Wednesday night, the Mammoth Town Council will consider approval of the formation of the Mammoth Lake Tourism Business Improvement District. This move would mean annual assessments on gross sales of many businesses to raise $4.7 million to pay for marketing of the Town and for air service subsidy.
This issue is the main item on the Council agenda Wednesday night. According to the TBID website, 68.35% of local businesses petitioned to approve formation of the TBID. A minimum of 51% was required. This issue has gone through the legal steps, including public comment at the Council’s last meeting. In that session, comments were about evenly split – for and against the additional tax, as most see it (http://sierrawave.net/25052/tbid-in-mammoth/)
Lodging would pay 1% of gross revenue, retail, 1.5% of gross sales, restaurants, 1.5% of gross food sales, 2% on lift ticket and ski school sales at the ski resorts. With retail and restaurant businesses that bring in less than $150,000 in annual revenue or which do not receive at least 50% of their annual revenue from visitors, payment is $500 per year.
If the Town Council approves this new district, collections will start August 1st. There is an appeal process. Call 760-934-2712, extension 0.
RE: Representative Paul Cook; I believe Col. Cook would be receptive to pushing for more MX events each year. Contact him if you are serious about it. Here’s an excerpt from his website: Jun 16, 2013 WASHINGTON • Paul Cook scored another victory Friday in his quest to save a… Read more »
“Its the ones who ride at Shady Rest park and out near the scenic loop that damage the mtn bike trails near town that cause the problem.” You can blame the help at the vistor center for this as they are the ones directing people to that campground and area.… Read more »
Mark- did you really have to suck snowmobiling in on your damaged trail theories? Snowmobiling hurts nothing, on trails or off. Once the snow melts all signs snowmobilers were there are long gone. Also, I have had some of the best times of my life snowmobiling out of Shady Rest… Read more »
You can snomo out of Shady if you want, and I’m not saying make it illegal. I’m saying show the dirtbike/snomo riders the better places to ride. The maps at the vistor center do not show the big picture, nor does it show all the staging areas so their maps… Read more »
Amazing comments. I spend more time on the trails between Crowley and Mono than anyone I know and I rarely ever encounter a mountain biker. I mean MAYBE once or twice a year I see a mountain biker outside of town limits. I see 20 times more deer than mountain… Read more »
sean, I’m with you on that one. I agree that Mtn bikers tend to stay near town, makes sense since they can only ride so far. While dirt bikers/mxers typically are trailering anyway (or can just ride on gravel roads out to where they want to ride). Its the ones… Read more »
So who can tell me why is there only one MX event in Mammoth per year (factually please – not a guess or opinion)? We have a great track and the capacity to host more events? I was told the local lodging capacity was at 60+ % during the MX… Read more »
for every one mxer, they chase away 5 other tourists….literally, they wreck everyone elses recreation. Plain and simple. Ever ride your mountain bike on a trail that a dirt biker has ridden on? You’ll never do it again. I would be fine with them coming here if they could be… Read more »
“for every one mxer, they chase away 5”
yeah right,,
Mark…Happens to be true…Good example is the Jawbone Canyon-Redrock Canyon area south of Ridgecrest..back in the 70’s,a great place to visit,camp and hike…..now,go by there and see what it’s turned into….and that’s just the landscape,never mind the annoying MX’ers flying around making their own trails and raising heck for whoever… Read more »
Wayne, I rode jawbone for years. The reason Jawbone is over used now is because the BLM keeps closing off areas and trails around Jawbone forcing more people into a smaller area. We do not ride their anymore. Now we ride out at Splangler and this last year I’m seeing… Read more »
Mark….The reason BLM started closing areas near Jawbone is as clear as the nose on ones face….Back in the 70’s and early 80’s,the area was open to MX’ers and off-roaders….and what happened there is what happens whenever an area is open to their sport….give them a foot,they take two or… Read more »
Mark,
Ignorant and hard headed people talk (or in this case, they “blog”), not because they have something intelligent to say… it’s because they have to say something. anything. In this case, the more outlandish the better.
It’s sad really, and hardly worth you time to respond.
