direct the crowd as needed.

Will there be portable toilets for visitors to use in the Castro?

The City has prohibited the placement of public toilets in the Castro on Halloween, because they argue that portable toilets will indicate that a party is happening there. We couldn't disagree more with the City's policy banning toilets in the Castro on Halloween night. We think it will lead to an unprecedented level of public urination (or worse!). It is UNSAFE for revelers and residents alike, and UNFAIR for the City to be playing games with our public health in this manner. If thousands of people are coming to the Castro, they will need a place to pee (etc), OTHER THAN our homes and businesses.  We are actively lobbying public health officials and the Mayor's Office to have toilets placed in order to protect the neighborhood. Please see the “Public Health” page for more information.

Can’t I set up my own portable toilet in front of my home or business?

Citizens for Halloween has applied for a permit (as a test case) to see if the City will allow us to place private portable toilets. We have been denied. However, permits are only necessary to place a toilet in the right of way (on the sidewalk or street). You may place a toilet in your own driveway or yard. If you want the Mayor to re-consider his decision to prohibit toilets in the Castro, please contact his office at (415) 554-6141, or his aide at martha.cohen@sfgov.org.

Which bars and clubs will be open in the Castro on Halloween?

Even though the City has asked all bars and clubs to close on Halloween, more than 80% have refused to do so. For many bars, Halloween is their single highest revenue night of the year, and Citizens for Halloween believe that it is unfair to ask the owners and employees of these establishments to bear the burden of the City’s failure to plan for Halloween this year. We also believe that the patrons of these bars are not the troublemakers who cause problems on Halloween.

Wasn’t there supposed to be a public task force to plan for Halloween this year? What happened?

On November 2, 2006, Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Bevan Dufty announced that they would create a public task force, and involve the community in its plans for Halloween this year. (http://www.halloweeninthecastro.com/2006.html.) Since that time, they have stated that they decided to cancel the event instead, because they spoke with community members who wanted it cancelled. All of the planning for Halloween 2007 happened behind closed doors, without public involvement.