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South Coast Community Gears Up To Deal With Halloween Invasion

(Photo by John Palminteri)
Efforts being implemented to try to keep unwanted Halloween partygoers from coming to Isla Vista

UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County public safety officials, and the community of Isla Vista are gearing up to try to stop what had become an annual invasion of Halloween partygoers.

For decades, IV had become the place to go for tens of thousands of teens and young adults because of its unsanctioned, unsponsored Halloween street parties.

But, the influx of outsiders created massive public safety, parking, and trash problems for the community. For the last few years, the problem has been kept under control through a variety of steps. Parking bans for outside residents, and a prohibition of non-UCSB students staying in campus facilities helped reduce the crowds. Tougher enforcement of noise restrictions and other ordinances are also credited with making a difference.

And, UCSB students have helped by planning alternative activities. Last year, rapper Snoop Dogg headlined a students-only Halloween event.

One of the things which may help keep crowds down this year is the calendar, with Halloween falling on a Monday.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral. 
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