-Mammoth M/C
MMC…I’ll go back to the story about when I went up to Virginia Lakes a couple years ago…..nice,peaceful place to camp and fish….but then,along come the MX and off-road group of “guy-guys”…..riding their dirt bikes up to,in to,and over the pristine creek…a group of annoying loud-mouths drinking,cussing,throwing their beer cans… Read more »
No-one rides dirtbikes on hiking trails around Virginia Lakes, Wayne. Your story, as entertaining as it may be, is borderline schizophrenic. Please step away from the keyboard and seek professional help (or gainful employment).
I hear Friends of the Inyo is looking for a new President. Perfect fit!
Like I said the vistor centers should direct the OHV’s to other locations. Anywhere East of 395 is pretty much game on. Better yet direct them to Bishop seems mammoth residence don’t want their money anyways. But you have the vistor center and people like SL directing them inside of… Read more »
Mammoth Motorcycle Club…..You calling me a liar ?…..How do you know if people go up there and ride where they shouldn’t ?..If your not familiar with the area,when you turn off HWY. 395 on top of Conway Summit,there is sign and a turn-off saying “Virginia Lakes”….you turn left and head… Read more »
Our beautiful, quiet, clean mountain community is extremely rural. We like it that way. It’s why we live here. Motorcycles on our trails is a definite infringement upon our way of life. I know of no respectable Mammoth resident who frequents this noisy, dusty, and sometimes crass environment that this… Read more »
I’m sorry you had a bad experience on your walk. Did they stop and apologize,(something i’ve tried to do in the past)? The point to be taken here , though, is they are not your trails. If you live in the Knolls, you might be accustomed to an experiance that… Read more »
No motorcycles on our trails,
Calling people like Dave McCoy “no respectable Mammoth resident” shows what a TRUE JERK you really are. Feel free to move away anytime. Nobody respectable will miss you.
Eternal Liberal –
My highest respect for your liberal pride.
According to Webster:
liberal – free, belonging to the people, not restricted, generous, tolerant of views differing from one’s own, broad-minded, favoring reform or progress, free-thinking
According to Neoconservatives:
Anti-American, communistic, socialistic, trouble-maker, of the Devil
We have no real culture in Bishop. Just good old boys laughing their ass off as Mammoth sinks itself !
Your jealousy is showing Trouble. Mammoth Lakes has more money behind it than you may ever know. And in a capitalistic system, money is everything. But if it makes you happy or more important to wallow in your redneck arrogance – laugh away! Mammoth Lakes will be around far longer… Read more »
Nothing wrong with the MX counterculture thing. To each his own. But to suggest that they are a boon to Mammoth Lakes’ economy is a bit exaggerated. Now, places like Bridgeport …
Easy Rider…Gotta chuckle at your post here….May I suggest you go to Bridgeport and ask the citizens there if they want to turn their town and out-lying areas into an MX track ?….and talk to the VERY pro-active CHP if it’s OK if they use the highway and town streets… Read more »
Wayne Deja –
If not for Bridgeport being the County Seat (employing generations of Bridgeport local for the County) it is doubtful the town could survive without some other revenue-producing event such as the MX that one poster insists is generation “$10-20 million ” per event.
Hi Mike and Ken! Mike…you are misunderstanding the point(s) here… First, to suggest that the activities the community supports must follow YOUR agenda politically, activities performed on public land, is neither left nor right…it’s simply arrogant. You see any of the off road community gathering support to shut down the… Read more »
Of all those “millions” spent in town, the Town of Mammoth Lakes gets less than 5% of it from sales tax. And if they have big motor homes, do they really rent $600 a night condos? And none of those “big toys” were boutht in Mammoth — unless we have… Read more »
Motocross simply is not a money-maker.
The type that loves that sort of thing doesn’t like to spend money.
They’d rather spend their money on tattoos and cage fighting.
Have it your way, I’ll be sure to tell all my motocross friends to avoid spending any money within TOML.
People in Mammoth get what they deserve if they really believe mx doesn’t bring money to town.
Please tell all of your MX friends to avoid Mammoth altogether.
