As a concerned community member, I've noticed a disheartening trend over the past few years. The number of kids trick-or-treating in our quiet, safe neighborhood has dwindled drastically. From 25 participants last year to a measly 12 this year — such a dramatic drop is heartbreaking. The culprit? Our city's Trunk-or-Treat event, scheduled on the very same night as our traditional Halloween festivities.

This event, meant for kids, happens in an area with 6-8 operational bars, creating an environment where swarms of inebriated adults merge into the crowd of excited youngsters. This isn't the ideal, safe, and fun Halloween experience we want for our kids. Instead of visiting their neighbors and enjoying a communal experience, our children are being directed towards vehicle trunks, erasing the fun, anticipation, and mystery Halloween once held in our community.

Moreover, the event's timing is contributing to a wastage of resources with many households buying candies that only a handful of trick-or-treaters come to collect. Why compete with a tradition we've enjoyed for generations? Halloween is not about collecting candy from trunks; it's about community connection, shared excitement, and innocent mischief.

We, therefore, urge the city authorities to consider relocating the Trunk-or-Treat event to another night, allowing our beloved Halloween night to remain a neighborhood affair — a night for us to light up our community with Jack-o'-lanterns, share candies at doorsteps, and appreciate the timeless tradition of neighborhood Trick-or-Treating. Please sign this petition to support the revival of our traditional Halloween festivities.