Another is:
I never get off the throttle in a corner.

“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?

I ride a significant number of miles solo. Shortly after my last near fatal incident I invested in a SPOT (http://www.findmespot.com) device. It would have allowed you to call for emergency or non-emergency help with your exact cooridinates.It is satellite based and works anywhere in the northern hemisphere. Setup and maintenance is through an easy web-based application. With an additional free web-app you can embed your tracks into any webpage. This is a device that I tether to my body using a rock climbers d-ring and some parachute cord.

One near a dear to my heart:
“A helmet won’t save you in a 60 mph crash, so why wear one?”

This one made me laugh too…well jsut becasue:
I don’t need to ask the wife if I can ride this weekend!”

Skid Lid