Grand Floral Tape Trashed; Greed Suppressed for the Moment

Last night a massive effort took place to clean up the side walks making them once again free for all those looking to go watch the Portland Grand Floral Parade this morning.

In recent years, people would tape-off, yes, tape-off their imaginary reserved places along the parade route. The tape would be laid sometimes a week before -- with no squatters mind you -- to send the message to any early rising parade goers that “this is my spot, I taped it off before you got here, and I will be here just before the parade starts”.

As the questions of the greedy taping behavior spread through the news, it caught the ire of Portland City Commissioner Randy Leonard who said he would be putting forth a city resolution outlawing the “boorish” practice early next week. After all, who could disagree that the sidewalks belong to all citizens and seating is always first come first serve for any event. Besides, I can’t remember anytime someone ever reserved a spot in a Star Wars movie ticket sales line by taping an imaginary place only to return when the window opens. If you want your spot, you squat and sleep in your napsack like everyone else.

As the story spread and agitation grew over this overtly selfish practice, some people over at the Portland Mercury’s Blogtown PDX decided to put together a clean-up crew to remove all the tape along the parade route. So, yesterday evening starting at 7:45 pm, nearly 100 people did just that. After all was said and done, they gathered enough tape collectively to fill a dumpster.

Way to go Crew!!! I am just sorry I couldn’t make it. I did take a ride into downtown later around 9:30pm to try and join in only to see most of all the tape that had been there earlier in the afternoon was removed. I never did find them, but it is clear the Portland Grand Floral parade is once again free to the public.

Here is a KGW News video of the clean-up effort, with a couple not-so-happy people.

For photos of the effort visit the "Anti-Rose Festival Tape Movement" picture page.

I may post video of my search for the Mercury Clean-up Crew later.

~Amadeus

Comments

[Derek]

That is awesome!! Way to go.

[Abel]

Nice man. I have always hated the taping of Portland sidewalks for the Parade.