If there is one event that everyone in San Benito County seems to have an opinion on, good or bad, it would have to be the annual biker rally. It seems that every fall for the past decade the same debate occurs on whether or not the rally should take place.
Opponents of the rally argue that the rally doesn't help the local economy and gives Hollister a bad name. Proponents argue the exact opposite. Who is right and who is wrong has been one of the biggest hot potatoes for our local politicians for several years now.
This years attack on the rally is that the City of Hollister lost nearly $100,000 of taxpayers' money on T-shirt sales during last years rally. Last year's attack on the rally was that it shouldn't be on the Fourth of July weekend because it disrupts downtown business - the year before that the argument was that the Hells Angels were going to shoot up the town and list goes on and on.
As the owner of a restaurant located in the heart of all the action during the rally, I've seen the good and the bad side of the rally. More importantly, I've learned what works and what doesn't work with the rally. I know that there are those out there that will complain that I make money during the rally and that's why I support it. My answer to that complaint has always been the same; if the restaurant is making money, then the community is making money!
Ironically, it wasn't until the opponents of the rally won out in 2006 during the non-rally that the proponents of the rally were finally proven right about the infusion of money into our local economy.
The result of the non-rally in 2006 was a drop in county sales tax revenue of about $10 million dollars, according to state board of equalization. In other words, the biker rally brings in an additional $10 million dollars to local businesses.
Proponents have tried to point out this additional $10 million dollars of revenue over the years, but opponents have consistently misled the public into believing that the number was below 1 million dollars.
Perhaps the best way to describe to 2008 rally would be to say that the City of Hollister invested $100,000 to make $9,900,000 for the community, which is not a bad return on investment.
One problem that persists with the rally is the cost of law enforcement that is approaching $400,000, most of which goes to state agencies. This additional cost is outrages and unfair at best when you considered that the state takes in and additional $625,000 in taxes because of our rally. The rally needs to be safe, but when state agencies are obviously taking advantage of our community we need to draw a line in the sand and say come to Hollister, but pay your own way.
Making the biker rally into a successful event year after year is relatively easy. First, keep the event on the July 4 weekend so that people from around the world can keep that weekend open for their vacation. Second, let the bikes park down San Benito Street, which is what made the event so famous in the first place. Third, reign in the cost of law enforcement from the state so that the profits from the rally can be distributed to our local non-profits rather than go to Sacramento. Finally, fence in the event so that bikers pay to park on San Benito Street and pedestrians pay to visit - this will help keep out those that want to come to create problems.
Making $10 million from the rally is the easy part - getting everyone to work together so that everyone benefits from the rally is the hard part.
Ignacio Velazquez is a Hollister resident.
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