The Hollister Independence Rally has many good points.
The Fourth of July weekend annual event has helped put Hollister
on the tourism map and brought our historic town some national
exposure.
A chunk of the proceeds from the rally benefits local charities
and for the many local motorcycle enthusiasts
– and the related area businesses – it is a fun time to welcome
their fellow bikers and check out the incredible array of shiny
hardware.
The Hollister Independence Rally has many good points.
The Fourth of July weekend annual event has helped put Hollister on the tourism map and brought our historic town some national exposure.
A chunk of the proceeds from the rally benefits local charities and for the many local motorcycle enthusiasts – and the related area businesses – it is a fun time to welcome their fellow bikers and check out the incredible array of shiny hardware.
But these are tough economic times for the City of Hollister and San Benito County and the cost of rally security will continue to rise, along with other costs that are the direct result of more than 100,000 visitors.
The Hollister Independence Rally Committee, now under the strong leadership of executive director Bob Beals, is making the right moves by working with city officials in an effort to raise more money to help absorb the security costs.
Last week’s discussion at the City Council meeting showed good progress and solid understanding of how to increase – and monitor – added revenues, particularly with the many vendors and their wide variety of wares.
The city also needs to tighten up its accounting procedures of the event, especially making sure sales tax is collected, paid and tallied.
The city, rally organizers and their supporters of this event should keep in mind, however, that a lot of Hollister and county citizens and business owners do not like the rally.
There is a sizable percentage who wish the rally would either move out of downtown or go away altogether.
Their complaints are valid: Excessive noise and traffic, a lack of traditional Fourth of July activities for a town of this size and concerns over personal safety.
We support having the Hollister Independence Rally if it continues to be a safe and fun event for visitors and, most important, city and county residents.
But the rally has to make the money to pay for itself, along with a clear and successful plan to help local charities.
And it can’t just simply expand the number of vendors and booths without regard for downtown business and residents, which are already severely impacted by the event.
The city and county costs should come mainly from the vendors’ fees and profits, but not to the point where they won’t come at all.
HIRC and the City of Hollister are on the right road so far by realizing it can’t be rally business as usual.
But there is still much planning and procedural change needed before the next Hollister Independence Rally starts revving up.