Soooo arrogant! For somebody that seems to pride themselves on basing all their facts on statistics from left wing blogs and publications to not do any research in YOUR OWN TOWN! on a subject so controversial and compile an opinion based on your emotions is astonishing! And weak! I, personally,… Read more »
Re: james haggerty’s post – I knew it wouldn’t take long for somebody to introduce the very tiresome “right-wing is better than left wing!” childish BS. A certain unnamed movement has been doing this divisive nonsense for over a decade now. And, of course, this is supposed to set the… Read more »
“…pride themselves on basing all their facts on statistics from left wing blogs” And this sadly, is the non-stop screeching partisan noise of what passes for public discourse in America today, an America where a good portion of the populace feels and defines itself as under siege. Paranoia strikes deep.… Read more »
Dr. Facts .. you sir or ma’am …. are doing the very same thing you are squawling about. Causing divisiveness! I am sure I am not the only one who sees it, you may have some fooled.
The day wouldn’t be complete w/out Big Al whining about something his “Dr. Facts'” posts. And of course, this is what is passing for “meaningful dialogue” to that type accompanied with the usual childish “Our group is better than your group!” BS. Bottom line – See ya at the Voting… Read more »
Motocross $$$…So you were following the family around and into the restaurants too…from 5 A.M untill 10 P.M.?…..
Motocross $$$ – that’s a bit creepy to follow people around documenting what they do. Sounds like stalking to me. But I don’t think you actually did that. It appears you are enamored with the sport, but don’t understand why it is that there are some Southern Californians who view… Read more »
Mr. WAYNE WAYNE DEJA, Is that your real name? I’m really surprised in your behavior towards 1 Golden Goose $$$ Guest Motocross,dual sport,and all O.H.V Families You need to remember each Family members has his own personal toy.They need expensive big rigs to tow all there fun in big Toy… Read more »
Wayne’s for real. He’s in the phone book. I’m going to call him up and take him to lunch some day.
This has nothing to do with attitude. Though there will always be those that think it is. The reality is the economy is worsening. Good jobs are getting harder to find. Money is getting tighter and tighter The realists know that the smartest thing to do is try to attract… Read more »
Motocross $$$$$..Question……Did they have anchovies on their pizza at Gio’s ?
Why not let Bridgeport or Bishop get a crack at the millions upon millions of dollars the one guy said were generated by the motocross crowd?
Why should Mammoth hog it all?
Sharon….Agree with you….Bring the MX event to Lone Pine !!!…..The community here could use a quick $ 20 million plus this weekend !!
Motocross $$$….Sounds to me like you might have a pony in this race….Just out of curiosity,what kind of petition were you trying to get this “rich family” to sign ?….and how the heck did you follow and observe their expensive jaunt through town into Von’s,Outdoor Sports,and then,I presume,following them up… Read more »
For the uninitiated…there is already a tattoo artist in Mammoth Lakes.
If this TBID thing passes, which it will (because Rusty Gregory is shilling for it), I’m afraid people will seriously consider curtailing spending in town, as a protest. Why should the public pay to subsidize empty planes and advertizing for the same business entity that continually steps right in the… Read more »
“I’m afraid people will seriously consider curtailing spending in town”
I’ve done that already and was told I was disgusting and should move away and labeled with all the other popular denigrations and insulting appellations.
Are we beginning to see another demonstration of the three stages of truth?
TO all the people who think O.H.V and motocross is a scroungey white trash sport? YOUR JUST JELOUS OF WHAT WE HAVE AND DO!! The motorized industry and groups work hard and have there own businesses making thousands to have the expensive toys,Big trucks,riggs,toy boxes,motor homes, multiple motorcycles street &… Read more »
But did they go to a play???? or drink wine???
But did they close down the bars??? or get into fights???
But did they have fun???? And will they come back again???
Come back and do what? Wonder when it will be when a tattoo parlor will open in town?
The young people who come to town aren’t exactly known for their lavish spending habits in a well-known resort town that depends on the tourist dollar. Motocross and Snowboarders are quite young (20s) and contribute such revenue generating with the purchase of cigarette papers, cheap beer, and usually stay 6… Read more »
Well, then that $18 – 20 million should surely pay for the town’s bankruptcy costs.
I appreciate your zeal but I think that estimated figure may be … (ahem) incorrect.
$18-20 million could pay for about half of the town’s bankruptcy costs. But the town government didn’t receive that money. If you follow along it was the retail, restaurants, and lodging. Last week was great! Had fun, rode dirt, and drank some wine. Attended no plays but read books. Mammoth… Read more »
So you followed this family around for hours and took notes on their spending — that’s actually kind of creepy.
