Bay to Breakers organizers to allow floats
By: Joshua Sabatini
Examiner Staff Writer
February 27, 2009
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| Booze ban: Those protesting proposed new rules for the ING Bay to Breakers say alcohol, not nudity and floats, are the real problem with the event. (Examiner file photo) |
SAN FRANCISCO — Floats will be allowed in the annual ING Bay to Breakers race after all, despite a previously announced ban on all wheeled objects, a race spokesman said Thursday.
Sam Singer said organizers are trying to compromise on some recently announced restrictions for the race.
“We are working on a way to get floats, and there will be floats,” he told city officials during a hearing granting street-closure permits for this year’s race. Details about how floats will be allowed have yet to be finalized.
New rules for the annual race were announced Feb. 11 which banned alcohol, nudity and floats in response to last year’s event, which infuriated residents in neighborhoods along the 7.46-mile course. Residents had complained about widespread public urination and litter.
The new rules created a backlash from community members and city officials, who said they went too far.
Discussions among city officials, community members and race organizers are ongoing.
Today, Mayor Gavin Newsom’s staff, race organizers and others are meeting to discuss additional details about allowing floats and possibly other changes.
Singer said race organizers have also been discussing the new zero-tolerance policy regarding alcohol. He said there is a need “to try and figure out a way to vastly reduce alcohol consumption.”
“Targeting people who have glass bottles who can hurt themselves or harm others is absolutely essential,” Singer said.
He also said organizers will provide more portable toilets at this year’s race.
Ed Sharpless, who is leading the Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers, a group of those seeking to relax the new course rules, said the new rules are too restrictive and will take the fun out of the race. Sharpless said race organizers can stamp out the issues that infuriated residents along the course route without the new rules.
Tony Rossmann, who has participated in more than 30 of the races, said, “I don’t think nudity is the problem. I don’t think the floats or creative costumes are the problem. There is a one-word problem here and that is alcohol.”
Rossman said if the alcohol was removed from the race, the problems would go away.
Bay to Breakers , now in its 98th year, is held on the third Sunday in May. The race this year is May 17.
AEG, organizer of Bay to Breakers, shares the same owners as Clarity Media, which oversees The Examiner.
jsabatini@sfexaminer.com
