Hey,
This feels like Turmoil weekend with Trump attacking the marijuana industry, the HORSE magazine troubles, Easyriders deal shifted and the Chopper King Show in jeopardy.
Hell, three women melted down before my eyes on Friday. Jeremiah blamed it on the Super Moon. Let me know if you’ve experienced upheaval in your life this week.
Let’s hit the news:
NEW CHOPPER KING SHOW IN JEOPARDY— Negotiations have slipped and shifted. One of the partners demanded we only cover American made bikes. It’s his way or the highway.
Alternative Hosts are being interviewed this week. We wanted to create something for younger and low-income riders. We wanted to show them how to bring any motorcycle back to life.
Let’s see what happens next.–Bandit
FROM THE BIKERNET SPORTS AUTHORITY– Max Hazan’s Supercharged Husqvarna Replica Board Track Racer.
Takes Best of Show at the October 15th Rider RoundUp at the Ranch Calendar Bike Building Championship
Paramount Movie Ranch State Park, Agoura, CA, October 15th, 2017 – The LA Calendar Motorcycle Show continued its now 27-year tradition as the premier outdoor street bike event in America at two exciting 2017 dates and venues this year.
The 2nd event this October had the Calendar Show’s Calendar Bike Building Championship joining the Rider RoundUp at the Ranch produced by celebrity Calendar Bike builder Russell Mitchell and wife Rachel / Exile Cycles at the Paramount Western Movie Ranch in Agoura, CA, just down the road from the legendary Southern California biker hangout The Rock Store on Mulholland Highway.
It was an exciting day of beautiful Custom Motorcycles, Activities, great tasting Food Truck, BBQ and Craft Beer, Vendors, Manufacturers and Live Music.
The Rider Round Up at the Ranch was the second year celebration of Exile Cycles’ 20th Anniversary Party held at Paramount Ranch the year before, now continuing on an annual basis. And again it was a benefit to raise money to Fight Leukemia by auctioning off products and services, together with money donated by the Vendors and Sponsors, this year raising $7000 for the Cause.
Check the whole story this week on Bikernet.
The famous Paramount Ranch movie location is a fun place to hold a bike show, with spectators being able to ride their bikes and park in the streets of the old western town.
–Jim Gianatsis
Producer
Gianatsis Design Associates
LA Calendar Motorcycle Show
FastDates.com Calendars & Website
ph 818 223 8550 • JGDesign@FastDates.com
THE WASHINGTON D.C. REPORT– ‘The defining accomplishment of his first year’
In the closing days of 2017, President Donald J. Trump’s critics and supporters alike ticked off the major achievements of his first year in office: tax cuts, Neil Gorsuch’s appointment to the Supreme Court, and a booming stock market, among others.
Yet the Bureau of Land Management’s reversal last month of an Obama-era energy policy flew largely under the radar, and it underscores one of the crucial missions of this presidency.
“The Trump administration rounded out the Year of Deregulation in appropriate fashion, rescinding a rule intended to punish oil and gas producers,” the Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote in an editorial this week. That regulation “would have added millions of dollars to the cost of fracking operations” with duplicative red tape.
Here’s the key: “Fracking is already subjected to scores of regulations at the federal, state and tribal levels. That won’t change,” the editorial says. In other words, simplifying government doesn’t mean it’s going away.
Read why the Review-Journal says deregulation may be what matters most.
Saying what we mean
“To see the people of Iran rising up to demand change in their country should hearten every freedom-loving American,” Vice President Mike Pence told Greta Van Susteren in an interview yesterday.
The Vice President’s point was simple: An America that’s clear about what it stands for has a genuine opportunity to shape a world that’s freer and more democratic. And we can do so peacefully.
“My hope, and really my prayer, is that the people of Iran — a youthful population, a well-educated population — understand that the United States of America and the people of this country are their natural ally.”
Getting to ‘yes’ on a bipartisan budget deal
Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in Congress outlined their priorities for a two-year bipartisan spending agreement.
The White House and Republican leadership on Capitol Hill were clear about what they expect from a deal. “The American people deserve a government that funds our great military, protects our borders, and leads to a more prosperous future for all,” they said in a joint statement.
CALIFORNIA PASSES ANOTHER LAW– California just passed the strictest pool fence law in the country. It requires new pools and remodeled pools to use TWO safety devices (fence, lock, alarms, etc).
