While the issue is not yet closed, citizens are not wild over a
possible biker weekend
By Danielle Smith Staff Writer
San Juan Bautista – Though a Fourth of July biker celebration in the Mission City has not been ruled out, residents and council members were unimpressed with a proposal introduced at the City Council meeting Tuesday night.
“I love bikers and I love biker-esses,” said resident Michael Ostrowski at the standing-room-only meeting. “And I think it would be great for us to sit down and have a pancake breakfast with them. But I don’t know if San Juan can handle much more than that.”
Gary Nowicki, vice president/coordinator of special events for Florida-based Biker Design, initially tried to save the Hollister Fourth of July Independence Day Rally just before the Hollister City Council voted 3-2 to cancel this year’s event at its Feb. 6 meeting. When Hollister council members refused to revisit the issue, Nowicki and Joe O’Day of Dal-Con promotions submitted a similar proposal to San Juan Bautista.
“They’ve put together a decent plan to try and keep this rally moving forward,” said Councilman Chuck Geiger. “I think it would be a good idea for us to put together a program for them (bikers) to enjoy that will benefit our community.”
O’Day highlighted the success of the Laughlin, Nev. River Run, a similar event organized by Dal-Con, as evidence that his company could run a smooth biker party. He also pointed out that Dal-Con runs a foundation which gives away thousands of charity dollars each year to benefit organizations where Dal-Con events are held.
O’Day suggested that local retailers could stand to profit from leasing out their storefronts to vendors carrying biker merchandise. Geiger pointed out that organizations such as the Boy Scouts or the city’s volunteer fire department could raise money by opening booths.
Response to the presentation, however, was skeptical at best.
“This is still historic San Juan Bautista,” said outspoken resident Rebecca McGovern. “I don’t know who came up with this cockamamie idea, but it’s totally irresponsible… You’d have an evacuation, you’d have to call FEMA to come and save us.”
“Why are we even talking about this? Man, we can’t even control our chickens,” said resident Anthony Boch, whose comments were met with enthusiastic applause.
Other citizens worried about a rally interfering with Little League tournaments, and about a heavy drug and alcohol presence. Resident Rachel Ponze recalled an incident when a San Juan Rodeo festival popular in the 1970s and ’80s got out of hand.
“People came to our Fiesta Rodeo and Parade, and then they wouldn’t leave,” she said. “I remember there was a SWAT team marching down Third Street, and I don’t want to see that happen again.”
At the city council meeting Tuesday, San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill expressed concern that the new proposal did not address policing or its cost. The City of Hollister paid $360,000 for police enforcement during the 2005 rally.
The issue was deferred to the council’s March meeting where it will be discussed at greater length and ultimately voted upon.
In the meantime, Dal-Con and Biker Design hope to work toward planning a more mellow rally, one which would resemble a street fair more than a rally and would perhaps be more warmly received by San Juan’s residents.
“They’re willing to do whatever we would like, really,” Geiger said. “We can tone it down, do away with the performances and the racing, and it could be really good for San Juan.”
