SFist: New B2B Rules Prompt Outcries of Anguish, Anger

LaraB

Sun, 22 Feb 2009 23:47:46 -0800

"To make a statement, I propose that we do not attend the b2b, but instead congregate ELSEWHERE in SF. This will accomplish 2 things 1) Reduce the numbers on the b2b route. 2) Increase visability elsewhere, ie not on the b2b route. Perhaps the police will then realize that they can not be EVERYWHERE in SF, at the same time. It would be in their best interest to have us at the 2010 b2b, instead of us running havoc elsewhere. I know its a tough decision to not be at the b2b route, we might feel we're missing out. But look at the big picture (ie preserving b2b in the future) If we don't stand up and make a VERY loud statement / BOYCOTT this year, we may loose our battle. Who's for meeting at Dolores Park ? Who's for meeting at Chrissy Field ? Who's for meeting at Glen Park ?(not a bay or breaker to be found, the ultimate b2b boycott statement)"

brokenlogin

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:17:23 -0800

For what it's worth, my place doesn't get trashed so much during the race itself, it's the hours following as the massive throng drags its ruinously drunk way back from the beach. Right after they find out that they all can't fit on the next N.

The Angry Young Man

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 13:14:34 -0800

Of course not! Still, he's hot and that's all that matters.

sf-blotto

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:30:46 -0800

It sounds like San Francisco is not for you, perhaps it's time you move to a quiet clean slice of suburbia?

robjones

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:18:15 -0800

I think the problem with all these sorts of crackdowns on events is overreaction on the part of the city and event organizers. TAYM should re-examine his blanket stereotypes. They seem grossly ill-informed.

travin

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 16:01:51 -0800

It might take care of the urination problem but might create a anger management problem. Burbboys get a might upset with urbboys that git caught lookin'. Mix in revelry and alcohol, shaken not stirred, and you've got quite a, dare I say it, cock-tale.

MisterPlow

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:54:17 -0800

So I should stop working on my 2girls1cup float?

aj

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:30:22 -0800

But does Dreamy Mirkarimi actually do anything about the piss and vomit?

The Angry Young Man

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:16:45 -0800

Chris Weekly, I think you fail to understand that I complain about the piss and trash in my neighborhood every day of the year and that I loathe Gruesome Newsom and, accordingly, have never voted for him. Furthermore, my Supervisor, Dreamy Mirkarimi, is not a loser. He rocks. Who'd you rather have in his place? Rob Anderson? Why am I a bad person for expecting people not to run around nekkid, drunk, peeing and barfing all over the sidewalk in front of my pad? I get it bad enough on a daily basis thanks to the homeless youth (and their dogs) who flock to the Haight in search of some retard scene that imploded and died more than 40 years ago. The fact remains that had you kids not so badly abused B2B, ING would never have imposed these rules. you only have yourselves to blame and the fact that you want to point fingers instead of taking responsibility for your actions just demonstrates that ING made the right decision.

Chris Weekly

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:50:21 -0800

First the North Beach Neighbors and now this. What a petty, angry group of NIMBY's this city is full of. The same people who protest the piss and trash in their neighborhoods for 1/365th of the year continually vote for the losers running this city (yeah I'm talking to you TAYM) and don't give a shit about this happening in other neighborhoods on a daily basis. Maybe Fowler truly is the face of the new SF progressive.

The Angry Young Man

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:45:06 -0800

My hero!

porkbun

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:33:26 -0800

Stephen Fowler?

The Angry Young Man

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:16:10 -0800

No. Go back to Omaha. Have a nekkid, drunken idiotfest there. I'm tired of cleaning up after you personality-free humanoids.

joshb

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:01:03 -0800

Banning floats and overt booze will bring the bay to breakers back to how it was just a few years ago. Newsflash, a tradition isn't something you've done both years since you moved here.

edwardsf

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:19:11 -0800

Please join us! Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=74986731616 http://www.savebay2breakers.org

edwardsf

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 12:18:40 -0800

Please join us! Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=74986731616 http://www.savebay2breakers.org

aj

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:58:16 -0800

Potty parity. Can't provide more efficient troughs because it might discriminate against those who don't stand to pee, even if it's more efficient for everyone. (This is why AT&T Park has such long men's room lines, while Oakland Coliseum and Candlestick do not.)

alexei

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:05:32 -0800

Whatever happened to trough urinals? Seems like they'd take care of a pretty big chunk of the urination problem.

sfbs

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:31:25 -0800

Don't worry SF. By the time B2B comes around, ING will be out of business. B2B. American Apparel. Frank Chu....the perfect storm.

