Am-Jam, the three-day biker festival held at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds every May for 25 years, isn’t returning this spring.
American Motorcycle Jamboree organizer Jean Aldus said last week that she’s fed up with State Police, the Chamber of Commerce and what she termed an uncooperative attitude in Cobleskill.
But the targets of Ms. Aldus’ wrath denied any wrong-doing, saying instead that they tried to help Am-Jam.
Am-Jam regularly brought 5,000 bikers, who spent thousands in Cobleskill and surrounding areas. Numbers dwindled in recent years, however, and Ms. Aldus blamed the mounting problems.
Ms. Aldus said she made her decision last year after a meeting with Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce representatives “was the last straw.”
“They don’t have a clue,” Ms. Aldus said, adding that the Chamber reps offered little or no promotion and assistance.
However, she singled out the State Police for her sharpest criticism. Ms. Aldus complained about State Police roadblocks that checked bikers as they exited I-88 and entered the Fairgrounds.
That was a criticism repeated from past years, and Ms. Aldus said it was the same in 2009.
Instead of being able to travel around the area while at Am-Jam, bikers were “sequestered at the Fairgrounds” because of the State Police presence, Ms. Aldus said.
“I’m glad we don’t have to deal with them any more,” she added.
Ms. Aldus also blasted local businesses, claiming they grew indifferent to bikers and the money they were prepared to spend.
“If we’re such an inconvenience to Cobleskill, fine,” Ms. Aldus said. “Let’s see the town dry up and blow away.
“The whole Town of Cobleskill is a backward, non-progressive area. Our vendors didn’t want to deal with the unfriendliness.”
Those enduring Ms. Aldus’ criticism see the situation differently.
Troop G’s Major William Sprague of the State Police pointed out that Am-Jam attracts Hell’s Angels and other gangs.
If the Angels are there, the State Police will be there, too, he said.
“The Hell’s Angels are an internationally known and recognized criminal enterprise,” Major Sprague said. “We take enforcement action whenever we can against such an organization.”
And troopers are hardly to blame for Am-Jam leaving Cobleskill, he added.
“Do not believe the State Police carrying out their regular law-enforcement responsibilities is the cause for Am-Jam leaving the Cobleskill Fairgrounds,” Major Sprague said.
As for the Chamber, Executive Director Jodie Rutt said the organization offered assistance and suggestions.
“The Chamber of Commerce loves to support an event like that because we know they spend money, and that money’s important to local businesses,” Ms. Rutt said.
But Am-Jam didn’t take up the Chamber’s offers.
“We tried to help out with our promotional expertise, but there were obstacles out of our control that we couldn’t overcome,” Ms. Rutt said, without elaborating.
Jacqui Hauser, executive director of Cobleskill Partnership Inc., the downtown improvement group, denied that local businesses were uncooperative.
For two years, CPI and businesses posted “Welcome, Am-Jam” signs in windows and printed flyers describing discounts and offers specifically for Am-Jam visitors.
“I think we tried,” Ms. Hauser said. “We welcomed them here. I don’t know what more we could have done.”
If Am-Jam won’t be in Cobleskill this year, it won’t be anywhere, either.
Ms. Aldus said the event will re-surface in the Syracuse area in 2011.
“It will take a year to set everything up and change venues,” she said.