Thought you would be interested in insight from the experts at Life Saver Pool Fence. I can arrange an interview with a local safety expert to explain why the new law is needed, what it means for homeowners, and what families need to do to be in compliance. Life Saver Pool Fences are made in California, and dedicated to protecting children from accidental drownings.
Background- The original 1996 California Pool Safety Act required all new swimming pools constructed at single-family homes be equipped with either a permanent fence, pool cover, exit alarms or self-closing devices on all doors providing access to the pool. It was amended in 2006 to add removable mesh fencing and pool alarms.
NOW, SB 442 requires new and remodeled residential pools to install two safety devices. A home inspector must also include in their report which of the two safety devices the pool or spa has at the point of sale.
–from Rogue
OPEN LETTER FROM ALL AMERICAN WHEEL– Dear loyal customer,
First and foremost, I personally want to thank you for your business with us over the last 15 years. We greatly appreciate your trust and loyalty as a customer. I am well aware that there have been rumors about the current state and future of our business as All American Wheel that have circulated throughout the industry as of late. I want to assure you that All American Wheel is still very much in business, and we will continue to provide our customers with products that embody quality, excellence, and innovation.
14 years ago we introduced the soft-lip design to an industry that was mired in the status quo, and as you well know, this innovation completely revolutionized the industry. Innovation is not just something we seek to do; it’s an integral part of who we are. With that said, I am excited to personally announce that we will be transitioning away from the “status quo” we have established over the last 15 years to make way for something fresh and exciting.
As 2018 begins, we are excited to launch our line of Hybrid Wheel Blanks. These wheels add more “meat“ to the outer face and lip allowing the designers to do more without compromising the integrity of the wheel. It is important to note that they are manufactured from forged aluminum, are rotary forged, feature our signature soft lip, and are machined to the highest quality.
Attached to this email you will find a price list hybrid wheel blanks. Rest assured that more sizes will be added in the very near future.
Please don’t hesitate to call us, if you any questions or want to hear more about the new hybrid wheels.
Best Regards,
Mr. Larry Goodman
President
All American Wheel Co.
interjection
1. Slang. rubbish; nonsense; bunk (used to express contemptuous rejection).
1.Slang. (used with a singular or plural verb) something not worth considering.
QUOTES
At the risk of seeming disrespectful, I rise to cry: “Horsefeathers!”
— John R. Tunis, “Are Fraternities Worthwhile? No!” The Rotarian, September 1937
ORIGIN
Horsefeathers is a polite euphemism, originally American, for the impolite horseshit. The cartoonist William “Billie” De Beck (1890–1942) claimed credit for coining the word in 1928.
Congestion Pricing Cannot be the Future of Transportation Funding, Part 2–
To read Part 1, click go to NMA.com.
New York City (NYC) finds itself in a transportation perfect storm. The subway system is at a breaking point. Residents are abandoning city buses by droves because it’s faster to walk most days. Ridesharing vehicles clog the already snarled streets. At the center of it all: the mayor and the governor are in a dog fight with no end in sight.
First of all, NYC, the nation’s largest metropolis, does not have home rule when it comes to transportation issues. Everything has to be voted on by the state legislature. The city government makes plans and the state legislature says no. The NYC subway system needs emergency money to operate and the state allocates a billion more than their regular funding but so far the city has refused because the mayor feels like it’s the governor’s problem.
NYC and NY State need to cooperate, though, because the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which operates one of the world’s largest public transportation systems, is jointly run by both the city and the state.
Unfortunately for many decades NYC and NY state officials have dithered on investing in and maintaining NYC’s infrastructure above and below ground. Over 50 percent of New Yorkers utilize some form of public transportation every day. Some experts believe that to fully rehabilitate the city’s subway, it would take $1 trillion but how to pay for it? One scheme would be to implement congestion pricing (variable-rate tolling based on time of day and number of cars on the streets) for NYC’s business district.
Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanted to do that 10 years ago but his plan was defeated by state lawmakers. In that proposal, Bloomberg suggested that every motorist entering NYC should pay an outright $8.00 toll, which would have raised $500 million annually.
However, opposition was quick in asserting that this toll placed an undue financial burden on drivers who lived in Queens, Brooklyn and surrounding suburbs while benefitting Manhattan. Despite the measure not passing, Bloomberg actually had the city build toll gantries and microwave towers that still stand today.
Fast forward ten years: the NYC subway system this past summer started coming apart at the seams due to ongoing equipment malfunctions, which made the service unreliable. Governor Andrew Cuomo suggested that the time for congestion tolling had come to help pay for the subway and all other transportation woes. He put together a state task force called FIX NYC whose main goal is to come up with another congestion pricing plan. Cuomo plans to make this a centerpiece of his 2018 legislative agenda.
