Many Bay area residents are choosing not to attend next week’s Presidential inauguration in Washington, D.C., because of safety concerns.

“It’s very disappointing that we’re at this point, that we’re not allowed to enjoy an inauguration because of the threat of violence,” said 26-year-old Taylor Aguilera of Polk County. 

Aguilera spent months working as a Bay Area campaign field director for the Biden campaign. She was looking forward to celebrating by attending the Presidential inauguration. 

“I would say probably a month before November, my friends and I almost started fantasizing about if we win, are we going to get to celebrate and how much fun would that be,” Aguilera said.

Aguilera even bought an airline ticket, but she decided against the trip after watching the violence unfold at the Capitol last week. She was disappointed. 

“I have never been to D.C.,” she said. “This was supposed to be my first trip.”

Aguilera is not the only Bay Area resident changing plans because of the violence. Biden campaign volunteer Javier Guerrero of Hillsborough County is not attending the inauguration anymore either.

PHOTO: Javier Guerrero, center, said he had been looking forward to attending next week's inauguration.

“We were looking forward to celebrating,” Guerrero said. “But it’s not a good environment to do anything right now.”

Instead, Guerrero is opting to attend an online inauguration watch party with friends. And Aguilera is getting her entire family involved to celebrate at home.

“Ultimately it's a safety factor,” Aguilera said. 

Authorities are urging people not to come to D.C. for the inauguration.

Thousands of National Guardsmen are expected in the nation’s capitol as President-elect Joe Biden and Vice-President elect Kamala Harris are sworn into office on Wednesday, January 20.