It is a sad state of affairs when the very event that put a town on the map for many of us comes to an end. Such is the case for Myrtle Beach Bike Week. Many of us wouldn't have ever considered spending our vacation time in the sleepy little town on the edge of the Atlantic if it weren't for the recommendation of a few thousand of our closest friends. We shared hotel rooms when there weren't enough to go around, borrowed each other's sunscreen and even made a whole bunch of new friends walking through the different shows and vendor areas.
And the stories we could tell about just trying to get there; those are some great memories. And if the city council has its way, that is all we are going to have, the memories. That's right, the city council is doing everything in its power to tell us they don't want our money, much less our kind, in their sleepy little town any longer. But you don't have to take our word for it; this is an excerpt from Myrtle Beach's Sun News:
"Myrtle Beach City Council hit the gas on eradicating motorcycle rallies Tuesday by passing a three-mill property-tax increase dedicated to an anti-bike-rally campaign...
All seven council members at Tuesday's meeting voted in favor of the tax increase, which will raise about $1 million a year. One mill equals an additional $4 in property taxes for every $100,000 of assessed value for all owner-occupied homes, and $6 for every $100,000 assessed value of commercial property and second homes.
City staff members are tasked with coming up with a list of strategies for ending the rallies, and city leaders will choose which ones they want to try and which ones the city can afford.
It's news that will please the hundreds of anti-rally residents who showed up at last week's council meeting...
City leaders say they want to actively market May as a family vacation month, replacing bike rally attendees...
At Tuesday's meeting, council members also voted to change the city's OZ-50 zoning so vending permits cannot be issued in May. OZ-50 covers the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and Broadway at the Beach, two spots that in years past have drawn motorcycle-related vending.
That proposed ordinance must go before the city's Planning Commission for review before it gets its second and final reading.
Council members voted to cancel all motorcycle-related facilities permits for the month of May, as well. That ordinance also needs a second reading before it is considered official."
Can you hear that? Off in the distance, is that the fat lady singing about Myrtle Beach Bike Week? B