In tough times, it takes creative thinking to save the things our communities value.
Case in point: The Old Snohomish Antique &Classic Motorcycle Show, a fun and popular spring event that was canceled by its private sponsor because it couldn’t afford a bill for police protection that’s six times higher than last year’s.
The reason behind the dramatic increase is the economy. Because of budget cuts, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office can’t provide free police staffing as it has in past years. Making up for that could cost the city of Snohomish $16,000 or more. Free staffing from neighboring cities — part of a reciprocal agreement the cities have with each other — is also in doubt. Snohomish, which is hacking away at its own budget and cutting jobs, can’t absorb the difference.
The result: The Sky Valley chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education (ABATE) canceled this year’s show after being told it would have to pay $30,000 for police protection instead of the $5,000 it was charged last year.
We think there’s still a chance to salvage this year’s show, and future ones in Snohomish, if the club would agree to charge a nominal (say, $3) admission fee, something it has said it’s opposed to doing. For its part, the city should consider a modest expansion of the event’s footprint, something the club has long sought. That would also make setting up admission gates easier.
Plenty of finger-pointing has followed the cancellation, much of it directed at Snohomish Police Chief John Turner and the City Council, including charges that the city is discriminating against bikers by requiring a greater police presence for their show than for other community events.
We doubt council members want to turn 22,000 paying customers away from downtown bars and restaurants. Turner has tried to bring costs down by proposing a total force of 44 officers to staff the full-day event, down from 70 last year, and found more savings by staffing shifts differently.
But there is a legitimate public-safety issue here. While the vast majority of show attendees are fun-loving folks who pose no danger, motorcycle shows are also known to attract rival “outlaw” gangs (perhaps 1 percent of the total crowd) that can turn violent. No incidents have occurred in the show’s 12 years in Snohomish, but the potential remains, and justifies a beefed-up police presence.
Clearly, this event is of value to the city, ABATE members and the thousands who ride into town each spring. Working together, creatively, they can find a way to save it.
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