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Organizers cancel parade due to rules

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BERKELEY, Calif., Sept. 14 (UPI) -- Organizers of an annual parade in Berkeley, Calif., said this year's event has been canceled due to restrictions imposed by the city.

John Solomon, a retired Berkeley restaurant and one of the parade's organizers, said the Sept. 27 "How Berkeley Can You Be?" parade has been canceled for what would have been its 14th year, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday.

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The restrictions imposed by the city include bans on throwing candy and selling beer from floats.

"The city saw a bunch of long-haired people having fun and they said, 'Uh-oh,'" Solomon told the newspaper. "The city is being very controlling. They want to turn this into the Solano Stroll."

City spokeswoman Mary Kay Clunies-Ross said officials annually give the parade $10,000 to offset its $25,000 cost, but last year's event ran over budget due to running past its planned end time.

"The event has gotten larger and requires more planning to keep it safe and fun and not adversely affect the neighborhoods," she said. "They decided not to have the event this year, and that's all we know."

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