I think first come first serve. It's a public street and it takes a lot of nerve to tape it of and call it yours. A heck of a lot of nerve.

It should be first come first serve. Public sidewalks are exactly that, public.

Want a front row seat, get there early like the rest of us. These are public sidewalks.

Definately first come, first serve. You cannot claim a public space as your own, even for a day.

Definitely should be first come first serve. There is absolutely no reason for people to be able to 'reserve' their place on a public road!

My family & I moved here a few years ago and one of the first things we wanted to be sure to be a part of was the much talked about about annual parade. We only live in Vancouver, but have never been back. While Im happy to get up at 6am and venture out early to get a good spot it is more than discouraging to do so and find that a good spot is so difficult to find because so many others have cheated by cutting in line.

There should be no reserving a space by defacing public streets. This is no different than graffiti on the street, which is not allowed.
It is not as if the parade route is not long enough for everyone to enjoy it.

People are calling this a tradition. No, it is not a tradition. Less than 20 years ago people came early with lawn chairs and blankets and had to stay on the curb (off of the street) until 9am and then they could move out. This taping and basically vandalizing the streets comes from some of the companies downtown along the parade route who marked off the sidewalks in front of their business for their employees and it went downhill from there. Only the past few years has it become more prevalent and gross. The tape and chalk is just a cheesy way for lazy people to not put out their lawnchairs and stay with them to prevent them from getting stolen. What an eyesore! You wouldn't want it in front of your house, so why do we think it is okay to trash it elsewhere.

If you must change a tradition then give the public an avanced warning not say it's ok to go out and tear up the already place tape.All this may do is cause fights among otherwise law abiding citizens.Think before you speak!

save all those prime spots for handicapped with passes and wheelchairs so they can see and enjoy parade too mary

AMAZINGLY ENOUGH THIS is tradition....IN OREGON.....it has been as long as the parade has been......people who don't know will be left out this year!!!!!!!BUTTT THERE IS next year.....TRADITION IS IMPORTANT TO SOME PEOPLE....maybe not to you.........so stay home....

I bet the ones that tape off spots for the parade are the same dolts that park kadiwonkus in the parking spots taking up two to four spots.

I have lived in Portland for over 10 years......I have never been to the parade because I am VERY DISCOURAGED over all the news reports of the RUDE UNFAIR behavior by people in this town!!!!! I know its a so called tradition to go mark your spot for the parade.......but come on it makes the streets look like TRASH!!!! I dont even want to go down town right now!!!! It TURNS ME AWAY!!!! If you WANT a GOOD Spot for the parade GO CAMP OUT!!!!! If you really feel you need to have that spot sooooooo bad go live there, before the parade to save that spot!!!! If I go early in the morning I should have a RIGHT to find a empty spot along the street!!!!! Why Bother even going....as the news puts it ALL the sidewalks are marked so you cant get a spot to watch the parade!!!!! I think that this is a STUPID UNFAIR Tradition that NEEDS TO STOP!!!!!!

Don't give me that, "it's a tradition" crap.
I came from the land of stupid ass traditions, Texas A&M, and I'll have to say this one is right up there with the stupidist ones I've heard of.

Mr. Leonard should find more pressing issues to deal with at city hall like how to deal with all the parade barricades that sit on the street corners for days and do nothing but block pedestrian traffic! why not form a committee and let the public speak their mind mr Leonard, before spouting off! has anyone addressed the issue of adequate seating for people with physical impairment? are we suppose to sit in designated wheelchair seating areas just cause we are in a wheelchair? what if we want to sit with our friends and family and not with others in wheelchairs?easy way to solve this problem is put an ad in the paper politely asking everyone who uses tape to mark their spot to remove it when the parade is over,legal or not taping off a spot only happens maybe 2 or 3 times a year is it really that big of a problem? what about all the business' along the parade route who set out chairs and rope off designated spots for their customers and employees? Are you gonna tell them they can't do that anymore either?

Why is this jackass trying to start riots at something that has happened by some accounts for twenty years without any real huge problems????this is just another person who wants to make an issue over the non issue......and if the people in Portland are rude it's because we like the way we do things and people who want to change that just because it doesn't suit them are going to get a strong reaction..........AGAIN it has been this way for years and if people don't like it they can stay home!!!!!we enjoy our traditions......and just because Texas is the land of losers that has nothing to do with us......I would bet dollars to doughnuts that the people that are on here bitching are not from here..... or they didn't get there tape on in time......