How much did you spend in the same time period?
Ken….I was thinking the same exact thing…The story seems like a whole lot of “who shot John”…..saying the town made OVER $20 million in 10 days of a MX event sounds kinda ridiculous to me…
Moderate, they have more in common with an angry Arab street mob than they do with productive Americans who care about their country. If you talk to me about bringing down the government, count me as your sworn enemy.
Desert Tortoise – Perhaps if people would focus on the dynamics of trying to find viable solutions to problems (other than declaring war as a knee-jerk reaction to everything) those sworn enemies might transform into something more productive. I.e., those same “sworn enemies” from North Vietnam, are today trading partners… Read more »
What am I supposed to find in common with someone who makes veiled threats of taking up arms against my country or some gasbag politician talking about “2nd Amendment remedies”. Tribal people like the Taliban walk around in public armed and use guns to solve problems, not educated and well… Read more »
DT, as a fellow vet, I’m with you – but please realize that most guns aren’t used in America to “solve problems”. And the Second Amendment is not a “gasbag” joke. It is there to keep that government you love so much honest and modest. Do not be so quick… Read more »
Tourbillon, Do you think we, the armed citizens, can really compete against Drones?
Benett Kessler
Tourbillon –
Also as a fellow vet, that same gun that may be used for self-defense, can also be used for murdering someone. I wish Dan Watson would chime in on this one.
Ame Tourbillon.
Don’t you just love this country! We can still voice our opinions … we may not always agree …. we are still guaranteed these rights. We just need to protect that! I am thankful for it all …. on this day, I reflect on where we still are and who… Read more »
DT .. yeah there are some who want to bring down the govt. but a greater more, that just want justice and freedom from an overbearing govt. Govt. should be in check, and not rule us.
Yes we need govt. I don’t say bring it down, but check it.
I wonder where Big Al was when that overbearing government of the time force-fed the country into believing weapons of mass destruction were most certainly in Iraq?
I always get amused by those who do nothing but whine, complain and arm themselves with machine guns ready to overthrow the government. Ever heard of Timothy McVeigh? If the country wanted somebody like Sarah Palin or Michele Bachman or others from that side of the fence – the country… Read more »
Yeah I hear that! I seen on a blog once, somebody referred to the general public (the content or complacent type) as to a dog. They referred them to a dog since the dog will most likely eat anything the owner gives them, the dog will not attack owner in… Read more »
Greed Jerry … it is gaining more power, it doesn’t care what it destroys.
Greed is correct Big Al, but how do we sit here and watch the American public shoot themselves in the foot over and over because we have become sheep to the system, Land of the free huh? can’t forget we hold 25% of the worlds prisoners in the world when… Read more »
I agree with A Simple Solution. I somehow managed to get on a tax oversight commitee in my city even though I was a vocal opponent of the tax in question, blogging against it vigorously. I made the point that our city council had to have some sceptics on the… Read more »
If you are that passionate with the “government gone wild” war cry, why not run for office yourself?
While I agree with the comments about if you have a better idea you should run for office there is one problem with the system here in Mammoth. People need to feed their families and people need an income to do that. Being on the city council does not pay… Read more »
Sean, Understood. Okay, you’d rather not run for any elected official position. Then why not find somebody (friend, relative, acquaintance, etc.) with similar interests/complaints, etc.,support him or her, and try make a difference that way? Easy to bitch about everything under the sun when it comes to government – but… Read more »
I am all for supporting campaigns and have if I liked the candidate. But we would need more than one person to vote for. And Yes to term limits. But back on point I am OK with some form of TBID but against never ending airline subsidies. I also really… Read more »
Ya gotta get involved, Sean. Any way you can. Politics will always be politics. You can bet your a_ _ the other guys (the guys you don’t like in the driver’s seat now) have no problem getting involved. Otherwise, the whining and complaining is 100% meaningless and accomplishes nothing. We’re… Read more »
Sean, I agree with you completely. There also needs to be term limits. Sitting on there for decades just to feed their egos doesn’t help our town.
