. . . San Francisco (yet again).It's strange to me how city residents complain (and rightfully so) about trash-covered, vomit and urine-soaked sidewalks, yet we are not only expected to tolerate all that and more on one particular day because "it's the Bay to Breakers Race," but we are then force-fed the ridiculous fallback excuse "that's the spirit of San Francisco" (i.e. I'm going to do what I want to do, others be damned).
So, thanks to that line of thinking, ING announced yesterday that after five years, it will no longer sponsor the event. The charity fundraising race has lost money over the last several years, as less than half of the "runners" actually bother to sign up and pay the entry fee (including mayor Gavin Newsom - way to set an example, Gav). ING has also suffered years of bad press because of the trash/urine issues AND has had to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to pay for port-a-potty rentals, street cleaning fees, and trash removal.
Also, because of the time frame and the "issues" involved with putting on this event, it's not likely that next year's race (it's 100th, by the way) will happen. Besides, I can't imagine any company wanting to attach it's name to this Albatross, anyway.
Thanks again, San Francisco. I don't know how you do it, but you consistently seem to outdo yourself, every time.
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