Council Turns Deaf Ear to Scream 2 Plea

Over the objections of those who hope to scare residents out of their wits, the City Council this week decided the Scream 2 haunted house can’t continue to sell tickets up to its posted closing time.

Complaints from neighbors about noise, loitering and bright lights prompted the council to vote 3 to 0 to require the Halloween-season haunted house to close its doors at 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and by 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

If that means the operators have to stop selling tickets for the event half an hour before the closing time, so be it, said Mayor Bill Davis.

Councilwoman Barbra Williamson was absent and Councilman Steve Sojka abstained because of a conflict of interest, saying he had done business with the operator in the past year.

Jimmy Erhardt, Scream 2’s project manager, wanted the council to allow him to sell tickets until closing time and then let people filter out of the event at their own pace.

A number of residents who live near the Scream site at the corner of Madera Road and Los Angeles Avenue asked for restricted late-night ticket sales.

“We’ve had problems with the amplified music,” said Dana Garies, who lives in a condominium complex southeast of the site. “We would like this to be much quieter and less invasive in our homes.”

Because the Scream event runs 12 to 13 hours daily, it creates more of a nuisance than other events at the same site, said Paul Rubenstein, who lives on nearby Lysander Avenue.

Some residents compared the haunted house to a restaurant that closes at 10 p.m. If a customer arrives at 9:55 p.m. and wants a full meal, the restaurant would probably turn the person away, they said.

But Councilman Glen Becerra mentioned a recent visit to a furniture store. The store closed and did not let any new customers inside after closing time, but employees allowed him to complete his shopping.

On Monday, Erhardt declined to comment about whether he would appeal the city’s decision.