Halloween in the Castro died a quiet death this year as the crowds that normally descend on the gay neighborhood heeded city officials' pleas to stay home last week. Gone with the hordes was the violence that has marred past celebrations, but in its place were protests that the area felt like a police state.

While Mayor Gavin Newsom made the decision to shut down the street party after a promoter hired to transplant the event to the waterfront dropped out due to illness, it was Supervisor Bevan Dufty who received the most praise for the success of the "no party" strategy. A San Francisco Chronicle editorial Monday, November 5 pegged him "leader of the week" and praised the out politician's leadership for making sure "the Castro enjoyed its first quiet Halloween in years."

But Dufty and Newsom are already facing tough questions about what the city plans to do next year, when the holiday falls on a Friday night. Most everyone agrees asking Castro bars and restaurants to close early – as they did this year at the request of Dufty – will not fly, and as the Bay Area Reporter reported in early October, Dufty has already stated a "no go policy" will not work next year.

Just what kind of party the city will allow on October 31, 2008 and if it will be in the Castro or elsewhere remains to be seen. Dufty has hinted at the need for numerous neighborhoods to host Halloween gatherings as a way to diminish the size of the crowds in the Castro.

Steve Adams, a Castro resident and president of the area's merchant association, said he wants to see the neighborhood open for business next year.

"I hope next year the businesses can stay open, absolutely," said Adams.

Dufty has vowed to include the community in planning for next year's holiday after promises of a community task force to deal with this year's event went unfulfilled. Community leaders are already demanding city officials hold meetings to begin the planning process.

"Whatever we do, can we start tomorrow?" said Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association President Dennis Richards on Halloween night.

Alix Rosen

An armed SFPD officer climbs to the roof of Superstar Video on Castro Street on Halloween. Photo: Rick Gerharter

thal, who unsuccessfully ran against Dufty in last year's election and founded the Citizens for Halloween group in response to the lack of community input, said the mayor needs to form a citywide task force to deal with Halloween.

"It needs to be made up of both his critics and his supporters so everyone has a say and there is community buy-in," said Rosenthal.

But to date the mayor's office has been mum on what it plans to do. Other than an internal meeting to discuss this year's Halloween with department heads scheduled for Tuesday, November 13, no public meetings have been announced.

In a testy exchange last week between mayoral spokesman Nathan Ballard and Bay Guardian editor Steven T. Jones, which Jones posted to the alternative weekly's Web site, Ballard deflected questions on if there would be any public meetings and basically handed off the planning process to Dufty.

Jones repeatedly asked if the city would hold a meeting, and in a response that evokes memories of how the mayor mishandled planning for this year, Ballard wrote, "Check back with me in a few months and I'll let you know how it's going."

In response to the B.A.R.'s questions, Dufty's office said this week there were no public meetings scheduled as of yet. Instead, Dufty is focused on first creating an Office of Special Events. The office, which Newsom has endorsed, would oversee planning not only for Halloween but other street fairs and festivals.

A report released last month from the city controller and the Office of the Legislative Analyst recommended such an office be under the purview of the mayor. The report found that the city's Entertainment Commission "lacks the capacity to effectively" oversee special events and that it is the mayor's office that is "best suited for this role."

It suggested that the Entertainment Commission also be put under the control of the mayor, and that the commission use its public hearings as "informational forum[s]" to discuss special events and allow for community input.

"I think it is going to happen," Newsom told the B.A.R. in a brief interview after his State of the City address last week.

Dufty introduced two versions of an ordinance to create the office at the Board of Supervisors' meeting Tuesday, November 6. One would place it under the control of the mayor while the second would place authority with the city's Entertainment Commission.

The mayoral proposal, though, has already come under fire, as critics charge the office should be a separate entity, set up as a nonprofit that can raise money on its own to pay for special events. They also question putting it under the auspices of the mayor since he killed the Halloween party this year and charge Newsom with overseeing the demise of the "How Weird Street Faire." Writing on his SF Party Party Web site, Ted Strawser warns "public events are dead in this town if they get moved into the Mayor's Office."

Newsom said since the mayor is held accountable for what happens in the city, it makes sense the person in charge of the special events office report directly to him.

"The mayor is ultimately responsible for people's safety," he said. "Listen, I am the future ex-mayor. It is not about me; it's just good government."

Dufty added, "I think on balance you've got to elevate it. If the mayor had more tools to promote events in San Francisco he would do it."

Several entertainment commissioners have raised questions about the report's suggestions and contend their staff should be beefed up so it can handle oversight of special events.

Entertainment Commissioner Audrey Joseph said she had yet to read the report but stressed whatever office is created needs to be "funded well enough so it can assist event promoters with assistance in more than just permit expedition but with promotion and funding."

"I hope any special events office works in concert with the Entertainment Commission and pulls in everything to do with entertainment permitting into one office so we really have a one-stop shop," added Joseph.

The Board of Supervisors' committee is expected to hold a hearing on the ordinances later this month.