While the municipalities try to iron out what needs to be done during the bike weeks and our local economy and businesses continue to crumble, it is time to speak out on what I perceive needs to be done in a realistic way. Since I spent many summers working as a teen in Ocean City, Maryland and visited there quite frequently, the roads there were, and continue to be "gridlocked" just about every weekend during the season. That is the price you pay for living in a resort area with a mix of retirees and vacationers. I have NEVER been to, or have seen any motorcycle rallies until I came to Myrtle Beach. Until this year, the lawmakers in our community seemed afraid to make any "drastic decisions" to alter these two events. But following a senseless shooting and our elected officials and ministers personally observing this "lewd" behavior, the City Of Myrtle Beach stepped up to the plate to "regain control".
I am in agreement with our
constitution and laws stating that all people should be "treated equally", but this is not the case when it comes to both of these rallies. It is more a case of "Noise" from the
Harley's and the "Lewd and Lawlessness" during the Black Bike Weekend. For 13 years now, I have been out in the streets and on the back of a motorcycle for both. Just like I don't like any loud exhaust systems on trucks and cars, I don't like them on any motorcycles either. We have laws on the books to cover all of these vehicles and they should be enforced on a year round basis, plain and simple. Make it known that all the motorcycles driven on our roads be street legal, and the problem would just be the traffic. The
Harley's are an organized group with events all over the beach, they spend lots of money and are a "revenue generator" for the Grand Strand. So if the main problem is "noise" then address the issue County wide on a year round basis, but for cars and trucks as well.
Next comes the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival or the Black Bike Week or Weekend, however you wish to call it. Here are some of the big problems that distinguishes the two events observed during my 13 years of living here. First, the rally is sanctioned by a town that cannot even run itself, much less a rally of this size. Also, the rally is noted for it's public sex, nudity, urination and
mischievous behavior and disregard for our traffic laws. The
ABBF is also a slap in the face for one of our most "solemn" holidays to reflect and respect those who served and gave their lives for our country. Most of the Harley Davidson people come here for the week, the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival attendees come, for the most part, a long weekend, usually accompanied by as many or more cars than motorcycles. They trash the area wherever they go, walk out on meals and continuously show nudity and sex on TV screens in those vehicles, as well as what is observed in the street. That in itself, differentiates the two rallies as far as the income spent and the behaviour by both groups.
A solution that would be fair and equitable to all parties would be to allow both events to continue, but to warn all who come, that all the laws on the books, in our cities and our counties will be
STRICTLY ENFORCED! Work with both groups and DO NOT allow these festivals to be held on back to back weeks and major holiday weekends. Also, move the Atlantic Beach Bike Festival to another weekend/week, and give Memorial Day Weekend back to all tourists and properly honor the Veterans.
Until our elected officials can join together on a plan such as this, you can also GET AWAY on a trip with LOU
KRIEGER'S CRUISER'S from May 10
th - 17
th 2009 (Bike Week) from Port Canaveral, Florida on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines "Freedom of the Seas" one of the largest ships afloat. This is our 7
th year in a row of cruising with our group, this time heading to the Western Caribbean with stops at
Ocho Rios, Grand Cayman Islands,
Labadee and Cozumel, Mexico. Our "all inclusive" price starts at $1019 per person (with fuel surcharge) and we also have a block of rooms at the
Raisin Resort At The Port to arrive a day early, park and leave your car for "FREE" and be shuttled for "FREE" to and from the port. The rooms are $110 per night plus tax....the parking fee at Port Canaveral is almost $90, so it's a good deal to arrive early.
Reservations can be made at the Cruise Corner with Sam Stamps at 1-888-742-7245. In addition to the cruise we have a "
pre-cruise meet and greet" "
on board cocktail party" "disco dance party with Lou" "cash and trophy miniature golf tournament" and more. Entertainment also include an
on board "ice rink" with shows from world class skaters,
casino gambling, Vegas Shows and great food and service.
CALL AND BOOK TODAY WITH SAM AT
1-888-742-7245
One of the things we really enjoy on the cruises is a chance to sit down in a Casino and play the slots (as cheap as 5 cents) play some poker, spin the roulette wheel or throw some dice. This is one of the forms of entertainment missing here on the Grand Strand. We have literally hundred of Bingo Parlors and Ships that will take you offshore, but nothing on land except the State run lottery if you want to gamble. States across the nation and all around us continue to open up gaming parlors or casino's on a regular basis. My one friend in Pittsburgh said they voted to open a casino and set up a temporary gambling tent until the casino could be built. He further stated there and people standing outside in lines to get in and place their bets. My original home state of Maryland put it on the ballot to place 15,000 slots at 5 designated locations and it passed overwhelmingly. I don't see the problem of having gambling here in Myrtle Beach, as long as it is strictly regulated, unlike when the video poker machines where here in just about every closet space. I'm talking about one or two casinos, where the proceeds would go to benefit the citizens like in road and infrastructure maintenance and improvements and/or reduce the property tax. Too many residents are leaving our area for these "gaming" locations, and others not coming because they can vacation at places where they can. We need a vehicle to bring people to Myrtle Beach and a "casino" is that vehicle. Is a Casino here any worse than all the "gentleman's clubs" scattered all over the community? Put it on the ballot, the citizens will pass it! The tourists will come!
Looks like a return to radio is not in my future here on the Grand Strand, due to the decline of "live people" in radio all across the United States. I will more than likely be spending my last few years until retirement doing something else. I thank each and every one of you that took the time to call Will Isaacs at Movin 94.5. They will not be adding any additional staffing, if any, until the 1st of the year. I don't know right now what that something else will be, I have been looking since the day they blew our station up on April 2, 2008. As my former company's stock continues to drop to new lows (Cumulus Broadcasting CMLS) at .58 cents a share this morning 11-18-08, they continue to cut their bottom line with releasing more "live" air talent.
FINALLY, more than 7 months after being terminated, I was REIMBURSED with a check from Cumulus Broadcasting for the JUDGEMENT I won against former Market Manager Layne Ryan and Human Resources Head in Myrtle Beach, Nancy Zito. This JUDGEMENT was for personal property of mine that was not returned, along with some items paid for by contributions to the "Adopt A Tree Highway". I didn't really care about the couple of personal items of mine, but it ticked me off big time that they would not return the items that the people in the community paid for that we used in the by-pass beautification project.
Speaking of the by-pass project, I received a check from the Sons Of Italy on Monday 11/17 for $2,450 from the golf tournament held for the Adopt A Tree Program and the Sons Of Italy Lodge 2662. We also received a $1,000 donation from the Lakes POA and another $1,000 donation from a anonymous donor and another $250 donated by mail. That gives us $4,700 to work with for the upcoming year, money that was really needed for the project since we were in the "red" prior to the golf tournament. Many thanks to those who played and the people who donated golf and other prizes to help make the tournament a success. If I can ever find out how Pawleys Island/Litchfield gets $100,000 a year for their median project, we can work on improving our also. However, like we have been in the past, we must remain "fiscally responsible" and stretch the dollars as far as possible. Also, thanks to all the members of the Sons Of Italy Lodge 2662 and my other friends who donated their time as volunteers prior to and during the golf tournament.
Have a "happy" and "blessed" Thanksgiving...Keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers, defending our "freedom"....
