Council hears from citizens urging for annual motorcycle
event
After a flyer was posted around Hollister encouraging supporters
of a motorcycle rally to share their thoughts with elected
officials, the Hollister City Council chambers were packed on
Monday with people asking for the return of the event.
Though the item was not on the agenda, a number of speakers used
their allotted three minutes during the public comment period to
address the issue.
Matt Hart, the owner of Jerry’s Restaurant, said that during the
rally his business tripled and he was able to hire additional
employees.
”
I hope what’s not lost on people around the city is the
important financial benefit of the rally,
”
he said.
The last city-sponsored motorcycle rally was held in 2008. The
city discontinued its involvement in the event last year after law
enforcement costs became prohibitive, according to officials.
Council hears from citizens urging for annual motorcycle event
After a flyer was posted around Hollister encouraging supporters of a motorcycle rally to share their thoughts with elected officials, the Hollister City Council chambers were packed on Monday with people asking for the return of the event.
Though the item was not on the agenda, a number of speakers used their allotted three minutes during the public comment period to address the issue.
Matt Hart, the owner of Jerry’s Restaurant, said that during the rally his business tripled and he was able to hire additional employees.
“I hope what’s not lost on people around the city is the important financial benefit of the rally,” he said.
The last city-sponsored motorcycle rally was held in 2008. The city discontinued its involvement in the event last year after law enforcement costs became prohibitive, according to officials.
Charisse Tyson, the owner of Johnny’s Bar and Grill in downtown Hollister, said the community “really wants this rally.”
“All nonprofits lose so much money when we don’t have a rally,” she said. “It’s not just about three days” when the rally is held. “People want to come here all year. The cry is out there. Eighty-two to 85 percent of your constituents want the rally – let’s find a way to make it work.”
Joe Love, who said he moved to Hollister because of the rally, said he and others were intimidated by the presence of law enforcement during the annual event. He also questioned how the city could not make money from such a well-attended event.
“You get 100,000 people here and don’t make money?” he said. “Somebody’s doing something wrong; someone’s got their finger in the till.”
Hollister resident Ruth Erickson told the council that the motorcycle rally is a boon to local tourism, encouraging visitors throughout the year.
“We can’t only look at the 1 percent” of visitors who get in trouble, she said. “It’s the 99 percent of good people. Please consider bringing it back.”
Pamela Witherspoon said the rally is a promotional vehicle for the community.
“We need to show off our beautiful town,” she said. “I love this town. I think we should let everybody see it.”
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia thanked the speakers for expressing their views and reminded them that the council decided not to fund the rally.
“We did not cancel the rally,” she said. “We left the door open for interested people to get together a committee. We just could not use general fund money to fund it.”
Valdivia encouraged someone to come up with a plan.
“I agree with a lot of things being said here,” she said. “It helps the merchants, it helps the people,” she said. “We just couldn’t afford to front the money. I don’t think it’s dead yet. The city doesn’t have that kind of money to put at risk.”
Councilman Ray Friend also invited community input on bringing the rally back.
“I agree it’s a shame that the city of Hollister doesn’t have the rally,” he said. “We need to sit down and look at it seriously and quickly if we want the rally in 2011.”
Mayor Victor Gomez reminded the speakers that despite criticism about the amount of law enforcement assigned to previous rallies, safety needs to be considered with any plan that is developed.
“We’d be fools to not believe that it has a positive economic impact on our community,” he said.