Despite his reputation as a Vision Zero advocate and despite congestion pricing being a common component of Vision Zero programs, current NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio says congestion pricing is not a part of his vision for the city. He believes that there is no support for this kind of tolling at the state capital.
Recently reelected, de Blasio has been blasted by Vision Zero proponents for not doing enough to get people out of their cars. Streetsblog.org wrote recently that congestion pricing could certainly be the fulcrum of his transportation legacy and if Governor Cuomo were to push it through the legislature this session for NYC, de Blasio should not reject it.
De Blasio should absolutely reject any attempt to put more tolling in the city. Nearly every bridge and tunnel going into NYC is already tolled and just recently went cashless. Do New Yorkers and regular commuters from New Jersey and Connecticut need more driving fees piled on top of existing tolls?
There is another issue that New Yorkers don’t like to talk about: Out-of-state car registration fraud. City officials estimate that 25 percent of resident NYC drivers have vehicles that are registered out-of-state which they believe creates a loss of $73 million in unpaid parking tickets alone. Why would out-of-state car registration fraud matter for congestion pricing?
If a city places automated license plate readers (ALPRs) everywhere for congestion pricing/cashless tolling, law enforcement might use the data to find driving/parking patterns of motorists, who even though have out-of-state plates indicating residence elsewhere, actually live in NYC and are committing fraud.
Whatever officials tell us about congestion pricing, it is always about the money which might not always be used for transportation funding. Unfortunately, people will pay congestion tolls because they still need to get to where they need to go.
Does anyone really believe that congestion pricing actually eases traffic congestion?
London, England implemented congestion pricing in 2003 and traffic conditions were better for a bit. Fifteen years later, though, travel times are worse than ever because congestion tolling does not account for distance and time driven.
If congestion pricing does not relieve traffic and if officials have the ability to use the money for other purposes other than transportation, doesn’t this just all add up to another major tax burden on motorists?
–NMA
[page break]
I’m curious about a noise when starting my 2008 FLHTCUI when the engine is warm/hot it looks like the starter engine is running over the starter sprocket and the noise is heartbreaking.
Is this part of the Baker Comp. a cure to avoid this noise ?
–Eric VanGilsdonk
ericemmen@gmail.com
Emmen, Drenthe, Netherlands
You might have a starter solenoid alignment issue. Have a tech look at it before you damage your ring gear.–Bandit
THE BIKERNET MARIJUANA ARCHIVES– Trump administration’s crackdown on marijuana sales could push banks out of the industry,
Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision
Thursday to scrap an Obama administration policy that offered legal shelter for state-sanctioned marijuana sales does not necessarily mean a wave of federal drug busts. But it could crimp California’s budding marijuana industry in another way: cutting its already-tenuous access to the financial system.
Most banks and credit unions won’t accept deposits from marijuana businesses, but the few that do have been relying on federal guidelines that state how they can accept deposits from those companies. Although those guidelines remain in effect for now, many expect they will have to change because they were underpinned by one of the policies just rescinded – a 2013 document known as the Cole memo.
Without that memo, and with the possibility of changes to the guidelines, some banks and credit unions that were considering working with cannabis companies will probably back down from those plans, said Joshua Schneiderman, a partner in the Los Angeles office of law firm Snell & Wilmer.
“I’ve talked to institutions in California looking to get into the industry, and I don’t think they’re going to move forward at this point,” he said. “Banks are notoriously conservative, and the Cole memo was a critical underpinning of their decision to get into the cannabis space.”
Ken Berke, president of PayQwick, a Calabasas, Calif., company that works with banks to offer payment-processing services for marijuana businesses, said it’s not clear that Thursday’s announcement will be a game-changer for the industry, but he agreed that it will push some institutions to reconsider their plans.
“If there are banks that are not serving the industry now but were thinking about it, this will have a chilling effect,” he said. “And if you already have cannabis clients, you may decide to wait 30 days or 60 days before opening any new accounts.”
The Cole memo, written by James Cole, a deputy attorney general in the Obama administration, said the Justice Department, in states where marijuana sales were legalized, should focus its marijuana-enforcement efforts on serious crimes such as sales to minors or sales involving drug cartels.
