HALLOWEEN IS CANCELLED

Yesterday’s emails from two old friends revealed two different angles about two well known events..

The first was from Jeff Prang, off and on mayor of the City of West Hollywood. It almost screams at you from the monitor,” Santa Monica Boulevard will once again be “pulsing” with excitement on Halloween night.” Conversely, the current mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom released a statement saying: "Halloween is canceled.” No more “pulsing” on Castro Street; he wants folks to “kick the Castro habit.”

Mr. Prang babbles on about, “the largest adult outdoor Halloween event in the world,” and is relaxing WoHo’s notoriously, restrictive parking zones for the evening. Mr. Newsom glumly watches as $40,000 is allocated to urge revelers to stay “Home For Halloween."

Both cities have web sites. San Francisco’s web site lists dozens of suggested Halloween alternatives while Weho’s extols the event and gives helpful “how to” hints and even “green” parking alternatives.

After wishing us “a fun and safe Halloween” Mr. Prang does have one word of caution.he pleads in large red letters, “Please Do Not Bring Your Dogs.” Apparently what some might find “pulsing” for the eyes or even morally horrifying, is even harder on dogs!

But to be kinder to friend Newsom, he is tired of revelry turning into riots, bashing and offensive gang activities. He has discovered what most mothers already know: while ever kid and a lot of adults like to dress up, Halloween can be dangerous.

Now, that is sad; sad for those of us who have been to the San Francisco event; sad for every kid who has held his parents hand on a chilly night, knocked at a door and found a “treat” … Perhaps the “trick” is not to give into the newer harsh realties of life. Perhaps.

However something tells me that in another fifty years someone will bemoan that lose of decorated houses, malls filled with kids at night and maybe, just maybe, rediscover that old fashion idea of taking a childs hand and walking around a local neighborhood. I hope so.