Complaints about Route 80 gridlock have never stopped Gooch's Garlic Run, which leads 2,000 or so current and retired police officers on motorcycles from the Rockaway Townsquare mall into New York City.

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Objections from one Manhattan neighborhood, though, managed to quash the 23rd annual run last Wednesday evening after the Blue Knights Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club of New Jersey IX was denied a parking permit in Little Italy.

Now the "Gooch" himself — retired Andover Township Police Lt. Al Monaco — says the group is writing off Manhattan and will use "either Newark or Hoboken" as their destination next year.

Monaco said the Blue Knights will continue assembling at the mall in Rockaway Township and using Route 80 — which, depending on one's perspective, is either a good or bad thing. But, barring a change of heart, the bikers have roared through the Lincoln Tunnel for the last time.

"We're certainly not going to New York City," Monaco said Thursday, adding, "A lot of people are upset the city shunned us."

Turf battles between New York and New Jersey are nothing new — possession of the Statue of Liberty and the names of the Jets and Giants jump to mind — and the Gooch's Garlic Run dispute is in keeping with that contentious tradition, albeit on a much smaller scale.

Monaco said the Blue Knights had a city parking permit for June 16, the original date, but were denied permission to reschedule when poor weather forced a weeklong postponement. He blamed a local community board that, in his view, "put enough pressure on City Hall" to scuttle the event.

Why would Community Board No. 2, which covers the Little Italy neighborhood, do such a thing?

It appears city residents were not thrilled with an influx of motorcyclists from, of all places, New Jersey. One published report even cited objections to all the fundraising — Gooch's Garlic Run aids families of children with life-threatening illnesses — going toward New Jersey families. Actually, two of the children benefitting from the run this year were New York City residents.

For at least the past few years, the neighborhood has objected to a couple thousand parked motorcycles tying up narrow city streets, along with lots of noise. Supposedly, some bikers tended to linger well beyond their agreed-to midnight departure. That sounds annoying, but isn't New York the city that never sleeps?

Monaco said the Blue Knights, at various points, agreed to multiple concessions. When the neighborhood voiced concerns about bikers parking on Mulberry Street, he said the Blue Knights agreed to move a few blocks over to City Hall.

"There was better security anyway," he said.

Monaco said parking permits were honored on several rain dates over the years. He assumed the same would happen last week.

Then, 24 hours before Wednesday's run was to start, the Blue Knights learned the permit would not be extended. Its executive board complained to the New York City Police Department's Fifth Precinct. City police officers said their hands were tied.

"The Fifth Precinct is blaming City Hall," he said.

Phone calls to Community Board No. 2 were not returned.

Here in Morris County, parking is not the issue with Gooch's Garlic Run — it's the annual rite's impact on Route 80 gridlock. The bikers get a police escort and traffic in both directions on 80 tends to grind to a halt, both leading up to and during the ride.

Safety concerns have also been raised, with some late-arriving bikers illegally riding along the westbound shoulder to reach the mall for the start.

The flip side is the good work accomplished by the riders. This year's run — Monaco said riders were still asked to contribute money despite the event's cancellation — was expected to raise $40,000 to be divided among four families.

Moreover, Gooch's Garlic Run is hardly the only event that ties up traffic in the name of a larger cause. The annual five-kilometer corporate footrace in Morristown, taking place this year on July 15, was nearly cancelled several years ago due to traffic concerns and ultimately pushed back a half-hour to 7:30 p.m.

Monaco, 55, retired four years ago from the Andover Township Police Department. He rides a Harley Davidson.

Asked what the ride in his name means to him, Monaco said, "Donating to the kids, helping the kids out and having a good time."

The "Gooch" nickname derives from Monaco's time in the police academy. He was 26 when he entered, several years older than other recruits.

"Guys started calling me 'Papa Gooch,"' he said.

Gooch's Garlic Run likely would draw far less driver ire if it took place, say, early on a Saturday morning, though that would certainly detract from the experience for the bikers.

From Monaco's perspective, the only thing that will change next year is the destination.

He said it "probably is a little bit shorter" to either Newark or Hoboken, adding, "We wouldn't have to worry about tolls at the tunnel."

Rob Jennings: (973) 428-6667; robjennings@gannett.com