BOSTON — A decision by Boston's mayor and police commissioner to shorten the city's annual St. Patrick's Day parade route is not sitting well with organizers.
Mayor Marty Walsh said Tuesday the decision made after consulting with Police Commissioner William Evans to cut this year's route from 3.2 miles to 1.4 miles was made in the interest of public safety.
The route for the March 20 parade will be the same as last year, when it was shortened because some streets were made impassable by record-setting snowfall.
Parade organizer Timothy Duross said the city never consulted with the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council on the shortened route and never gave a reason.
He says the shorter route misses several significant sites and he's concerned spectators will be packed too tightly along the sidewalks.
In addition, Evans acknowledged that the parade coincides with the week of Spring Break for many Boston colleges.
“As has been our practice we like to remind students about expected behavior and we ask that you take an active role in celebrating responsibly. This means that there will be a zero tolerance for disruptive behavior as well as public drinking, underage drinking and intoxication. A reminder that your behavior at public events of this type will be closely monitored and there will be consequences, both from the BPD and your respective schools,” Evans said.
The Associated Press Contributed to this report
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