Locals brace for Halloween events

by Adam Townsend
For The Post

With the November election shortly after Halloween, some small business owners feel the Athens’ policymakers could do more to help them maximize profits during the season, as well as remove some of the harsh law enforcement.

Tony Santone, owner of School Kids’ Music and Clothing, 12 S. Court St., said the city government does not like or fully capitalize on the massive influx of people during Halloween weekend. He said law enforcement is too restrictive.

"I’ve been here for 22 years and never had a problem on Halloween–not even a broken window," he said.

Santone, as well as other business owners in the area, said there are ways to handle the Halloween celebration without what he called, "Big Brother."

Athens City Councilman Jim Sands, D-at large and up for re-election in November, said there has never been an attempt to estimate Athens businesses' total profits from the celebration, let alone the city government’s income. Athens rents out vending spaces and sells trademark licenses for apparel displaying the name of the city. But there is no research concerning how much the city’s income compares to its expenditures on Halloween safety.

Bill Bias, Democratic candidate for City Council president and current city treasurer, said the city has dealt with the Halloween festivities more efficiently in the past several years. In fact, he said it was only recently that Athens sanctioned the celebration by closing Court Street.

"Since most students leave Athens during the winter break, Halloween is (the equivalent of) Christmas for local businesses," he said.

Although Bias believes the Athens government under Mayor Ric Abel’s administration has taken important steps to capitalize on the Halloween festivities, he said the city could be doing more.

On the strict law enforcement policy during Halloween, Bias said he sees both sides of the issue.

"If people are not hurting themselves and others, then – to an extent – we should look the other way," he said. "But if they’re jeopardizing the safety of Athenians or the police, then of course they should be arrested."

In a different approach to the issues of policing and maximizing business revenue, Republican candidate for City Council president, Ellsworth Holden, said in the long run, it would be best to broaden the age range of the festival.

He said a wider spectrum of ages would diversify the consumer base, encouraging more business. If the festival began during the day and was more family-oriented, police concerns would fade away, he said.