Last Am-Jam for Cobleskill?

5/20/2009

By Jim Poole

Motorcycles have roared into Cobleskill for Am-Jam over Memorial Day weekend for more than two decades, and they’ll do so again this Friday.
But it’s likely to be the last Am-Jam in Cobleskill.
Organizer Jean Aldus is fed up with State Police roadblocks and what she described as a general lack of community support.
“This is going to be the last one,” she said. “I’m tired of the whole thing.”
Am-Jam brings several thousand motorcyclists to the Cobleskill Fairgrounds for a couple of days of partying, bike-related contests, music and socializing.
For the most part, Am-Jam’s been quiet event––except for the bikes on the road––for its 25 years. Most arrests have been for minor infractions.
There have been checkpoint roadblocks every year, but they were stepped up last year because of a statewide effort to increase motorcycle safety, according to Captain William Gavitt of Troop G of the State Police.
Ms. Aldous contended that because of the roadblocks, attendees rarely leave the Fairgrounds during Am-Jam, and local businesses lose out on their buying power.
She hoped local business groups would lobby State Police to lessen the pressure, but, Ms. Aldous said, that apparently hasn’t happened.
“Nobody stood behind us,” she said.
A sharp increase in motorcvcle fatalities triggered the safety drive last year, Captain Gavitt said, and it will continue this year.
“We do it every time there’s a large motorcycle gathering,” he said. “We want to make sure everyone is operating safely and is up to code.”
It’s true that occasionally troopers made arrests for someone who’s wanted by police or carrying weapons or illegal substances, but those aren’t the purposes of the roadblocks, Captain Gavitt maintained.
“Our focus is on safety,” he said.
But Ms. Aldous argued that it’s more hassling than safety oriented.
“They can’t justify to me what they’re doing,” she said.
Ms. Aldous praised Cobleskill Police Chief Mike O’Brien for his cooperation, adding that State Police were the problem.
She argued that troopers put less pressure on other motorcycle gatherings, such as the Harley Rendezvous or Americade.
“We have several details at those. Hers is one of the larger gatherings,” Captain Gavitt responded.
Although Ms. Aldous claimed this would be the last Am-Jam in Cobleskill, she may move it elsewhere next year.
“The police have killed it for us,” she said. “Cobleskill just isn’t the place, I guess.”