In 2014, in accordance with that memo, the federal Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a Treasury Department bureau, issued guidelines for banks that want to serve cannabis businesses. The guidelines directed banks to file reports on their marijuana clients and to be on the lookout for the potential serious illegal activities spelled out in the Cole memo.
With that memo now rescinded, the guidelines may be scrapped or at least amended, said Julie Hill, a law professor at the University of Alabama who follows cannabis banking law.
“The whole (report) filing system doesn’t make any sense without clear enforcement priorities,” Hill said. “I don’t know what you do about that. I think it was risky before, and it’s even more risky now.”
Other bank regulators, not just FinCEN, could push banks to rein in or scrap their dealings with cannabis companies.
Only about 400 banks and credit unions – out of more than 10,000 institutions in the country – openly work with cannabis businesses, according to FinCEN, and many cannabis businesses have accounts but don’t disclose their business to their bank.
“The reality is, there are very few banks that will openly bank cannabis,” said Aaron Herzberg, a local cannabis business owner and attorney. “So you’re talking about things that are very theoretical. I don’t think things are going to change for banks, or change for the industry.”
Map of marijuana laws. Stateline 2018
© Staff/TNS/TNS Map of marijuana laws. Stateline 2018
Evan Halper contributed to this report. Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com
SWEDISH SHERIFF SPOTTED IN HAWAII— Paying tribute to American WWII Veterans. He’s also a recently retired Swedish Veteran after almost a lifetime of service.
–Bandit
FROM THE MOTORCYCLE PROFILING PROJECT– All FL Bikers at Risk After LE Statements Regarding Murdered Outlaw.
National Council of Clubs Re: LE statements following Outlaws MC Paul Anderson killing.
The National Council of Clubs, an organization dedicated to protecting the political, legal and legislative interests of motorcyclists nationwide, is very concerned that law enforcement is using the tragic murder of Outlaw Motorcycle Club member Paul Anderson near Tampa Bay on December 21st to dangerously propagate unnecessary fear and bias against all motorcycle clubs and bikers. Law enforcement is using the local news media to imply that Paul was a deserving criminal and to report that outlaw motorcycle clubs nationwide are headed to Florida for retaliation. More than being highly inaccurate sensationalism, such fear-driven propaganda creates very real risks to the civil liberties and safety of innocent motorcyclists in Florida.
After three suspects were arrested within 24 hours of Paul’s murder, Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco conducted a press conference covered in the local news media.
Nocco was completely dismissive of Paul as a person because he was a member of the Outlaws MC. The fact that he was an innocent victim was never reported. Instead, Nocco, when discussing Paul, said “bad things happen to bad people.” There was not a single mention of his decorated military service or of his surviving family. The truth about Paul would not fit Nocco’s false narrative of fear.
“…bad things happen to bad people.”
– Sheriff Chris Nocco
The murder of Paul Anderson is a travesty. He was an innocent and valuable human being and his memory does not deserve to be desecrated. The truth is that he was a hero and a loved son and brother. According to his Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty, Paul had a distinguished military career and served in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant who was both Army Ranger and Sniper qualified. His decorations and awards include the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Master Parachutist’s Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (2nd award), Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal (2nd award) to name a few.
Paul was Honorably discharged after 6 years of service to our country and pursued a professional contracting career. Paul is survived by his mother, his sister, and many club brothers. He wasn’t married and had no children. Paul will be laid to rest next to his brother who was previously killed while also serving in the armed forces.
The truth is that Paul Anderson was a hero and a loved son and brother.
Instead of the truth, Nocco chose to use this tragedy to spread fear among the general public and other law enforcement agencies. Nocco says that motorcycle clubs are no different than the Italian mafia, that there are tens of thousands of members. He falsely claims that motorcycle club members are coming into Florida from across America to retaliate.
Further, Nocco urged the public to call police to report any sightings of motorcyclists with out of state tags or motorcyclists riding in a pack with club colors on. He leaves no possibility that most motorcycle club members do not engage in criminal activity. “Don’t be disillusioned,” he said. “There are professionals in these groups, lawyers, in public safety unfortunately. They have 9-to-5 jobs in hospitals and are nurses.” However, Nocco said when they’re not being a nurse, when they’re out here, they are committing crimes.
Nocco urged the public to call police to report any sightings of motorcyclists with out of state tags or motorcyclists riding in a pack with club colors on.
These assertions are absurd. To suggest that motorcycle club members are professionals by day and criminals by night is self-serving nonsense. Nocco, and others embracing his worldview, simply cannot fathom that the majority of motorcycle club members, including those in 1% clubs, are working professionals with no criminal records that regularly participate in 1st Amendment protected activities.
