I ran into some of you in front of the Marriott on SW Broadway. I'd have helped, but I pulled over into the valet spot when I saw you guys and there was no place for me to leave my car.

I did pull up some tape on SW 10th, and also on SW Broadway earlier. I tried to do it inconspicuously, but surprisingly those who noticed gave me an "alright!" or thumbs up.

I'm suprised that channel 12 didn't have a "watch" segment about it. BUT, they'll be the ones showing the kid crying in the morning!!

Thanks to you, Matt, and the rest of the crew for organizing this event. I just blogged a bit about my experience - http://www.anotherblogger.com/2007/06/08/whose-sidewalks-everybodys-sidewalks-without-tape-of-course/

Don't worry about the mayor. He's probably pissed that we didn't all get together and form a committee to talk about the vision for the tape.

Wow, that was waaay after I had to bow out, but I'm glad the crew made it all the way around. A report from Amy Ruiz said that much of the tape on the west side was already gone, likely due to vigilant souls who beat us there. And, yes, the response was almost unanimously supportive. If everyone in town hates this taping business so much, why were we the first to do something about it?

"If everyone in town hates this taping business so much, why were we the first to do something about it?"

'cause you're both bored and dangerous?

Man, Lance, I wish with everything in me that I was 1.) idle enough to be bored and 2.) insensitive enough to be dangerous. But then I guess you could apply that same denigration to any civic action you don't like, and THAT, friend, would be dangerous.

I also forgot to add my prediction that the TV news stations will be out tomorrow searching for any possible argument or altercation they can find, and then link to the tape-removal--posing it as a question, of course. "Was this fight the result of an action last night removing all the tape from the parade route? It's hard to say, but some people say yes."

To them--and the mayor, and Bojack--I say this: If we'd only ripped up a few spots here and there, without any media coverage about the event, you bet that'd lead to problems. But since just about every bit of tape was removed, and the TV news couldn't pull themselves away from Paris Hilton fast enough to cover this thing for the past two days, it should be pretty obvious to all tape-layers what happened. If they still want to fight, it's because they are violence-prone, and that ain't our fault.

Plus, we left those handy explanatory signs. So it'll be no mystery when people show up in the morning and—gasp!—have to find an open spot.

It's true, Scott, you could say all that to those people. Or you could just say "fuck off." Sometimes, a simple "fuck off" works wonders.

Yeah, from what I saw that was an EXTREMELY dangerous crowd. What with the everyone laughing and having fun bit. Plus, all those little girls just frothing at the mouth for the chance to attack . . . Watch Out Rose Parade! We bring death and destruction to all you hold dear!

Everyone seemed really bored as well, because you know, actually doing something instead of just bitching about it, that's hella boring.

What amused me the most was the dickheads at the Hilton. They were going NUTS on the folks pulling the tape. They even told me to stop taking pictures. Snort.

John and I were talking about parade coverage tomorrow and what it's likely to be like. KGW's got the parade, and 12 has a hard-on for KGW like nobody's business. So what I'm expecting is that 8 will stay resolutely with the marching bands and floats unless holy hell breaks loose. And if I know Patrick, the ND at 12, and he has a little play in his budget, he'll have a crew out looking for unholy heck and trying to make it look like holy hell. If they can find a good enough altercation, I'm betting they'll go live during/after GDO Weekend.

KATU and KOIN? Probably not even going to scramble a crew, especially KOIN. Maybe a photog.

Still, it'll be the first year in...well, EVER...that I'll actually remember to turn on the TV and watch the parade. You gave a huge gift to the TV newsrooms of Portland tonight, especially KGW.

Scott,

I meant it as a compliment, not a denigration. I had forgotten Blowhardanski's prognostication...

All of which is to say- nice work! If anything dangerous comes from that it's not from your actions, but from those who seem to want to stir up controversy.

Yeah, "snort." Just like Paris Hilton, with the coke.

Oh jeez, Lance. What's become of me? There was a time in my life in which "bored and dangerous" would have been a badge of pride. Now I'm all old and knee-jerky and shit.

Sooooo, thanks.

I also was a bit annoyed by Potter's comment on KGW that he hoped the police wouldn't have to get involved if there were issues this morning.

Well shit, Tom, maybe the police should've gotten involved and written some tickets for littering a week ago...

Thank You Portland Mercury for the community support!!!
My daughter's and I stayed for the entire tape clean-up event. Last night my four year old turned over her tape ball to the Portland Mercury van. About a block away she began to cry. She wanted her tape ball back. She cried until we got on the max to get back to our car. If someone has the picture of her and the tape ball please let me know so you can send it to me.
Thanks My girls and I have a great time!

Kim! We do have a photo of her—shoot an email to news@portlandmercury.com and I'll forward it your way.

I have some photos, including the passing of the tape ball to the Mercury van.

Mine are at:
http://flickr.com/photos/nacho/tags/civiccleanupcrew/

Definitely a great time. This needs to be the new tradition. Let's do it again next year!

Check it!

Amy, I sent you my e-mail.
Thanks for sending me them in advance.

Josh, thanks for posting them, I will try and pull them.

Kim