Hey guys, I just wanted to let you know the San Luis Obispo Tribune has announced that next year the local government felt it necessary to approach West Coast Kustoms with a $35,000 bill for added policing. They, rightfully in my opinion, said see ya! The show is set for beautiful Santa Maria next year. So, as a resident of Paso I find myself pissed off beyond my normal threshold. In discussing "problems" with many other local business owners, we have come to the conclusion that city attempted this extortion based on a blatant anti-car-lifestyle bias. They clearly still want to keep the revenue from the California Mid-State Fair and the Paso Robles Wine Festival. I've only been attending the show for the last 4 years but I am hard pressed to find any incident that would have required an exorbitant amount of law enforcement help. If you know of any, let me know! So here is my mission. I plan to pen a questionnaire for local business owners that asks a few simple questions. BY what percentage does your revenue increase during the Car Show vs. Fair/ Wine Festival? Do you feel there is a security risk when the Car Show is in town? Parking? Etc. I am open to further suggestions. When the results are in, I figure I'd give everyone 20-30 days to get together the applicable information, I will present this to the city council and beat the living tar out of them for making this decision. Thank you for your time, Geoff
Been talking about it for days now http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204745&showall=1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204758&showall=1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204801&showall=1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205030&showall=1 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=204977 http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=205391
Day late and a dollar short..... this was already adressed this week everyone has said their peace and we are off to Santa Maria! Tell Local Paso Goverment to kick rocks!!!!
Y'all-- Here's a letter I received from Fred Strong, who sits on the Paso Council. It's a little long, but it definitely explains the city's position. I'm not supporting their decision, but it's always good to know both sides of the argument. Sometimes, when we all just "go off," we end up looking stupid because we haven't heard both sides and give ourselves time to make an informed decision of our own. Just FYI: "First, let me say that the "facts" expressed in Sharon's letter are not consistent with those we have. Also, the ***umptions as to the City's "reasoning" are somewhat flawed. As a city we are charged with providing for the health, safety and general welfare of our citizens. Some endeavors, such as special events or promotions, may be related to general welfare but are difficult to justify if, and when, they jeopardize health and/or safety. I have been an average "car buff" most of my life and have previously owned variousl cl***ic cars. I was honored with an "Honorary Lifetime Membership" in the Golden State Cl***ic Chevys organization in June of 1986. I am also a City Council Member in the City of El Paso de Robles. Before I became a Council Member the Council adopted a "fiscal neutrality" policy. This means that each person or group who desires to use City resources, including parks, for their own special use must pay the actual costs so that taxpayers' dollars are not subsidizing a private venture. Our cost ****ysis of a few years ago showed that our fee structure was inadequate to comply with this policy. Fees have been raised in many areas of city facility and resource use on an incremental basis since that time. However, the West Coast Kustoms Show, of which I have been a fan and supporter for many years, began to present very specific and unforeseen consequences over the past few years which have increased both direct and indirect city costs way beyond any justifiable benefit to our citizens. This was especially true in light of health and safety matters that exhibit themselves especially at the time of this one event. Paso Robles has been incrementally applying equitable requirements on all of the events and special resource uses for which the City is responsible. Our information indicates that the money received by the promoters of this event are their primary annual family income. This is not exclusively a charitable event. Donations have been made in the past to numerous charitable or non-profit organizations. That is commendable. However, The costs to the City have also been substantial in a number of ways. In 2007 the direct cost was $43,856 with soft costs of an additional $3,523 for labor. The income we received from the sponsor was $1,534 for a net loss of $45,845. With the closing of three blocks of our streets and our largest downtown parking lot near the City Park for the duration of the event we have had many complaints from citizens who were unable to use the City Library during this event and about the many vending booths that neglected to pay any sales tax attributable to the event so that the City could receive its fair portion. However, the item of most concern has been the increased lawlessness that seems to have come to Paso Robles with the event. We have no way to attribute this to the vendors or the participants. However, we can look at the general figures for time periods when this and other events are in the City. The service call figures for our Police Department are higher for this event than any other within the City including both the Wine Festival and the California Mid-State Fair. The calls rose from 44 in 2004, to 103 in 2005, to 119 in 2006 and up to 153 in 2007 including three arrests for ***aults with a deadly weapon. Group rivalries were observed between motorcycle clubs known as Hell's Angels, ****ols and Vagos as well as ethnic groups exhibiting vociferous pride in their regions from King City, Salinas and some of our locals. When proximity occurred so did explosive conditions. We deem this to be a threat to our local health and safety that demands recognition, attention and solution. The opportunity to correct these trends and observed situations was offered to the event's sponsor. That offer was declined. We regret the loss of a tradition. However, no tradition is so sacred that it is to be indulged at the expense of the health and safety of our citizens and the frugal handling of their tax dollars. We all do what we have to do to the best of our knowledge and ability. I wish the West Coast Kustom Show the very best of luck in the future. I'm sorry that the consequences locally were so expensive that no one was willing to come forward and remove that obstacle to continuity. Best wishes, Councilman Fred Strong City of El Paso de Robles" STONER
Whaaaaa I can't get to the library on Saturday night...Waaa Waaa Waaa call the Wambulance!!!!! What a JACK ***!
