[DiscoverMB]

With the 2009 Harley Rally over, Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes says that the city's ordinances did exactly what they were designed to do. But while the Mayor celebrates, many business owners along the Grand Strand are in an uproar.

Numbers are coming in to Discover Myrtle Beach that many businesses have seen a huge drop during bike week compared to last year.

"It was a bloodbath", according to one hotelier that did not wish to be named.

"This month was supposed to be a summer payment to the bank", said another hotelier, "Now I have to go to the bank and see what we can do. You're going to see a couple of businesses close up just because of this week alone."

Businesses that are reporting in to BOOST are posting the numbers as 40, 70, even 80 percent down from last year.

According to one news report, Rhodes says that bikers and their supporters who made "Not a Dime in '09" in Myrtle Beach their rallying cry, need to take some responsibility for the loss of business.

The statement has outraged many businesses owners we'll already spoken to this evening and are vowing to have Rhodes removed from office come election day.

[TheAnaconda]

Isn't the mayor (and city council) supposed to basically work for the town that elected them? If the local business owners don't want the bike rallies curbed, who is the mayor speaking for? If its the few thousand local residents, many of whom probably also belong to the local business owners, is it fair to put the convenience of some over the actual business and livilyhood of others?

Btw, the typical political spin must be insanely frustrating for those people. Businesses in the tank, outcry over the traffic stops, people vowing to have the mayor out of office next election...and he comes out and basically says the week was a success.

Seems to me the mayor might be worrying more about his own political future and being able to label himself the "Mayor who took on the bikers" or something to that effect, than he is about the city he is supposed to be running.

[DiscoverMB]

The current mayor ran four year ago under the platform of "There will always be bike week while I'm mayor". It stance has been a complete 180 degree turn. It has been quite a messs in an already trouble economic time.

[captainjko]

well heres what we need to do folks...i don't like the helmet law or any of that other crap, but since the mayor thinks he won..lets get every motorcycle rider possible and go to myrtle beach (even if it is next may or this fall)...and cause the biggest crowd he has ever seen...i myself stayed in garden city this year and stayed on the south end the whole time...loved it...but i can't stand when someone says.."i won"..when in fact they didn't...all the mayor done was hurt the city and businesses...lets all get a date for this..please!!!!!!!

With the 2009 Harley Rally over, Myrtle Beach Mayor, John Rhodes says that the city's ordinances did exactly what they were designed to do. But while the Mayor celebrates, many business owners along the Grand Strand are in an uproar.

Numbers are coming in to Discover Myrtle Beach that many businesses have seen a huge drop during bike week compared to last year.

"It was a bloodbath", according to one hotelier that did not wish to be named.

"This month was supposed to be a summer payment to the bank", said another hotelier, "Now I have to go to the bank and see what we can do. You're going to see a couple of businesses close up just because of this week alone."

Businesses that are reporting in to BOOST are posting the numbers as 40, 70, even 80 percent down from last year.

According to one news report, Rhodes says that bikers and their supporters who made "Not a Dime in '09" in Myrtle Beach their rallying cry, need to take some responsibility for the loss of business.

The statement has outraged many businesses owners we'll already spoken to this evening and are vowing to have Rhodes removed from office come election day.

[phroggy]

October 17th.

[Sandie]

A co worker said hes going to Myrtle Beach in Mid August. I told him to make sure he goes on his bike and ride all over the place. I then explained to him what had happened down there on Bike week. BTW, he IS planning on taking the trip on his bike, which happens to be a nice loud harley! LOL