Do some motorcycle club members commit crimes? Of course. Just as some cops commit crimes. But illegal acts committed by individual cops do not mean all cops are criminals any more than this incident means all 1% club members are criminals. It is a fallacy of composition to make a generalized presupposition about a community consisting of thousands of people based on the actions of the few.
The NCOC is outraged that authorities are using this tragedy to tarnish Paul’s memory and perpetuate fear that could impact innocent motorcyclists.
Thousands of bikers and motorcycle club members travel to Florida annually for dozens of events that happen around the state, including the Tampa Bay Area. Of immediate concern is the fact that many out of state club members will be coming to Florida in January for Paul’s memorial service. Club members will be coming to show their respects, not to retaliate. They are now all at risk of being profiled, harassed, or worse.
This is not the first time law enforcement has used a tragedy to perpetuate dangerous rumors. Following the Waco tragedy on May 17, 2015, Sargent Swanton of the Waco PD issued similar warnings. Swanton too reported that motorcycle clubs were descending on Waco to retaliate. However, in the end, after many months, law enforcement admitted all of the retaliation claims were false.
The motorcycle club community knew these rumors were false when they were reported in Waco, just as the NCOC knows Nocco’s warnings are false now. It is irresponsible and unethical to use the spotlight created by tragedy to criminalize an innocent victim and perpetuate fear of an entire community of associations protected by the 1st Amendment.
The National Council of Clubs Public Relations Committee
–David “Double D” Devereaux is the Spokesperson for the Washington State Council of Clubs, Founder of the Motorcycle Profiling Project, and works with motorcyclists at the national level.
EASYRIDERS SALES DEAL UP FOR CONSIDERATION— A Cayman Island group has a general investor seeking letter of intent in front of Joe Teresi.
Some of the previous suitors are no longer in the picture including the Bikernet team. We backed out for several reasons including we would rather go to Bonneville this year.
We may hear more about this process this week and the Global investor firm has until the 12th to finalize the deal. Hang on for more info.
–Bandit
LETTER FROM CYCLE ONE– Thank you so very much, it was very kind of you to spread the word about who we are and what we do. It works great and you made my Happy Friday!
http://www.bikernet.com/pages/story_detail.aspx?id=13532
If you should ever get out this way it would be a pleasure to have your come by for a visit. The older we get the smaller this world seems to get!
I have met you on one other occasion at a Custom Chrome dealer show back in ‘96-ish. I was very impressed by your professionalism both then and now.
Thank you again for all you do for this industry and its dedicated participants!
Have a Happy Friday and a Fantastic New Year!
Cheers,
–Kate
Cycle One
UPHEAVEL IN THE HORSE WORLD– My good friend Steve, his wife Kris, Vicki and me went to dinner last night. The HORSE subscription debacle came up in conversation.
Steve tells me he received one issue on a new subscription same as me and he has contacted them several times and gets nothing, same as me, and has went to the home page and filled out the application for a refund, same as me, and gets nothing, same as me?
I started to realize there are a GREAT number of people who lost their money on their subscription, so my question is where did the money end up?
Individually it does not amount to a large sum but there are thousands of subscribers who have received nothing back and that adds up fast! From people I have talked to no one is buying The HORSE for this reason!
I heard The Horse is not sponsoring the Smoke-Out this year, this may be a good thing because I can see blow back coming from this. The SmokeOut is now supported by Cycle Source, Hot Bike and Bikernet.com.
Maybe if they would have made a statement concerning this, it would help, the only response you get is, “We are working on it and it will take a great deal of time?” My take on that, Bull shit!
–Stealth
Undercover Agent for Bikernet.com
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK— Interesting times. It’s all nuts, but I can’t wait for Trump’s State of the Union Speech. I know many don’t like the guy, but I like that he’s not a politician and can make a real difference.
He could also share his findings with the people. Let’s see if he drinks the political moon shine and gives into the political machine, uses it for personal gain, or exposes the bad shit and corrects our current path.
I hope we can find the right path for Freedom. Don’t get me wrong. Our political system is in trouble, but look at all the crap flying at these guys and us every day. What a mess.
Keep your fingers and toes crossed and keep building cool shit until they pass a Zero law and take our tools away. Read “Sam Chopper Orwell” quick.
Next week we will bring you features, techs, wild stories, event coverage and more action.
Ride Free Forever,
–Bandit
