Thousands Of Motorcyclists To Descend On City In 'Illegal' Event

NEW HAVEN, CT — At last year’s motorcycle event, around 10,000 people showed up in New Haven and police said that at best it was "disruptive" and at worst, was both dangerous and chaotic.

Now, the city and police are bracing for thousands of bikers and aficionados to turn out this weekend on Forbes Avenue, despite the fact that the exhibition is illegal.

But organizers from EastCoastin'say that it's happening anyway and that they will not cancel.

"No matter what we say people are gonna come. It is what it is at this point," representatives of EastCoastin' said in a media event, after the police held their own saying that the rally that will include motorcyclists from across the country is prohibited.

"It's too late," EastCoastin' representatives Gabriel Canestri and Sal Fusco said. "People are coming."

Canestri and Fusco told gathered reporters that "hotels are sold out" and that "we did say come at your own risk."

In an earlier media briefing, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker and Interim Police Chief Renee Dominguez reiterated that the event set for Saturday is "not permitted and will not be tolerated."

Elicker said that in 2020, EastCoastin' held the event which was then also illegal. He said that there was no permit and that the event was "dangerous."

Elicker warned people who are coming to not do so, adding that the majority of attendees are not from New Haven.

"We made it clear the event is not going to be tolerated. The vast majority of them come from out of town," he said, adding a plea to attendees.

"We are diverting police resources for this event," the mayor said. "If you do decide to come to this event, we are prepared and we will hold you accountable. We will not tolerate this."

Last week, Patch spoke at length with Dominguez about the event's history and how police will respond. She said that police were in talks with EastCoastin’ since last April and that she was very much a part of those talks.

EastCoastin' describes itselfas a "crew" based in New Haven that "started out with some pretty deep roots of friendship and daredevil tendencies"

"A group of young hooligans riding their BMX bikes soon graduated to dirt bikes and later on Harley's. Over the course of the years the crew grew and expanded, finally becoming a small family of insane stunt riders pushing each other to do crazier tricks and even more outlandish performances."

The planned Sept. 25 event is unlawful, the city and police say, adding EastCoastin' failed to get the necessary permits to hold its annual end of season event, a “block party” with a stunts demo.

Police took to Facebook to announce that it was not only illegal, but that participants and spectators should except enforcement action, like towing at the least, to take place.

But EastCoastin’ said on Facebook it was going ahead anyway.

Dominguez said that last year’s event was “massive” and caused no small amount of “havoc.” Though in 2020, EastCoastin' did advise folks to keep it legal, or at least to make it "look that way."

"The police are on us hard about this event, they advised us the past few days that it should be canceled due to multiple reasons especially the size of it, but were running this thing! Respect goes a long way Don’t be an asshole smoking out the cop cars and the officers cause they are gonna be all over the place they have a zero tolerance, Especially for off road bikes..SO IT HAS TO BE STREET LEGAL ONLY (or At least looking)..."

Note: The video below contains explicit language

Dominguez said that police began having conversations with the business last spring to discuss how best EastCoastin' could hold the event safely, and legally, with the proper permitting and insurance. Permits they never got.

Held near the Port of New Haven, she said that holding a motorcycle event where tens of thousands may show up is “dangerous.” The commercial port is the busiest between Boston and New York City and where Connecticut and New England-bound petroleum products arrive.

“The problem is when 10,000 people are in a thoroughfare with the port behind them, an area heavily used by the port, where trucks come in and out with fuel... it can become very dangerous.”

She said permits are required for “protection.” And Dominguez noted that last year’s event “spilled over” into neighboring communities including East Haven where, she said, at the La Quinta motel on Frontage Road, where many spectators were lodging, some held their own “mini stunt show” in the parking lot.

Dominguez said that while the “legitimate business has a following and we understand the event is important to them and their followers,” the t's and i's needed to be crossed and dotted. And were not.

“We had good conversations, but permits were never submitted despite their claim that the city never got back to them," she said. "I told them personally that we would be enforcing."

So by August 25, while the business was told the event could not happen, that it was “not legal,” and despite EastCoastin’s acknowledgment that police had worked with them, the business took to Facebook to say it was happening regardless.

“Just know, no matter what, September 25th somethings going down in New Haven,” they wrote, noting that, “we’re not sure what’s gonna happen this year. We're shooting for our annual block party, but it could be a street ride or even a peaceful Anti-COVID Rally / Protest.”

EastCoastin' told its followers the “End of the Season Session is a ‘come at your own risk’ event.”

Preparing for the worst

Dominguez said last week the police department has planned for the worst while hoping for the best.

“We have an operational plan. How we are going to handle the event. We were hoping to try and prevent it, to stop people from coming but if they do come, they can expect towing and if it becomes reckless we'll make arrests," she said.

To that end, she said resources are being diverted and extra officers brought in to handle the anticipated crowd.

"I hope that it ends up that we’re being over prepared," she told Patch. "God forbid the event grows to an unmanageable size," but the police department, she said, will have mutual aid from Connecticut State Police, and East Haven and West Haven police departments. And the New Haven Police Department's port liaison has been working with the port as well to prepare.

“We hope that when people who think this is a lawful event learn it is not, they'll not come,” Dominguez said. “Our expectations are very clear and EastCoastin’ is very aware.”

Wednesday, EastCoastin' owners said come what may, the event is happening.