Collapsed risers at Circus Juventas were overdue for inspection...

My friends and I were sitting at the top of the north risers a few weeks ago. There were two wooden planks placed end-to-end about 8 inches wide and 20 feet long behind us between our seats and the wall and was placed on the riser's frame. I think it was there to prevent us from falling through if we moved out chairs back, or if someone stepped behind the chairs. One of the two planks fell to the ground as we filed out during intermission. Luckily, no one was below it when it fell or standing on it, or someone would hav been seriously hurt. Someone came and lifted it back into place, but since it was not secured in any way, I called the City of St. Paul the following Monday, and I was told that the City would look into it. Since the article above says that "no one has complained about the risers", I assume I am "no one". ;)

I attended the show the night of the collapse. I sat on the North side in the second row "A" and was not injured. Did anyone else notice how crammed together the seating was? I am 6 feet tall and of slender build and I could not sit back in my seat. There was simply no room for my shoulders between my neighbors. I had to sit at an angle or sit forward during the entire show. Perhaps there were more chairs, or smaller chairs than previous years? Did anyone else notice this? The person next to me said the seats were more uncomfortable than previous years.

oh ..... my ..... God ..........

What kind of society do we live in?

I mean, when you cannot trust GOVERNMENT to see to the safety of OUR bleachers?!?

This is what 8 years of George W. Bush has wrought.

Thank God we have President Barack Obama. The day of government NEGLECT is over. WE DEMAND that SEIU union employees be hired in WHATEVER numbers may be deemed necessary to correct such heinous oversights.

These are our CHILDREN! And the GOVERNMENT has failed them.

I may just have to move to Berkeley to begin the healing process of getting over this .. this crime against humanity.

"Had we known they (Circus Juventas) were putting it up twice a year, we would have made them get permits and inspected it," Lippert said.

It's amazing more people weren't seriously hurt in this incident. Best wishes to those who were injured.

waiting for Large Marge or Pogotaxer to blame Pawlenty some how...

Since when are chairs put on top of bleachers?
Perhaps this is why the load was to great.

And we all know how well extra inspections of the 35W bridge held it up..

We all know how efficient St Paul city government is. They are always right on top of everything. And big government wants to run the health care industry.

My daughters and I were at the Saturday evening show on the North Side Row A. The seats were not crowded at that show. The set up is wooden risers with folding chairs on the risers. The setup was not wobbling when we were there. I feel really bad for the people that got hurt as well as the Circus organization. It was a fluke accident.

I'm the reporter who wrote the story and I'm trying to reach one of the posters, morganlefaye, for a follow-up article I'm working on. Could you contact me at mgottfried@pioneerpress.com?

Joan wrote:

My daughters and I were at the Saturday evening show on the North Side Row A. The seats were not crowded at that show. The set up is wooden risers with folding chairs on the risers. The setup was not wobbling when we were there. I feel really bad for the people that got hurt as well as the Circus organization. It was a fluke accident.

Sorry to disagree ....sounds like the the people in charge of such "public safety issues" in St Paul were NOT doing there job...I have been to several BIG events there also ...The St Paul Police handled traffic control.

By the way St Paul Fire Marshall Office you been doing YOUR Inspections on this venue??

Why don't you make people sign their real names to the screed and hate-filled dung that they write and have them own and take responsibility for their words..........thanks

Dr Frank Lippenheimer wrote:

...
I may just have to move to Berkeley to begin the healing process of getting over this .. this crime against humanity.

Delta has several flights each day -- please leave immediately. You'll be glad you did!

P.S. While at Berkeley, please take an introductory course on Satire. We'll be glad you did!

Madaman wrote:

<quoted text>
Delta has several flights each day -- please leave immediately. You'll be glad you did!
P.S. While at Berkeley, please take an introductory course on Satire. We'll be glad you did!

Delta??? I would prefer him flying Air France !!

Mara: I was at the show on Saturday evening. When we got up to leave, there was a definite swaying of the bleachers. So much so that I commented about it to my wife that I should call about it. The next day I thought about it but never made the call. I feel bad about that. My e-mail is philip.poeschl@tsi.com

Mary Finley wrote:

Why don't you make people sign their real names to the screed and hate-filled dung that they write and have them own and take responsibility for their words..........thanks

You're a brave lady, Mary Finley. How do know the hate-filled dung will not now stalk you and perhaps even harm you for daring to call them on their feces? There are PLENTY of true-believing kooks out there.

Heck, years ago I made a few rather pointed comments in an article published in the Stribune, and a week later two right-wing preachers were on my doorstep! They left when my wife informed them I wasn't home, so I missed the opportunity to confront them directly.

Tom wrote:

<quoted text>Delta??? I would prefer him flying Air France !!

You are too kind. Why not Air Iran? Air Hezbollah?

It's also interesting that this organization requested STAR funding from the city a couple of years ago to help pay for new seating but were turned down.

Madaman wrote:

<quoted text>
Delta has several flights each day -- please leave immediately. You'll be glad you did!
P.S. While at Berkeley, please take an introductory course on Satire. We'll be glad you did!

Madaman, just checking in with you & Castanote. I sent an email about a week ago, not sure if it's still floating in cyblivion (that place where random emails of mine occasionally end up). Hope all's well!

Zen