Bibgate 2011: CPBB Censored by AEG and Facebook

Bibgate 2011Two days ago, we posted a story entitled “Check Out B2B’s #1 Trending Costume - “Faux” Race Bibs”. By the end of the day, Facebook had pulled it from our Wall saying:

“We have removed or disabled access to the following content that you have posted on Facebook because we received a notice from a third party that the content infringes or otherwise violates their rights”

So, we called our lawyers, constitutional and intellectual property law experts, and it turns out we did not violate any third party’s intellectual property or copyright by posting a link to this year’s Bay to Breakers race bib and making our own version.

Take that AEG. Oh yeah, and you too Facebook.

Fortunately, we still had a screenshot of all the comments and likes with the original post and downloadable Knucklehead bibs for your own bib making needs.

Bibgate 2011, out.  

I'm Not Registered for Bay to Breakers, Can I Still Go?

Yes!

According to ISCOTT, the city agency responsible for approving street closures, no temporary use of a public street may obstruct or bar public access onto that street. Which means that no police officer, security guard, volunteer or AEG henchman can stop you from getting on the sidewalks or streets this Sunday anywhere along the route.

Here is the specific language from ISCOTT’s TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE FILING INFORMATION (Revised 7/2008) regulations (page 5 section I.B.):

“B. The temporary use or occupancy of a public street shall not unnecessarily obstruct or bar public access onto said street. Sidewalks shall remain open at all times for pedestrian use unless closure of the sidewalk is provided for by resolution of the Board of Supervisors explaining the reasons for such closure.”

Well, in this case, of course, the Board of Supervisors has NOT provided a resolution for a complete closure, which means that anyone can enter any of the streets or sidewalks freely, without registration or “race bib”, on Sunday.

You can download the full document and regulations here.

In addition, it is against City regulations for AEG to place any barriers/fences in an intersection or crosswalk (page 5 section I.C.):

“C. No object of any nature shall be placed or maintained within any intersection or pedestrian crosswalk, nor shall any vehicle be permitted to be parked in such areas. All curb ramps shall remain clear of any obstructions.”

Sorry AEG, those fences you say you’re building are actually illegal.

Uh oh, AEG, looks like you’ve broken the rules all over the place. You’re great at making rules but immune to following them?

ISCOTT (Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation) is the San Francisco city agency who overseas permit applications for street closures, and the only actual approval process required by the city for AEG to host Bay to Breakers. Visit their website for more information.

AEG’s “Sobering Tents” Are A Total Farce.

Perhaps you’ve heard about AEG’s plan for “sobering tents” at B2B.  Well, there’s a reason they waited until two weeks before the event to announce this.  It is a PR stunt.

1. The SFPD reported fewer than five arrests last year.  So the notion they’ll suddenly need to create Hoovervilles for arrestees is a joke. 1

2. It is almost impossible for them to legally detain someone in such tents:        

   a) Public consumption of alcohol is not an arrestable offense. It is punishable by confiscation and/or a fine. 2a

   b) In order to be placed in protective custody (a drunk tank) a person must be “unable to exercise care for his or her own safety or the safety of others.”  The average social drinker at B2B is nowhere near that point. 2b

   c) Finally, since these “sobering tents” will not be open for 72 hours, it is not clear they even qualify as legal treatment facilities under California law. 2c 

3. AEG will be subjecting itself to potentially serious civil liability if it unlawfully detains or imprisons Bay to Breakers participants.

4. The SFPD does not have the resources to enforce this.  They will concentrate their efforts on egregious or obvious problems.  Be discreet and respect the neighborhoods and you should be fine. 

Don’t be fooled by AEG’s newest stunt.  These “sobering tents” are a last minute scare tactic from a corporation that is far better at PR than event management.

Click to read more ...

"FIRE AEG" shirts now available on Zazzle

Looks like we’re not the only ones who want AEG to go as B2B race organizer. 2011 Bay to Breakers race sponsor, Zazzle, now has “Fire AEG” T-shirts available for immediate order on its website.

And check out CPBB’s classic shirt designs. We are proud to support B2B’s new local sponsor. Now, we just need a local race organizer…

Thanks for your support Zazzle! 

http://www.zazzle.com/savebay2breakers

The Fight to Save Bay to Breakers. Again.

This is getting old. I mean, how many times do we have to stand up and fight these guys? Third time’s a charm?

Maybe. 

Here’s the state of things for the 2011 (Centennial) Bay to Breakers:  Booze is banned. Floats are banned. Registration is limited.

Thank you AEG and Philip Anschutz for continuing your relentless campaign to destroy one of the last great San Francisco traditions. 

Yeah, yeah, I know. You’ve heard it before. All this talk of bans. Then you get down there with your wheeled objects and six packs and have a better time than last year. But “before”, meaning in 2009 and 2010, CPBB fought vehemently to preserve your right to have fun and we won. And where did it get us? 

The old saying, “What’s the definition of insanity?”, seems to come to mind here. 

Something needs to change, guys, seriously. That something is AEG.

Quick history: AEG (Anschutz Entertainment Group) bought the SF Examiner in 2006 and with it came Bay to Breakers. Before that, Bay to Breakers was run by a bunch of non-profits, including SF Examiner’s charity division (read: the event wasn’t about making money). After AEG took over, a few things happened:

1. Prices for registration went up. Way up.
2. Registrations went down. Way down. (from 110,000 to 30,000)
3. Resources like port-a-potties, police and trash receptacles were reduced to cut costs.
4. AEG’s anti-San Francisco culture campaign began.

But what AEG has done more than anything else is failed miserably at properly managing this event. This is not some ordinary 12K road race, by any stretch of the imagination. This is Bay to Breakers. And B2B is known all over the world as one of the most eclectic expressions of color, culture and community on the planet. And when AEG “bought” the race in 2006, it should have understood this…and supported it. 

TAKE ACTION NOW

Like this. Tweet this. Spread the word.

We think AEG should go, but for now we need to let them, neighborhood associations and city officials know that what AEG is doing to ruin Bay to Breakers is unacceptable.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Email the Mayor and the Board of Supervisors
2. Email the Race Organizer AEG
3. Email the Neighborhood Associations who Supported AEG’s bans
4. Email the Sponsors

• AEG Corporate Headquarters, Los Angeles, (213) 763-7700
• Angela Fang, Director of AEG Bay to Breakers, (415) 934-0991
• Mike Farrah, Director of Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, (415) 554-5944
• David Miree, Deputy Director of Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, (415) 554-6537
• Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, (415) 554-6141

And tell them you don’t support AEG’s relentless efforts to sanitize San Francisco fun and culture from this city’s signature annual event, Bay to Breakers.

A million people showed up for the SF Giants World Series parade, an event organized in a few weeks and 10 times the size of B2B. The reason this event was so successful was proper planning and proper resources. Why can’t the same thing happen at B2B?

FUTURE ACTION & PROTESTS

Many groups have informed us they plan to stage protests, walk a shadow route, walk the course backward and conglomerate in certain parts of town to protest AEG’s ban on floats, booze and participation. We will tell you more as we know it. What we do know is that this is our city, our race, our celebration of the spirit of San Francisco, and we deserve to celebrate 100 years of tradition without some L.A. corporation telling us what to do. AEG is willing to sacrifice the entire essence of Bay to Breakers to make a buck. They have been nothing but secretive about the finances of this event since they took over.

WAKE UP San Francisco. Your precious Bay to Breakers is being taken from you. Do what you do in this great city. Do something about it.