Efforts to control the massive unsanctioned, unsponsored Halloween Street parties in Isla Vista which caused a number of problems are apparently having a big impact. For the third year in a row, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials say there were no large scale crowds in the community for Halloween night.
Five years ago, there were an estimated 12,000-15,000 people on hand, with 225 arrests, and 51 people taken to hospitals for issues like drug overdoses. For nearly 30 years, the street parties attracted huge out of town crowds, but created massive problems for public safety workers and community residents.
The Sheriff’s Office, UCSB, UCSB Police, and UCSB’s Associated Students organization have collaborated on a number of efforts to discourage out of town Halloween visitors, and to provide alternative activities for UCSB students.
