The Bay To Breakers was first run in 1912, as a way to blow off some steam, and it has grown into a day like no other. Unlike most races, not too many people actually run. And the organizers have always encouraged a certain amount of creativity from the participants.
Because of the unique nature of Bay To Breakers, it is known for drinking, nudity, quirky costumes, and floats.
Now, it appears the city is trying to do away with this great tradition. They announced this week that drinking, nudity, and floats will not be allowed in this year's Bay To Breakers. They also announced that walkers will have to stay on one side of the street, while runners pass on the other side. That's pretty laughable. Let's turn Bay To Breakers into an airport moving sidewalk.
The reason given for this change of policy after almost 100 years? Apparently some (translation: a few, probably interlopers from out of town) are concerned because of the mess. There was 35 tons of trash left over from last year's race.
So here's another example of a few people trying to turn San Francisco into exactly what it's not: a gentrified, sanitized, yuppie town.
I don't see this "crackdown" as having any life to it, because, fortunately, there is another great San Francisco tradition. That of saying "fuck you" to authority. SFPD has already announced they will not ticket anyone for public nudity. I'm pretty sure all Gavin did was ensure that this year's Bay To Breakers will exhibit more nudity and debauchery and public drunkenness than any in years past. He has thrown down the gauntlet, and the good people of San Francisco will, no doubt, pick it up and run with it, in the nude no less.
5 comments:
I am am "Out-of-Towner" who tries to schedule some visits to the Bay Area when the Bay to Breakers is run. The event is one of those things that makes San Francisco what we have come to expect. It is something we can't get anywhere else in the country. It would be like taking the neon out of Vegas. I certainly hope that the ban fails.
It is certainly disturbing how in 2009 for petes sake; That some Americans choose to live in semi-puritanical white anglo saxon like existence.Even in a city as diverse and culturally forward as San Francisco,I dread what other festivals theyre thinking of "polluting" w/ their "moral" hogwash...Dore Alley?? Folsom Street????
the street fairs like folsom have paid admission, so i doubt they'll try anything with those
I would certainly hope not.
Oh my, those vagina costumes are a little unsettling!
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