Halloween in SOMA has long been a joyful tradition—one where neighbors open their doors, children explore our streets, and we collectively affirm that we are a welcoming and inclusive community. Each year, we encourage residents to greet all trick-or-treaters with kindness, including those who express excitement differently, teens who still enjoy the fun, and families who come from other blocks or neighborhoods to participate in this shared tradition.

This year, however, we are concerned by an incident in which the police were called on a Black family during trick-or-treating. Regardless of the circumstances or intentions, involving law enforcement in a moment that began with children seeking candy sends a distressing message: that some families, and especially Black children, may not be equally safe or assumed to belong in our community.

When bias—implicit or explicit—shapes how we interpret children’s behavior, it can lead to responses that are harmful and unequal. This incident reminds us that the work of building an inclusive community is ongoing, and that our commitment must show up not just in principles, policies, or statements, but in everyday interactions on our sidewalks and at our front doors.

So, we reaffirm what we say every year:

Remember we are a welcoming and inclusive community. We ask residents to welcome all kids and families who choose our streets and visit our front doors for trick-or-treating—including kids who don't say 'trick or treat' or forget the thank-you’s, teenagers who like candy but don’t dress up, and those who drive to our streets for the fun we hope to share.

We invite all community members to join us in continuing this work. Please join us for our SOMA Neighbors Connect event next week, where we will come together to reflect on how we can show up for one another—with patience, openness, and a shared commitment to equity—in the ordinary moments that define community life.

Let us use this moment not to divide, but to recommit—to the values that drew so many of us to SOMA.