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Execs Aim to Tame Rowdy SF Race

Organizers move to make revelers straighten up in Party Town, USA

By Wesley Oliver, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 7, 2009 6:25 PM CST

(Newser) – San Francisco, the “City That Knows How,” is notoriously adept at throwing hedonistic events—but it also knows how to fight to keep them, the Los Angeles Times reports. Protesters are fuming at the organizers of the annual Bay to Breakers footrace, who want to ban nudity and alcohol from the 97-year-old competition. “San Francisco is turning soooooooo PRISSY," sniped one Facebook posting.

But AEG, the event’s organizer, says “knuckleheads and drunken louts” have marred past festivities. Some residents agree, but others blame AEG for poor planning. The city has banned kegs and bottles, but one protester says the race will continue as usual: “Obviously, no one can say this publicly, but we all ‘get it.’”

[Images (8)]

[Quotes (1)]

Bay to Breakers 2004, San Francisco (Flickr)

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The problem is with the Taliban like 'residents' who move into bohemain enclaves to be part of the 'charm' and then get all indignant when the boho is on their stoop. - Facebook commenter in the 'Citizens for the Preservation of Bay2Breakers' group

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Execs Aim to Tame Rowdy SF Race