By Editorial

Orange Avenue’s safe-street Halloween event seemed like a wonderful event for kids. Here was an established, beautiful neighborhood with active residents participating and kids walking the streets, free of oncoming vehicles because a special permit allowed this street and a few others to be blocked off from traffic.

It turned out to be too much of a good thing. After some 800 children stormed the neighborhood last Oct. 31, spurring more vocal complaints from neighbors, the council decided July 24 not to issue another Halloween permit for the streets.

While the decision may have been the right one, the city apparently did not notify all the Orange Avenue residents of the hearing. More imput from the area would have been reasonable.

A few residents, citing they did their own surveys, complained of too many out-of-towners.

We agree crowds have been getting out of hand along Orange Avenue. We also concur that one neighborhood should not have to suffice as the Halloween “event” for the entire town. On the other hand, we still want safe Halloween events that minimize the risk of kids in ghost sheets being hit by cars.

We fully support the suggestion that such an event be spread over other neighborhoods. Perhaps residents in two or three neighborhoods a year could deem themselves a safe-street trick-or-treat zone, thereby thinning out the concentration of kids by having multiple areas. Establish a cutoff time of 9 p.m. Those who don’t want to participate can keep their porch lights off and/or go out to dinner that night. The same benefits established on Orange Avenue, such as trash patrol and liability insurance, could be used in participating neighborhoods.

We challenge residents to establish their own safe streets with guidance from the city, perhaps the Parks and Recreation Department. Perhaps Los Altos would inspire neighborhoods in other communities so that their kids aren’t coming to ours.

The point is, with the right community mind-set, this fun event should not fade into the sunset. As kids, we looked forward to Halloween with an excitement on a par with Christmas. Let’s allow our kids that same excitement in a safe environment.