The Oscar Meyer Weinermobile is just one of the casualties of a city-parish ordinance limiting to 90 the number of floats, bands and vehicles allowed to ride in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade: Wearin’ of the Green, says parade coordinator Pat Shingleton.
“The Weinermobile was invited, but they can’t get in because of space,” says Shingleton, also chief forecaster for WBRZ-Channel 2. “The parade is full. Should something happen to someone who’s in right now, maybe we could bring someone else in. We do have a waiting list.”
The waiting list is approaching 10, says float coordinator and Shingleton’s wife, Mabyn, adding that some of those on it have been waiting for multiple years to get in the parade. And are they upset when they get put on the list and told they’ll probably be on the sidelines once more?
“Oh, my God, yes,” she says.
Pat Shingleton says negotiations with city-parish officials have been ongoing since 2009 to revise the parade permit ordinance, which limits all parades to 90 “units.” This year, he says, there will be about 79 floats, with the rest of the spaces filled by marching bands and dignitaries in vehicles.
The ordinance was put in place to address liability concerns, ensure safety and help control the amount of money spent by the police department on overtime to provide security. Shingleton says he would like to see parades capped at 100 units, and unsuccessfully pushed for that threshold during negotiations.
“I think that would allow us to take care of those who really like to get in. I don’t think we can grow any more than that,” he says.
Prior to 2009, the Shingletons say accommodating most everyone who wanted to be in the parade wasn’t a problem. In deciding who gets in the parade and who doesn’t, they say parade organizers have given priority to participants who have the most seniority and “shamrock” ratings in years past. This year will be the 27th that Pat Shingleton and Robert “Grey” Hammett have coordinated the parade. In peak years prior to the current ordinance, Mabyn Shingleton says, “it’s safe to say 125-plus” flat were featured in the parade. This year’s rolls on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17.