"citizens who were unable to use the City Library during this event" now thats some funny ****...........LOL
I guess no one told the Library users that for the last 26 years a lot of people show up and block the Library front entrance ON THE MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY WHEN THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED !!!!! Again...JACK *** !!!!!
Stoner, tell the fine councilman that Sturgis South Dakota seems to do fine with an event much larger.
I suspected something like this was the root cause but I still think the city council acted arbitrarily.
Pitman. I own five 1950-53 Desoto's, one 1936 Chevy 1.5 ton, 1949 Dodge hot rod, and a few odds and ends. Most have rust and none of them have any JAG parts. I just think that using the argument that the Library was blocked is BS. They should just say we are too good for you now. Its just another little town matures into a place for snotty people. Once the corporations take over the wine country like what is happening to Napa, CA the parade will p*** them by and they will just be a little town again.
"Group rivalries were observed between motorcycle clubs known as Hell's Angels, ****ols and Vagos as well as ethnic groups exhibiting vociferous pride in their regions from King City, Salinas and some of our locals." I've been going to Paso for 15 years and have NEVER EVER seen any one of these groups mentioned except the local Paso cholos puffing up like roosters for the tourists (Us) If they can't police their own "gang" problem why make WCC pay for it? The world is a changin'. Never look back, only forward. -stick
153 Calls for the Police and THREE ARRESTS for ***aults for a deadly weapon!!! Who are the real JACK ***ES its a ****ING CAR SHOW!!!! John
Is he speaking of the dollar amount to be given to PRPD, no primered cars, and a Friday night only cruise?
I have never seen any of the so called motorcycle gangs in paso in the 10 years I have been there... As far as gangs..they should look to their own....Cholos and Cholas walking down thw streets talking ****!!! I bet of those three arest at least one was a local!
Sorry I missed this post containing Councilman Fred's response letter. A also received that very same e-mail from him and this was my response to his response: Fred, Your response is just as narrow minded and short sighted as I would have expected. You site a net loss to the city of over $45,000 dollars due to increased law enforcement expenses for your "health and safety" (nice buzz words), yet you fail to mention the money coming INTO the city through hotel/motel, restaurants, etc by way of the show participants. You can word it any way you like, but the city still stands to lose money by running the show out of town. Now your citizens and business owners stand to lose a lot more money than that because you cannot justify paying for law enforcement during that time. Narrow-minded? Additionally, you cite the increased costs to police the event. Well, duh, you add more cops to police the event and guess what, they write more reports as a justification for their presence and therefore the reported crime rate goes up and yes the costs do go up as well. Funny thing is...in the 10 years I have attended this event - I have yet to even see so much as an argument a****st show-goers (much less ***aults with deadly weapons and gang violence). You see, my own sister is a sherrif's deputy in a small town very similar to Paso and I know how her mind works - every guy with a black shirt, a tattoo and a group of friends is a gang member and if he gets in trouble, it gets reported as "gang violence" and boy do the locals hate to hear that word, so they pour more money into law enforcement. Funny how it works. Furthermore, you asked the event organizer to pay - I believe - $35,000 for additional law enforcement expenses at the same time you try to limit her to only 500 entries (from the previous 800). If you do the math that puts her in the hole by $5,000 right of the bat. At the same time you ask HER, an aging lady in poor health, to take on the job of solving the problems between the Hells Angels, Vagos and the like? Unreal. With all of the law officers I saw in-town during last Memorial's event, they still could not manage to run-off a few bikers, so we - the law abiding show attendees who come to your town to spend our hard-earned dollars can enjoy our show without being treated like we ourselves were the problem. For the record, no Hells Angel or Vago, etc, etc. ever registered for the show so why should it be considered that we are the