RSSCruise night kicks off summer downtown
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YAKIMA, Wash. — Summertime brings a night of cruising to Yakima Avenue this weekend.
The fifth annual Welcome Summer Open Cruising Event is set for Saturday from 6-10 p.m. downtown.
"Cruising events have become an important part of downtown Yakima's revival," said Randy Beehler, the city's community relations manager.
Until the mid-1990s, Cruisin' the Ave was a popular tradition in Yakima. But concerns over safety brought an end to the practice in 1994, when the Yakima City Council adopted an ordinance that made it illegal to cruise.
In 2005, a group of downtown business owners came up with the idea of holding family-friendly cruising events. The City Council approved the plan and has since permitted cruising on a limited basis a few nights each year.
A second cruising night will take place near the end of summer on Sept. 5.
"The special cruising nights have done what they were originally intended to do," Beehler said. "They've brought a lot of people downtown and have become events that the community looks forward to. They've preserved the best parts of a Yakima tradition. They've really been a great success."
I would like to hear "The Rest of the Story" again. Seems to me that the last couple of times we had a "cruise night", the lower valley gangs showed up and caused a lot of trouble. If I remember correctly, it cost the Yakima Police Department $125,000 in OVERTIME for this one night of partying by custom car and hot-rod owners. I also seem to remember that this event was started and encouraged by then councilman Ron Bonlender, a car fan, if I'm not mistaken. Can anyone confirm or correct me on this?
Report ViolationNick gets the prize! Yes, Ron does have a street rod. Cruise nights are great but...in Yakima its like the video game Duck Hunt. I keep my family from going due to not knowing when a person is going to have to duck a stray bullet.
Cuise at your own risk or be in a armored car. Lets clean the gang problem first, then the honest and hard working citizen's of yakima can enjoy a cruise night,
Report ViolationAs a teen in the '70's, cruising the Ave on Friday and Saturday nights was the norm. We had fun, met up with our friends, especially those that attended other high schools, and had an innocent "American Graffitti" experience.
I wish my own kids had been able to take part in something that I remember fondly from my youth. At least my kids were able to enjoy the Country Drive-in theater before it was tore down.
Too bad the illegal element has taken over one of the few things that a kid could do in Yakima that didn't cost much and was good, clean fun.
This sounds like a great opportunity to make some money selling bullet proof jackets and kevlar helmets. Think of cruise night as a stimulus project.
Report ViolationI don't know...this ones a tough call for me. With the heightened gang violence my gut reaction...and age) is to say... "stay home, keep safe and avoid being out and about if it's not necessary". Another part of me says.. "go, have fun, and hope for the best". The police will be out in full force so I guess one will just have to make their own call on this. It only takes one flury of gunfire though to hurt a whole bunch of people. Kind of bad timing right now in my opinion.
Report ViolationI wonder if in 30 years our teenagers will be looking back fondly at how THEY passed the time in Yakima growing up and then emulate it with a state sponsored "drive by" night?
Report ViolationI will enjoy the night. Cruising will help me relive the good old days....
Report ViolationRe: Cruise the Ave nights:
Response to Nick: This is the 5th annual Cruise the Ave event. It
Mr. Bonlender: I believe you missed my main point, however I appreciate the information.
Report ViolationThose days were fun from what I remember. Too bad a few screw ups mess it up for everyone else.
Report ViolationWell, Ron, I asked for corrections and thanks to your better memory and involvement, I got the straight skinny. Perhaps the police budget I remember mentioned was for the whole year, you would know that. I just read it in the news and heard it from someone at YPD. However, I was said in relation to a conversation having to do with cruise nights and the various problems it caused downtown.
For clarification, I believe my first sentence was correct in that I was there and observed some of those happenings. I, too, used to enjoy cruising the Ave, but they didn't have to pay the cops overtime to manage the crowd - a waste of taxpayers hard-spent money, if you ask me.
Perhaps if the City Council hadn't outlawed "Cruising" in the first place, there wouldn't be such a mess once a year. Kind of like Prohibition gave rise to a bunch of alcoholics as soon as it was repealed - people catching up or something for what was earlier prohibited by shallow-meaning laws trying to govern other's morality. Didn't work.
Ron,
I said "illegal element," not illegal aliens. To me, "illegal element" means anyone out for no good, like a shooting that occured on the Ave in the mid-90's. It doesn't matter where they come from, home-grown or imported, anyone out doing illegal activities is part of the "illegal element."
Ron,
Whatever you do on cruise night, don't drink and drive in your Prius! :)
Just joking, don't sue me.
Ron...
Enjoy your cruise...seriously. I said I had mixed feelings about the "timing" of this cruise. I didn't suggest for anyone to not attend if they so desired. Whats your purpose for being so snotty? Sounds like you "need" a night out!
SciPhiMom...
Sorry I misunderstood your remarks. I see so many racially charged comments here that I assumed too much. overfifty is probably right - I do need a night out! And I'm really not trying to be snotty to either of you.
(This comment has been removed by a Yakima Herald-Republic moderator)
Although I haven't always agreed with Ron I do on this subject. For those that have mention his drinking just remember he without sin cast the first stone...I for one has never drank a sip of alcohol in my life and that is more than what some of can say...
Anyways, why is everyone on here so weak mentally and physically where they would let so-called gang members ruin a family event by staying home? If only wanna-be gang members show up than less family members show up...if more family members show up then less gang members want to be there. If this is the city where you live in and worry about the taxes you pay-then really do something about it and attend community events that you are paying for any way.
sarsone509,
Perhaps Ron should avoid accusing people of making "racially charged comments".
As for his drinking, I don't think he has a drinking problem. I was just poking fun at the whole bloggergate controversy where false rumors were discussed about some DUI's. I'm sure Ron and most others got the joke.
sarsone509...
"Anyways, why is everyone on here so weak mentally and physically where they would let so-called gang members ruin a family event by staying home?"
I question your reference...
"SO-CALLED" gang members?? Don't confuse whats been going on for the last month with wanna-be gangs....I'm pretty sure we are dealing with the real thing here....at least thats what the police have reported.I've been told that wanna-be's usually graduate into the main gangs after they prove themselves worthy.You might want to re-think your casual attitude about the "so-called" gang activity... especially if you are taking your family and kids out for the night. At least be realistic for safety sake.People have been killed you realize.
Also...your "why is everyone on here weak mentally and physically" comment...leaves me questioning why if you feel this way you would want any of us to attend??? Your sending mixed signals here.
I thought there was a shooting during the first cruise night. It was in front of the 'new' Hilton.
Report ViolationRon
Am I mistaken when I say your 2nd St location is one of very few places that will be open to get food during the event? I am sure it is one of the busiest nights for your personal business. I always thought that coincidental especially when you were one of the "driving" forces behind the start of this.
An event that costs the tax payers so much money for security for an event that benefits so few just doesn't pan out with the pro's out weighing the con's.
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