Sound to Narrows Holds Man Hostage - Runners to Blame

It seems that frequently, when Tacoma hosts an event of more than moderate size, you can count on the grumbling to begin.

Some of it is NIMBY-ism. Some of it may be justified.

Kathleen Merryman’s article in today’s TNT takes a look at the grumpy old man side of the fence regarding this year’s Sound to Narrows. Merryman sites the unfortunate experience one resident of the neighborhood where the annual race takes place as an example. The gentleman in question missed the public notice delivered to his door by the TNT prior to the race. He also, apparently, missed any signage or activity in the neighborhood that might hint at road blocks headed his way. Then, while trying to leave his neighborhood the day of the race, he had some unfortunate run-ins with less than informed (less than helpful) event volunteers who refused to allow him to cross the course and leave his neighborhood. Not the way anyone wants to start their Saturday.

Communication is key to making events work. It’s not always an easy job, but someone has to do it. Merryman has what seem like a couple of perfectly reasonable and helpful suggestions.

The fix is simple: Volunteers at blocked intersections on race day should have copies of the notification that was delivered, and, in some homes, missed. It shows a map of the races, the blockades within it, and identifies the local access points at North 46th Street at Pearl and Vassault.

… some of the volunteers could also use some training.

In the course of considering the broader and important issue, she does however, go off on a bit of a mis-directed tangent for a paragraph that we feel compelled to take issue with.

Runners, of course, are incredulous at the notion that, on Sound to Narrows’ 40th anniversary, anyone could be unaware of it. Runners are famously up on current and local events. They might be appalled that some people could care less about Tacoma’s favorite race, or the Stanley Cup, or that the Oklahoma City Thunder played in the first game of the NBA finals Tuesday night.

Huh? We missed the connection here. And these runners, all of them from the little kids to the military units to the hardcore athletes at the front of the pack, have what to do with the event organization or communication?

But seriously, though, we all have to live together, and some balance has to be struck between special events and the needs of people to go about their business. We think events bring a great energy to Tacoma, and putting aside any economic arguments, make this a more fun place to live and visit. And, in our experience, the best events happen in neighborhoods with people. It can’t always be in someone else’s neighborhood.

We all find ourselves playing the Grinch every once in a while when it comes to defending our spaces and our routines, but does that mean that we have to cancel Christmas?

Link to The News Tribune