problem? Additionally, you set forth the request that no cars in "primer" were to be allowed at the show As if people who drive unfinished cars are the source of your problems? Can we not agree that the people ACTUALLY ENTERED IN THE SHOW and inside the park were by-and-large NOT the source of the problems around town. And thus, can you not see that affecting the rules for entering a car in the show is an ignorant attempt at solving your crowd control issues since it would not have resulted in those people staying home so much as it would have just resulted in more primered cars parked around town - OUTSIDE OF THE EVENT which would apparently be contrary to your desires. Or where you planning to put up signs at the outskirts of town advising all that a car without shinny paint can not enter your streets? With a ignorant outlook such as yours, I certainly can't blame the organizers for deciding to move on to a new venue and I have little doubt that was your intent all along. It was a good event. I have many fond memories. So long, fair well. What done is done, but you should at least be honest with yourself and your citizens.
Cleatus, nice response based on intelligent discussion and not getting caught up in emotion. Seems that the whole issue is caught up in emotion and no logic involved. Like you said, "many fond memories". I am looking forward to the show in Santa Mara.
Hey kids, sorry I brought it up again. I completely missed the other posts and I apologize. If the mods want to lock and file this thread away, I don't think anyone including myself, would blame you. To everyone that responded, thank you. Sorry I wasted your time. I do want to thank Cleatus for taking the time to point out what I consider to be the obvious to my "esteemed" councilman. I could not have worded it better myself. We'll see how they intend to make up the financial loss in the future, cause they seem to have just put all of their eggs in one basket. Enjoy Santa Maria folks.
I swore I was going to keep my mouth shut. A little history leason: West Coast Kustoms was invited by the city representative, Mr Saunders, to leave Sherwood park 15 years ago and move downtown. With that offer , the city suggested and supported the Firday night cruise. However , West Coast Kustoms has had to absorb $7000.00 in costs related to this for street closures, signs, security and notification to merchants of street closures. Until this year WCK also provided a BBQ for the city workers. To add to Cleatus letter it's not the just the $5,000 dollar loss but also starting last year ,the $10,000 the city required WCK to spend on an outside security company, to take some pressure off of the Paso Robles Police Department. In addition, the City wanted to eliminate all of the vendors which is also a loss of revenue. The city said we can have food vendors, but West Coast Kustoms had given all the food concessions over to the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce as a fund raiser years ago. Plus the City added a $35.00 per hour fee for the park usage, the cost of port-a-potties, insurance and all the other expenses involved . The losses would have been huge. When we asked how were we supposed to pay for all this we were told to get a sponsor. The Paso Robles City fathers want to blame all their social ills on WCK . You have a do***ented gang and alchohol problem the other 51 weekends of the year. Your main domestic gross product is wine. Take some responsibility! And by the way I don't ever remember seeing Mr. Councilman at any of the meetings between the City and WCK. Great Monday morning quarterbacking! It was a good event. I have many fond memories too. But now it's time to put all of our energies into making Santa Maria as memorable. Ken and Jan
The three arrests for ***ault with a deadly weapon were idiot gang bangers from atascadero that jumped a paso gang banger outside downtown brew it didn't have a damn thing to do with the show, some crackpot barricaded himself in his house with a couple loaded guns 2 block from the midstate fair while it was in full swing, was that blamed on the fair???? Also how the **** can you sell all you can drink p***es to 6,000 wino's and claim that you didn't have that much trouble out of them, I don't see any actual numbers on the amount of calls for the wine festival
Same thing happened here with the "BadBoyz" event held the last 3 years in ST Cloud MN. They told city hall to stuff it and left. They are now at BIR in Brainerd Mn. and a MUCH better participant frendly event it is. Some good CAN come from bad.
The Jalopy Journal