robjones

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:24:22 -0800

Why does everyone always scapegoat drunken frat boys? I have very few frat friends. and lots of drunk friends. Go American Appy. Go B2B+Drinky

justinph

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:31:44 -0800

It's inevitable and unfortunate to see these sorts of comments. I suspect many of them are the much-reviled and stereotyped "drunken frat boys" who have compelled ING to implement such draconian measures. It is unfortunate that a destructive few have ruined this event for the rest of us. I think we can summarily ignore this "hold my breath until you let me have my way" protest since it will ultimately amount to nothing. It is much more disconcerting that ING, the NOPNA, and the SFPD seem to have instituted these extreme measures without taking into account the many other compromises that could ultimately be more Pareto efficient for all parties. Floats Institute a registration process for all wheeled floats similar to the runners' registration, including a fee. On the day of the race, require all floats to show up at a specified site to receive their registration signs (which must be displayed at all times) with a valid photo ID and credit card, photograph the larger floats prior to handing them their registration sign. During the race, have officers or private security direct unregistered floats off the course, possibly fine the owners. Afterwards, match registered abandoned floats with their pre-race photographs and charge the associated credit card with a cleanup fee. Public Urination Provide more portable lavatories. If you want to recoup some cost, arbitrarily make some of them pay-to-use. Step up ticketing for public urination. Freeloaders Begin a campaign to reduce the number of freeloaders by increasing awareness of registration requirements for participants. I still have friends who live in SF who do not know it is "polite" to help pay for cleanup by paying the registration fee, even if you plan on just drinking and not running. If possible, institute a lower registration rate for participants vs runners to increase registration rate. I know this seems silly since runners generate far less trash than drinkers, but it's a common misconception among some drinkers that, since they're not running, they shouldn't have to pay for the "race." One battle at a time, people. Trash This is probably the most difficult one to combat. Due to the width of the streets, if you're in the center, you won't even be aware of additional trash receptacles. The best you can hope for in a huge crowd is more awareness of additional trash containers and an increase in registration to help pay for cleanup. As a former frat boy myself, I know just how much fun it is to truck up a float and enjoy drinking beer in the sunshine with friends. Alumni come back for the weekend every year, and it is something much anticipated for many to catch up and enjoy in a shared tradition. Unfortunately, I also know some people who just can't handle their alcohol. Coupled with the festive atmosphere of the event and the relative anonymity of a sea of strangers, said idiots feel this gives them free reign to act like complete dickholes. Like it or not, SF is inundated daily by people who do not live here yet come to enjoy all the benefits of our city. The Financial District, North Beach, SoMa, Mission, and Marina are all filled at their respective busy times with bridge and tunnelers and tourists who sometimes hamper what we feel is OUR SF experience, but inclusiveness and diversity (even unwelcome diversity) is what makes this city an interesting and vibrant place to live. I, for one, did not move here to become xenophobic. We shouldn't let the actions of a small minority be representative of an incredible, uniquely SF event, of whom the majority of participants are generally respectful, law-abiding individuals looking for an opportunity to let loose a little before they go back to their daily grind in this depressed economy.

Joel

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:44:16 -0800

I'm pro-B2B staying the drunken idiotic semi-entertaining mess it is, within reason. I'm totally anti-this though

DJTennessee

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:29:10 -0800

I ran the KP Half Marathon last week -- and really, if you're actually interested in running an actual race, consider the several fine half-marathons over the course of the year for you to get your exercise or hoped-for quality time and you won't have to bitch about revelers-- and the lack of porta-potties is a really substantial problem. It's not just Bay to Breakers. If there's an "X number porta-potties per 1,000 participants" rule, it's ignored or inadequately enforced. Organizers have operational responsibilities in addition to just putting up corporate ad space. This is not just the drunken runners' fault -- runners pay a substantial fee to cover outdoor plumbing, trash pick-up, and enforcement of keeping non-registrants off the course. Runners deserve to be able to drink, organizers are paid generously to maintain a safe course. And this "no nudity" thing should be a lawsuit. Lawyers, you're all still wealthy -- let's get some pro bono shit going to defend a long tradition of race course nudity.

wsanders

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:13:43 -0800

I am sure this will cost ING tens if not dozens of dollars.

judd870

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:36:11 -0800

Not that I disagree, but it seems only fair to have ING let the SFPD deal with the issue of drunks urinating/littering/being obnoxious in public the same way they deal with homeless people committing the same crimes: that is to say, nothing at all.

fizzandpop

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:33:16 -0800

I'm going to print that on an AA t-shirt. Fuck! No I'm not (see how easy it is to fall into this trap.)

Brock Keeling

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:28:05 -0800

sf douchebags are the new anarchists. only they can save us from ourselves.

The Angry Young Man

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:25:07 -0800

I'm sorry, but these people are douchebags.

robjones

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:23:00 -0800

that's the right link for the screw you b2b group

robjones

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:22:06 -0800

instead of protest... rebelleon: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=66345051367&ref=ts

Akit

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:18:38 -0800

It totally makes no sense to ban floats. The tiki hut is an absolute LEGEND. I guess also letting KRON-TV broadcast the event is a bad idea too... that station sucks!

atthebeach

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:12:02 -0800

Public intoxication and public urination are year-round SF traditions, not just BtoB happenings, at least in my neighborhood. And it's not only "white middle class teendults" who participate. Boycotting ING will just get them more bailout funds.

fizzandpop

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:03:36 -0800

This is better than the AA crapfest. People are actually boycotting companies because they are against public urination and the general boorish behavior of white middle class teendults? Activism fucking rocks!

judd870

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:01:56 -0800

Oh boy, another thing to boycott/protest! I was feeling all empty inside after the whole AA debacle ended.