Michael Dowe

To the editor:

The only material objection I have to Joe Driscoll’s rebuttal of my recent “comedy piece” in this paper is his statement that I am a “long time Motorcycle Week opponent”. I have never written any letters calling for the

elimination of or shortening of Bike Week. Nor will you find my name on Mr. Schilling’s petition (if it’s still floating around) calling for a referendum on limiting the length of the event. Though I am not a biker, I have no problem with the event itself and have taken the train to the Weirs, attended the antique races at Gunstock and had fun. I will, however, confess to praying for rain (and silence) on the nights of Bike Week that I have

been on-call.

My only criticism of Bike Week was and is that I feel that the city, as the host of the event, should turn a profit after paying for police, fire, trash pick-up and other expenses. I don’t think this is such an unreasonable position and I don’t think that I am alone in this belief. I think that most of the out-of-state attendees of Bike Week probably assume that the city profits handsomely on this event that brings hundreds of millions of dollars into the state. I used to assume that they did and was shocked to find out that the city has, in past years, lost money on Bike Week. That should be impossible if not illegal.

It was very disheartening to watch the city play the pathetic whipping boy to the vendors. It made one want to stand up and say to the city, “Good God City of Laconia, grow some hidden benefits!” (Sorry, I couldn’t help that last comedy bit). After all we, the citizens, host the event just as much as the city government does. I feel that for graciously hosting the event we are entitled to some direct benefits.

Joe Driscoll is a good man and definitely has a right to his righteous indignation and difference of opinion. He’s certainly more conservative than I am, but people like him help to keep people like me honest. I also must confess that I have Joe’s artwork hanging in my house and still cherish my Cozy-Inn beer cozy. With the latter I shall raise a toast and wish long-life and prosperity to Joe, the Weirs Action Committee and Bike Week.

Michael Dowe

Laconia