Posted on 05/30/2008 3:41:43 PM PDT by Libloather
Myrtle Beach officials: No more biker rallies
Posted on Wed, May. 28, 2008
MYRTLE BEACH — Furious and frustrated after the weekend shooting death of a 20-year-old Coastal Carolina University student, Myrtle Beach City Council members said Tuesday that they do not want motorcycle rallies in the city any more.
A group of local ministers and a bike-rally event promoter spoke to the council at a morning workshop Tuesday and implored the city to help them "do something" about the behavior they witnessed during the past weekend.
Other groups have complained to city officials in previous years after the Atlantic Beach Bikefest biker rally and the Harley-Davidson spring rally.
"I experienced something ... enough is enough," the Rev. Tim McCray told the council on Tuesday. He said he and others had not slept for the past four days during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, staying up to get a firsthand look at the parties that have for years concerned residents and prompted complaints. "They were up there partying, doing things they shouldn't be doing."
Grand Strand Connection is an umbrella group that is trying to help solve "issues that threaten the harmony of Myrtle Beach," said McCray, the group's founder.
The group is bringing together local officials, clergy, hotel owners, restaurants and other groups that plan and hold events geared toward bikers to make the spring and fall bike rallies more organized.
McCray said he witnessed public sex acts and other behavior, not among the sport bikers who traditionally have come to the area during Memorial Day weekend, but among the 16- to 20-year-olds who arrive by the carload to party during weekend rally.
"We know the NAACP has you locked down," McCray told the council. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has sued the city and area businesses for what it has called racist behavior during the Atlantic Beach Bikefest, which is visited predominantly by African Americans and happens around Memorial Day weekend.
Others argue that those who come to the Atlantic Beach Bikefest — whatever their race —don't behave properly, don't respect the city and its residents and cause more trouble than they are worth financially.
The NAACP has monitored the Bikefest and the Harley-Davidson spring rally to make sure people are treated fairly at both events.
Myrtle Beach Councilman Mike Chestnut, who appeared visibly upset by the weekend shooting of CCU student Corey Brooks, asked McCray and the others what they expect the city to do to make bike rallies more successful.
"Why should we invest in this event when we don't in any other?" Chestnut asked. "Let me tell you what's going to happen. The City Council is going to shut it down. We're not going to have a 20-year-old shot because someone is too cheap to pay for a $20 parking space."
Police have not confirmed a motive in the shooting.
Hakim Harrell, an event promoter, said he understands the city's concern, but hopes more organized activities scattered throughout the city would draw people away from Ocean Boulevard.
"We don't care which rally it is, we'd just as soon stop them," Mayor John Rhodes told the group.
"We don't need them," Rhodes said. "We can fill all the hotel rooms without bike weeks."
How do you go about doing that? Enforce fire codes? Only two bikes allowed together? This mess may get worse before it gets any better.
Hooligan ping.
I understand the “pain the the ass” factor that these types of events cause to the locals.
The Street Rod Nationals at Syracuse, NY, the police started checking the cars for window tint above legal limits, exhaust noise, and writing tickets for “unstafe start” for lighting up the tires. Almost killed the event because the police wrote so many tickets.
Good place to start: Enact noise regulations, and start ticketing those who violate them.
Enforce public intoxication laws. Write tickets for unsafe driving, etc.
“Good place to start: Enact noise regulations, and start ticketing those who violate them.”
That will do it. And so will having a huge police force present that is very, very nosey. I can’t say if this is the exact same thing, but there used to be a celebration called Freaknik in Atlanta. Just a huge holiday. The locals would get the heck out of town. And then the thugs would come from all over the south and who knows where and just shut the whole city down. It sounds similar to this. You’d see a lot of public sex, gang bangs. Lots of crime. Fights. Music booming obnoxiously loud everywhere.
Then the cops showed up.
And it went from ridiculously packed city block on city block all around the city to nothing in 2 short years.
I’ll never go to MB over Memorial Day weekend again. Five years ago my family just had to up and leave early. The bikers were intimidationg and obnoxious, not to mention so loud that your ears hurt.
Control, control, control - that’s all the little statists in the city council know how to do.
Issue tickets. Enact noise laws.
What silliness!
Let the bikers have a good time! You leave them alone and they’ll promise not to smash your face in! However, if your girlfriend or wife is willing, they’ll give her a good time.
Bikers are good people, city councils are Hitler wannabes.
Yours truly,
The Woim
Straight pipes should be illegal anyway.
It seems the black bike rally always seems to have a whole lot more trouble than the white. Al and Jess need to get to the bottom of this.
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If you go to the article is says the NCAAP are trying to sue businesses which just close down over the weekend to avoid the rowdiness.
1) feels the laws do not apply to them, and
2) are out to show that they are the baddest in the bunch.
I do feel bad for the majority of both groups that just wanted to get together and have some (legal) fun without making a stench of themselves.
The old adage is true: One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.
Sounds like the “Greek Picnic” in Philly...of course, no one there was Greek.....
You’re talking about the ones who like to call themselves 1%-ers. Most bikers loath them.
Overall, most “bikers” are decent folk. I know, I was married to one. A more stouthearted, loyal,and lovable man you could never find. A wonderful father to his kids. A great protector and husband. A good American. And he never did drugs, nor sold them, nor stole or engaged in crime. Loved his Panhead and his beer, though. : )
The Patriot Riders are bikers. Are they criminals, too?
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