Poker Run needs local sponsor to win commission ok

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Despite concerns over gang violence, overcrowded streets and resident complaints, Key West City Commissioners gave the organizer of the annual Poker Run motorcycle event two more weeks to line up a local sponsor.

As of the commission’s June 6 meeting, Poker Run organizer Drew Peterson had been unable to find a local organization to help manage the event, which shuts down the streets in much of downtown for two days in September, allowing an estimated 10,000 bikers to park their motorcycles. The previous local non-profit, the Key West Sunrise Rotary Club, pulled its sponsorship after last year’s event, saying it was too much work for the donation Peterson made to the club each year.

Even with a scaled down event this year as promised by Peterson – the street vendors and motorcycle show will be cancelled – commissioners indicated they would be unwilling to grant the permit to shut the streets unless a local group was involved.

“That really worried me,” said Mayor Craig Cates.

Peterson appeared surprised that commissioners had reservations about the event, which began in 1971 and involves motorcyclists stopping at six locations between the mainland and Key West to pick up a poker card. The bikers with the best hand at the end win.

But only about 3,000 of the 10,000 bikers that make the run through the Florida Keys actually play the poker game. The rest head to Key West for the two-day party, Peterson said, and will come to Key West this September even if he does not receive permission to shut the streets.

In addition to overcrowding, commissioners were worried about biker gangs that have increasingly joined the event. Last year, for the first time in the event’s 45-year history, there was a fight between bikers and employees at Rumors Lounge, which owner Jessica Mafera called “vicious.”

“It was completely out of control,” she said. “I understand it [Poker Run] brings revenue but I think it needs to be handled better.”

Peterson said the person who started last year’s fight was not wearing gang colors and was a Tampa-area firefighter. He said he would create a gang “colors free” event this year to help lower potential conflict.

“It’s not just outlaws wearing colors. It’s police officers wearing [gang affiliated] colors,” Peterson said. “I can’t control these people.”

That drew an outburst from Commissioner Sam Kaufman, who was the lone vote against the postponement giving Peterson until the next commission meeting on June 20 to line up local support.

“If you can’t control these people, that’s a problem. We have a duty to protect our residents here,” he said.

Despite growing resident complaints about the event, the Poker Run creates a revenue bonanza for some local bars and restaurants during the third week of September, when the event traditionally takes place.

“Yes, the third weekend of September. A dreary time here in this town,” said Pepe’s Café owner Shelley McInnis. “My staff and myself are very grateful for the bikers that weekend. We show an average of 42 percent increase in that weekend alone.”

“The month of September is one of the slowest months of the year and [Poker Run] helps the entire hospitality industry get through this slow time,” said local bar owner Mark Rossi. “There have been issues with the Poker Run over the years. These issues can be addressed and taken care of. They’re basically a very good group of people.”

Peterson’s application describes a scaled-back event on Sept 15 and 16, with no street fair or motorcycle show as in previous years. The application asks that Duval Street from Front to Eaton streets be closed for motorcycle parking, as well as both Greene Street and Caroline Street between Whitehead and Simonton streets. The application also applies for an exemption from city noise restrictions and promises to donate at least $15,000 to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation in Hollywood, Fla, and “Keys Rotary Clubs.”

But even if Peterson is able to find a local organization to provide volunteers to help with the event, Kaufman said he will not support granting the application and asked whether Peterson could be held liable for any police and public works expenses resulting from the influx of bikers that weekend, even if the Poker Run is cancelled.

“Why should I as a city commissioner vote to approve an event that is bringing increasingly gang members to our community? I don’t know how I could support it. I have kids here,” he said.

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