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Hollister took the first step toward resurrecting its once-popular motorcycle rally in 2025. The City Council unanimously authorized the city manager to negotiate a contract with promoter Roadshows, Inc., to organize the event.
The decision was made at the second meeting of the council with its three new members. The previous council declined to host the rally because of a perceived shortage of law enforcement staffing. A city-sanctioned rally has not been held since 2017.
On Jan. 7, supporters of the rally filled City Hall on Fifth Street. Fire Chief Jonathan Goulding said the chamber was over capacity, and prevented more members of the public from entering. Nine people waited outside City Hall at the beginning of the meeting.
Four of the five council members spoke in favor of the rally, saying that it’s a part of Hollister and that it’s supported by the community. If a contract agreement is reached, it will come back to the City Council for approval.
“This rally is definitely the fabric of our town,” Councilmember Rudy Picha said. “I really am hopeful that this can be a safe thing. I’m very optimistic that it can, and I can really see this being a powerful thing for our local businesses and bringing some tax revenue to the city as well.”
Picha echoed statements from members of the public who spoke at the meeting, saying the event can serve as a way to highlight some of the community’s assets, such as the Hollister Hills Recreation Area, the Cienega wine trail and Pinnacles National Park.
“Biker rallies have become a significant cultural and economic force across the country and I believe they can offer our city the same positive impact,” Vanessa Salinas said. She identified herself as a fellow rider and business owner.
There was no conversation about the safety component of the event among the new council. Mayor Roxanne Stephens said she was excited about hosting it and that she had faith that the residents could keep themselves “in check.” She acknowledged there are inherent challenges in hosting it.
“We do have to be respectful and responsible,” she said. “There has to be a shared responsibility. There are obviously some concerns about risks and safety. That will always be our No. 1 concern.”
Hollister Police Chief Carlos Reynoso did not speak at the meeting, and was not questioned by council members, as had been done at previous council meetings. He did not immediately respond to BenitoLink’s request for comment, but has said he does not have enough officers for the rally.
In 2023, Reynoso told BenitoLink that though police do not disclose numbers from their security plan, city code would require over 200 officers for the rally, which was estimated to attract more than 10,000 people. He said in his time managing past rallies, the city has “never had close to three-digit numbers” of officers.
In August, Reynoso said his department had 34 officers and four in the academy.
He has reported to previous councils that police officers have deterred incidents from getting out of hand at previous rallies. He said that’s not always the case and noted there was a shooting between two rival gangs at a gas station in 2014.
He also has said he has been unsuccessful in securing additional staffing from surrounding agencies, including the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office, because they too are dealing with staffing shortages.
San Benito County Sheriff Eric Taylor said it was a difficult situation because he supports economic development and wanted to listen to the community who showed their support for the rally. In an advisory measure, 63% of voters said they supported the event.
“As public safety our job is to give the truth to the council about what we can do and what our limitations will be,” he said. “My philosophy is to do everything I can to make it a successful event if they choose to host it.”
He said that at previous rallies, he has been able to provide up to two team leaders. He said he doesn’t have the staff to provide additional support this year.
“I will give him whatever help I can,” he said. “It’s going to be very limited.”
The rally dates back to the 1930s when hundreds of motorcycle enthusiasts gathered in the area for camaraderie, but its “biker” mystique began after the so-called “invasion” of Hollister by World War II veterans riding around the U.S. on used military motorcycles as part of the Gypsy Tour Races. This inspired the 1947 movie The Wild One with Marlon Brando. Since then, sanctioned and unsanctioned rallies have been held depending on the mood and finances of the city.
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