Isla Vista expected to be safer and quieter for Halloween
Once considered the biggest local street party for Halloween, the streets of Isla Vista are expected to be quieter for the third year in a row this weekend, with only local residents celebrating the event. Out of towners are being told ion many ways, to stay away.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department says it will have enough deputies to patrol the streets by teaming up with other agencies including the University of California Police, probation, Santa Barbara Police and, if necessary, other regional agencies.
Santa Barbara County Fire, AMR, and the medical outreach teams will have a special area for those who are sick or injured. In 2015, the number of patients transported to Cottage Hospital was significantly down.
Students are working on programs for safe spots if someone feels scared, harassed or intimidated, and also to offer protected walks home for those who need help.
Extra lighting for security will be added in many areas and video cameras will be posted as a deterrent and to record activities if police need images for enforcement evidence.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Kelly Hoover says the UC Santa Barbara students along with Isla Vista community leaders have been closely involved in the planning. They want a fun event but “they don’t want people coming from out of town and trashing their community,” she said. “They are not inviting people from out of town. They are making this a local celebration and that really has made the difference.”
The slogan “Keep it Local. Keep it Safe” has been published no flyers, and emails throughout the campus and Isla Vista.
UCSB is also staging another student only concert on Saturday night in the Thunderdome featuring Compton Hip Hop artist YG and the Flatbush Zombies from Brooklyn.
Isla Vista resident and student Joseph Weston said, “if only UC Santa Barbara people are invited to that then they are not going to invite anyone to trash their house when they are gone. I think that works to a degree.”
Many community leaders and residents say the school’s involvement has made a difference “I think there are a lot of alternative programs to allow people to have fun,” said Isla Vista resident and student Cairo Briceno. He also said, after some tough years, with violence and riots, along with increased law enforcement, the students are finding activities that are still fun without drawing the Sheriff’s deputies in.
Beginning Wednesday at 6 p.m. there will be a festival ordinance through Monday that bans loud music, which is generally defined as at an excessive level that can be heard off the property.
Information about the Isla Vista Halloween rules will be posted and updated here:
