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Mar. 13, 2001 The Montezuma County Commission has made the right decision in turning away the Four Corners Iron Horse Motorcycle Rally. That doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Assuming the rally stays in the Four Corners, Cortez stands to gain many of the benefits without having to absorb all of the problems of the rally. A combination of creative advertising and carefully planned events could attract a manageable number of rally participants without overrunning the services available in the far southwestern corner of the state. Rally promoters were correct in claiming there was money to be made from the event. Food and beverage, lodging and souvenir businesses deserve an opportunity to market themselves to bikers, who have not seemed reluctant to ride all over the region in search of such commodities. With another community hosting the rally, Cortez can serve those customers without rousing the ire that would have been likely if Montezuma County had agreed to host an event for which it really did not have adequate facilities. One of the myths of the Iron Horse controversy was that Cortez had the capacity to meet the needs of all those who attended. Cortez simply does not have that much slack in restaurant and lodging operations over Labor Day weekend. Another was that rally events were just good, wholesome fun. Some were, but no one should imagine that the rally did not also include substance abuse, violence and sexual innuendo — none of which are a positive addition to a community. The argument that such problems already exist is a spurious one that offer no justification for making them worse. The proposal to dropping the liquor ban at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds was also a bad idea. Montezuma County is not dry; there are many other places where the consumption of alcohol is allowed. There should also be places where it is not, both for the benefit of those residents who disapprove of drinking altogether, and to provide an alternative for those who drink in moderation but who appreciate an alcohol-free environment for family events. It’s hardly true that the county commissioners and other rally opponents showed no concern for the economic opportunities the rally might have provided. The cost-benefit analysis was not as simple as some supporters wanted to believe, and the costs would not have been borne by those who benefited the most. The commissioners were right to consider the concerns of ordinary citizens who value being able to cross Main Street safely and go to bed early without the roar of motorcycles ringing in their ears. It’s difficult to assign a price tag to such privileges, and it’s also difficult to analyze the opportunity cost of visits by tourist families who would avoid Cortez during such an event. Those visitors might not spend as much money as rally-goers; they’re also not likely to have as much impact on local citizens, nor to require as much enforcement. La Plata County made no pitch to retain the rally, having learned that the problems outweighed the benefits. Montezuma County didn’t have to learn that the hard way. Let the Iron Horse go to Farmington and the riders who really want to visit southwestern Colorado zoom up to do so. |
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Copyright © 2001 the Cortez Journal.
All rights reserved. |
