December 2007 Letter to the Editor

Supervisor Bevan Dufty and Mayor Gavin Newsom:

On behalf of our nearly 500 Members and over 4,000 other neighbors of the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association (BVNA), I want to THANK YOU for your courageous initiative, and for your firm resolve with the City’s successful management of this year’s Halloween in the Castro. Our neighborhood was peaceful and safe that night, thanks to greatly-reduced crowds and to sound planning for local traffic management.

The very small-yet-vocal and self-serving group that opposed your 2007 Halloween plans, and which ignored the concerns of nearly all area residents and businesses, in NO WAY represented the sentiments of our neighbors, who agreed that the Castro Halloween event had turned ugly, disrespectful and dangerous for all involved. We also share your appreciation of the many Castro businesses which closed that night, making real financial sacrifices to support the necessary effort.

Please know that you have BVNA’s active commitment and support for planning Castro Halloween 2008, to help assure that it captures the “tide that has turned” this year.

Our thanks also goes out to other Departments and agencies which contributed to this year’s results, including Police, Sheriff and other law enforcement, the Department of Parking and Traffic, Department of Public Works, and all who worked so hard and effectively with your leadership.

Richard Magary
Steering Committee Chair
Buena Vista Neighborhood
Association (BVNA)

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