Two Months Later: The Parade Tape Remains

About two months ago, there was a big deal made about the practice of using tape to mark one’s “reserved” spot for the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade. The Portland Mercury led a clean up crew to go around and pick up the tape ahead of time, cleaning the sidewalks and returning to the true tradition of getting up early to camp out and stake out your spot.

Tape proponents argued they were doing no harm and that they’d clean things up on their own.

They lied.

Today, I spent a few minutes at lunchtime walking around and I happened to walk down less than three blocks of MLK Boulevard along the parade route. In less than three blocks, I shot photos of five examples of leftover tape:

It’s litter. I applaud those who picked up the litter, and I offer this post as an example that the status quo is unacceptable. If there is this much tape remaining in three blocks, how much is left along the entire route?

I don’t feel that more laws are needed (there’s plenty of laws on the books already… pretty sure that a littering ordinance would apply) but the issue can be solved with some social pressure and education.