Old Snohomish Motorcycle Show Cancelled
By John Davis • Feb 19th, 2009 • Category: Blog PostsThe organizers of a bike show that draws thousands to downtown Snohomish have canceled this year’s show after a late night meeting Wednesday.
It’s unlikely the event will ever take place in Snohomish again, organizers say.
The motorcycle group that puts on the Old Snohomish Antique & Classic Motorcycle Show said they can’t afford to pay thousands more in fees this year.
City officials wanted organizers to pay $30,360 for 44 police officers to staff the event. The Sky Valley chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education paid about $5,000 last year.
The event drew an estimated 22,000 last year, and police say they need more officers because they are concerned about the potential for motorcycle gang violence. There have been no major incidents in the 12 years of the show.
Read more at: HeraldNet
John Davis is the owner, editor and publisher of Northwest Cycle Report. John also owns and writes for MotoSkagit.com and is the administrator for the Washington 120 State Park Tour. In addition to his own sites, John is a contributing author for MotorcycleLife.com and Motorcyclebloggers.com. He lives in Mount Vernon, WA and rides a candy-red Honda VTX1800 Retro.
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I just wrote a letter to the Snohomish City Council regarding this matter. I find it hard to believe the Council can award themselves raises and signing bonus's and totally disregard the businesses and vendors that pay taxes and look forward to this show every year for income… They should be ashamed! All we can do is wait for the next election… I am a Snohomish County resident and really embarrassed for them.
Frank G.
I have written a letter to the city council as well, beit that I am not actually from that area, I do however ride a motorcycle and find it rather disheartening that the city of snohomish would act this way, but then again, I'm not surprised that city officials think of themselves before thinking of the people that put them in office.
The shows in the past have been peaceful, fun, and security has been good. The City of Snohomish has welcomed this event with open arms…as have the businesses in town. However, this year because of extreme economic conditions, the nearby cities who previously donated their officers' help for this event for FREE can no longer afford this generosity. Unfortunately, most towns cannot. Snohomish, too, was left suddenly with a responsibility to foot this HUGE unexpected bill. That said, Chief Turner offered to reduce the number of officers req'd for this event from 70 down to 44. He did increase the security requirements. They were in fact reduced in consideration of the situation, while still ensuring safety considerations. And, he notified Abate immediately that there was a financial issue to solve. Further offering ideas to consider to offset costs (from charging $1-$2 to attend…with projected attendance figures, that would have covered the add'l cost incurred to pay for officers). We are ALL disappointed that things have changed so drastically and that Abate wasn't able to alter plans in time for the show this year. Timing is everything sometimes. Please continue to support the businesses and town who have supported this event for the past 12 years. Everything I've heard leads me to believe that the Chief of police, merchants and others have worked very hard to find solutions and compromise in order to make the 13th event another safe, fun show. These are tough times and it's impacting EVERY budget…mine, the City's, merchants, and clearly Abate's too. Wishing you well in Sultan and sorry to see you go.
@Snohomish Local: For the most part what you post is the most truth heard out of the cities camp concerning this issue. HOWEVER…
“The City of Snohomish has welcomed this event with open arms…”
Most of the Residents and the Businesses yes, City Manager/City Council/Police Dept. - Not So Much. The city has just never been able to stop the show legally. And this economic situation was their golden opportunity to get it done under the guise of money and public safely. In 2005 it took an Attorney to convince them that what they were doing was not only wrong but Illegal according to both the Washington State and US Constitutions.
“That said, Chief Turner offered to reduce the number of officers req’d for this event from 70 down to 44. He did increase the security requirements. They were in fact reduced in consideration of the situation, while still ensuring safety considerations. And, he notified Abate immediately that there was a financial issue to solve.”
When they decided to inform ABATE of this decision the number was set at 44. He wanted 70 but could not get that number approved. As for the “increasing security requirements?” Not sure what you are trying to say there. But if he increased them how were they “in fact reduced in consideration?” As far as notifying ABATE immediately. I guess you mean as soon as they could without leaving enough time to find a way around that particular angle of attack.
“Further offering ideas to consider to offset costs (from charging $1-$2 to attend…with projected attendance figures, that would have covered the add’l cost incurred to pay for officers). … Timing is everything sometimes. … Please continue to support the businesses and town who have supported this event for the past 12 years. Everything I’ve heard leads me to believe that the Chief of police, merchants and others have worked very hard to find solutions and compromise in order to make the 13th event another safe, fun show.”
If the writer believes more than half of this statement they are as ignorant as CM/CC/COP thought ABATE was. Just a bunch of Dumb A%# bikers, right?
(1.) They wanted to charge admission AND parking, ($5 suggested, due to the gold mine ABATE was sitting on,) to a free show. Something else to consider - The police had never helped with traffic control in prior years why would they be willing to help in 2009 while claiming to be understaffed just to cover “Public Safety?” Also, consider the logistic nightmare of stopping traffic while riders and attendees tried to dig $$ out from under safety gear. How far would that have backed traffic up at both ends of Snohomish?
(2.) While using projected attendance figures, (sounds good on the surface,) and requiring 25% down and 75% due within 30 days of show end. 25% of $30,360. cuts drastically into planned budget. Then if the projected attendance does not show where does the remaining 75% come from? ABATE does not operate on credit or even carry a credit line.
(3.) Timing is everything sometimes - That must be the reason for informing ABATE on the 20th of January leaving barely 4 months to find a solution, reformat the footprint and change what had previously been pretty much a cookie cutter event.
(4.) Continue to support the Businesses that have supported the event for the last 12 years? I’m sure ABATE would agree wholeheartedly with that part.
(5.) Just one more fallacious statement put forth on this subject. The Businesses, ONLY THOSE IN THE HDS, offered $5k. That still left ABATE with a $25,360k increase to deal with. The general statement, bandied about by several writers in several articles, of “Snohomish Businesses offered to help defer the additional costs of police services”, makes it sound like ALL the businesses and the Chamber of Commerce were chipping in. WRONG.
(6.) Let’s end with this thought. For 12 years there has never been a problem. Every one of those 12 years the city leaders have used more and more police presents. Why? Because of what ‘MIGHT’ happen. OK, using that ideology, how many years has there been problems at the city sponsored events? How many officers are used for police services at these events? What do these events pay for that service? What do these events charge for attendance and parking?