I am one of the Hollister Independence Rally founders and have
had the opportunity to experience over 300 motorcycle events and
rallies over the past 25 years.
Editor,
I am one of the Hollister Independence Rally founders and have had the opportunity to experience over 300 motorcycle events and rallies over the past 25 years.
It is not my intent to save the Hollister Independence Rally Committee at this time, but rather to shed some light on why people come to Hollister. It is the history rather than just another “run.” It is Johnny’s, the downtown area and the destination of Hollister.
Anyone who comes to Hollister in July 2006 will come downtown. Having an event outside of downtown is just asking for trouble. Many, if not most, of the attendees of an event held outside of town will consume alcohol there, come into town and drink more and then return to the other event or their campground. It will become, in effect, a moving, drinking event. The potential problems from riding while intoxicated are obvious.
The same amount of law enforcement will be needed at night if there is any event near town. Hoards of bikers will come into town and not be able to get into the bars and will be forced to find something to do with nothing planned and no sanitary facilities. Also, many will come unaware that there will be a cost involved and won’t want to pay for something that’s always been free out of principle, so they will come downtown. You are wise enough to see the writing on the wall.
If the event is cancelled, there will be thousands of bikers who will come in protest as well as others who have not have heard of the cancellation. To think that only a few thousand bikers will come to town if there is no event is naive and hopeful to say the least. Talk to the city fathers of other towns that have cancelled such events.
If a private event is held, a bond must be placed to secure the city costs. I don’t think the kind of event that I read about in the Free Lance will succeed unless it is held in conjunction with a downtown event.
Please help me to understand why the city only factors in the sales taxed generated by HIRC and not those generated in the private sector (Johnny’s. Whiskey Creek, the Vault, Albertsons and the restaurants.) These figures are easy to acquire, take their revenues from Memorial Day, averaged in with Labor Day. Subtract them for their revenues from July 4 week and that will be the amount generated by the event.
The city then needs to go to this state comptroller with these numbers and factor the 6 percent the state gets from taxes. Have this amount applied to the state bill, as the rally generated that income. All entities need to work together to understand the real cost to the city.
The solution is simple. All entities, both private and public, including businesses, must work together to ascertain the true cost of the event. Approach the county and state and have their amount generated to the proper accounts.
It is in the best interest of the city to renew the HIRC contract with the revised figures credited to the HIRC city bill. Allow an outside event to happen and have them share the 2006 expenses with HIRC. If all work together and support each other, the rally can continue in an orderly and cost effective manor.
Pat Akins, HIRC Founder