Absolutely, SkiJohn! Like a revolving door – One term … out! Next guy – One term … out! This will at least make it more difficult for the elected officials to partner with who knows who, to accomplish their monetary goals for themselves and their buddies. Everybody knows this can… Read more »
We should have had one term for our current president and members of congress, and on down the line.
City Council is not a full time position in a general law city. Council members for the most part have day jobs paying the bills. You only have full time city councils in charter cities, and those are very large and few in number. Most cities are general law cities… Read more »
Because it’s easier to just move out of town, and never drive up 203 again.
Easier still to simply listen to talk-radio all day.
And this accomplishes …?
TBID covers up the symptom, it’s not the cure. A short term solution to a long term problem. This is not a panacea for Mammoth’s future. It’s an underhanded, inequitable, unscrupulous power play to replace AIRPORT LAWSUIT LOSSES with a slight of hand trick to make you think it’s just… Read more »
Fool me once! September 28, 2012 at 1:36 pm # “Where is the leadership and shared hardship by the town council or town managers staff? Do the right thing for the town, cut your own benefits / compensations and personnel. You really going to try to use public safety and… Read more »
Hearing lots of “down with government!” rhetoric. Talk-radio people are making money by the sackful doing this. Meanwhile, two council persons (Bacon & Raimondo) got their jobs by running unopposed. If you’re not interested in getting involved, (running for office yourself) or finding persons you can support or feel may… Read more »
Well said.
A. Boycott their businesses!
Q. How do you tax a plutocrat?
Carnac,
Feel free to jump in there and run for Town Council instead of just blaming and bashing.
Save the world, we are waiting !!!!!
A. Emerald City
Q. Name a place that telling the truth about behind the scenes collusion, a person would be considered as blaming and bashing, a candidate for public office and a savior of the world ?
Get Real
The only reason the airline needs to be subsidized is because there is not enough demand to fill the empty seats. Taxing businesses to pay for the empty seats will not fill those seats, only real passengers can. =
US 395 is subsidized by the US taxpayer. In no way does it pay for itself out of user fees. In the US in general road user fees pay less than half of the total cost of highway and road construction and repair. The rest comes from general tax revenues.… Read more »
You got it DT
But unlike the Bullet Train people will use digital 395
Cut off form the whole world .. I don’t think so … there are thousands of communities such and Ely and Tonopah all over the country, and the world that are in the same situation. Air services are subsidized so that the companies can keep their profit, if they don’t… Read more »
use the 4.7 mill to come up with a way to lower the price of skiing and fishing and lodging,make it affordable and they will come
When I was out welcoming and greeting our motocross guest and filling my petition pages for more public use of our world known motocross track (that was very positive and well accepted) by our money spending guest (3-1). They all love visiting the area every year but The biggest complaints:Terrible… Read more »
Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a Mammothite and am friendly to everyone.
sounds like YOU need to wake up
I have been asking since I moved to this town why we are not hosting three MX events a year at the track. It is a no brainer. The MX event seems like a huge success. I was told the Forest Service does not approve of the MX event and… Read more »
Sean, other than buying groceries at Von’s and beer at … wherever, and putting gas in their cars, the motocross crowd historically doesn’t frequent many Mammoth restaurants, see any plays, attend any wine-tasting events, hear any musical concerts, checks out the sales at the other retail establishments, etc. Von’s is… Read more »
How exactly do you know this? I see a lot of vehicles at the Village with dirt bikes in the back. I see a lot of pick-ups with bikes parked in lodging parking lots. Parking lots look full on Main st. I think THEY DO go to restaurant and bars.… Read more »
Not a big money maker, A restaurant manager in Mammoth for the last 20 plus years told me that the restaurants make more money during the 2 weeks of the motocross than any other 2 weeks during the entire year. He is not the only restaurant manager that informed me… Read more »
Depends on the type of restaurant. I’m quite sure McDonald’s is by far the most popular restaurant in most towns. Please don’t take offense if a community entertains the notion of trying to upscale and broaden their overall scope. The fact is that when money becomes tighter and tighter, it’s… Read more »
Well Said Sean, “All it might take is a few calls. And if Congressman Cook is unresponsive we turn up the heat by hosting a fundraiser for this opposition. He will start to listen as the drumbeat gets louder.” That’s right!! here’s the numbers Rep. Paul Cook (202) 224 3121.… Read more »