originality purge of san francisco... bay to breakers goes dry edition

i'm adding my two cents to the recent chatter about Bay to Breakers, the foot race/citywide-in-the-streets-keg-party held every year in may. this is a snap i made after the race a couple of years ago, before the street sweeper hit divisadero. i live right along the race route, and i'll confess, things got a little out of hand last year. there was a record turnout and drunken revelers were unable to handle the turn off of hayes street onto divisadero. this meant a lot of sloppy drunks ended up spilling up hayes leaving a lot of trash in their wake. there were also quite a few who felt the need to relieve themselves on yards and houses. it was a mess. however, i do not think the "solution" put forth by the corporate sponsor (ING), the neighborhood association, and the city is the way to go. for years, this race has been not just about who can make it from the bay, up the hayes hill, and to the ocean, but about how creatively they can do it! the frat party atmosphere can be a bit trying at times, but it's all in good fun, and san franciscans who are not participating come out in droves to watch the fabulous costumes and floats, and to party with their neighbors. unlike halloween in the castro, there hasn't been any violence to threaten this event, and it irritates me that the NIMBY's and corporate sponsors are going to do away with yet another thing that makes sf unique. why not come up with better solutions like more garbage/recycling cans and porta-potties. we can deal with a little trash once a year. everywhere gets a little trashy, sometimes. what we can't deal with is the continual purge of the things that make our city unique.