I think city councilman Randy Leonard should consult with rose festival organizers about the issue of people marking off spots for parades and leave it up to them to resolve the issue with spectators then we will end up with a resolution everyone is happy with.I don't see a good outcome if Mr Leonard takes it upon himself to resolve this issue himself,if the rose festival organizers want to consult with the public or Mr Leonard so be it.

I moved to Portland area 10 years ago and I do not like the taping of the sidewalks to hold a place for the parade. I have not gone to the parade because of that. If the Rose festival wants to make money let the City institute a plan to maybe let anybody purchase a permit to have a spot for the parade. But I myself believe it should be first come

We live outside of Portland and have often wanted to attend the parade. But since available seating is already taken before we even leave home we have not. I am also against "camping out" to reserve a space. Patrons should not be allowed to be seated no more than 6 hrs prior to the parade. You are missing out of tourism dollars by this practice Portland.

Hi,
There is one issue that perhaps people do not realize.
Many people are not able to physically walk for blocks and blocks and find a spot young or old.
I am 57 and am unable to walk for blocks to find a spot.
It is not about finding the perfect spot with me.
It is about being able to go at all!
Which is why I tape off a spot.
I ALSO COME EARLY! I stay there from about 5AM on…but some seniors and especially young parents with younger kids cannot do that.

If you are courteous which you should be that would be simply be resolved by allowing people to share your spot.
We take the space we need and do not take any more if we have extra we give it away to the little kids who cannot see.

TO THE CITY COMMISSIONERS!
PLEASE …
I IMPLORE YOU!
Think about that before you make it against the law there are many extenuating circumstances for older AND younger people.
One thing that would really help!

Have a site to go to in the paper or on the web AND on the news for those who do not have computers!
The times that the streets will be blocked off and where!
If you say the streets will not be blocked off until 8AM keep the time you said!
There are NO shuttles maybe that should be a consideration.
I have gone as early as 7:15AM and the streets were not supposed to be blocked off and already were making it nearly impossible for me to get to the parade route!

Please do not make it so I cannot save a spot it will make it for me impossible to go to the parade if you do so.

I know you can pay for spots but the bleachers etc where you pay for a spot.
They are great for younger people who have good legs.
I have done so in my younger years but now cannot it makes my legs hurt so bad I cannot walk.
Watching it from the coliseum is not the same!
You may as well be watching a show! I have already tried that!

You better keep an eye on that women. The one who was on the evening news. She said there was going to be trouble in the morning. People should come early if the parade is that important to them.

This is an Oregon citizen sponsored event if Oregonians are unable to find seating where is the justice in that....they pay taxes...parking fees.....and anything else that would entitle them to first choice.........and have been doing all of that for LONGER THAN 10 YEARS......so get in line......AND LEAVE US ALONE......and as far as looking crappy....has any one seen bourbon street during Martiegras???........talk a bout a toilet....and if your that worried about how the city looks why don't you take your whiny asses down to the river and the train tracks and clean that........or MLKJ boulevard for that matter......oh yeah you already did that.....to bad a guy can't tell.....

it may be sponsored by oregon but doesnt oregon rely on tourisim dollars? how bout the millions spent on food loging etc while they are there? besides who said its only locals who rope off these places? if anything the city should reserve a strip on both ends and in the middle for wheel chairs so they can get there and have a place to watch.

the problem with trying to exercise a little common sense to a problem is if you make an exception here come the church groups the minorities the vegitarian lesbiens.....all wanting a special deal. this is pathetic when it comes down to people fighting over a spot to see a parade. no wonder the world has turned into such a suck ass place.

I have been a resident of Portland for 16 years and I have only gone to the parade maybe 2 times due this issue. Yes I do think that handicapped people should be able to get a front row spot. I also think that the young children should be able to see the parade as well. I don't think that people should be able to tape the space they want. I think that people should be allowed to camp out if they want that spot bad enough like the way it used to be. First come first serve. If you are willing to sit there for days before the parade them more power to you. Taping is just selfish and lazy. It is the cities space not yours.

I just got back from the big berg.......it's funny to me that most of the people that are complaining in Portland are gays and the villa residents........hmmmmmmm..........and you can't even clean the place with the tourist dollars.........if you don't like it leave don't go..........and the commissioner should be removed from office for his grief inciting comments.....he sucks.....