Showing posts with label fireworks: 2008 issues. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fireworks: 2008 issues. Show all posts

November 16, 2008

Celerate the wildfires with fireworks!

So let's imagine the marketing discussion at the Chinese fireworks makers US distributors: "You know we can just sell fireworks on 4th of July. We need to make more money. Our Chinese suppliers can make an unlimited amount of fireworks and want us to sell more. We need to shoot off fireworks on every holiday! In fact we should consider shooting off fireworks to celebrate the Santa Ana wind season and opening of high fire season...you know they are so safe we can shoot them off under any conditions.." The the marketing manager gave the guy that came up with that idea a big bonus. Oh and dont forget to issue a phony sentiment in a press release that "our prayers go out to the firestorm victims"

Oh you think we are joking? When you visit TNT's website these are the holidays that they "suggest" using fireworks to "celebrate":

* » April Fools' Day
* » Arbor Day (plant a tree then burn it down with fireworks)
* » Chinese New Year
* » Christmas
* » Cinco de Mayo
* » Columbus Day
* » Easter
* » Father's Day
* » Grandparent's Day
* » Groundhog Day
* » Halloween
* » Independence Day
* » Kwanzaa
* » Labor Day
* » Mardi Gras
* » Memorial Day
* » Mother's Day
* » New Year's Eve
* » Rosh Hashanah
* » Saint Patrick's Day
* » Spring
* » Summer Solstice
* » Thanksgiving Day
* » Valentine's Day
* » Veteran's Day

Fireworks during a fire? A Glendale resident isn't happy
November 16, 2008

The air around parts of Los Angeles was filled with smoke from brush fires Saturday.

The air in Glendale was filled with fireworks smoke.

The Americana at Brand shopping center kicked off its holiday season with a pyrotechnic display that sent neighbors running outside in alarm.

"It was really an inappropriate display. This was not the time to shoot off fireworks," Glendale resident John Barnes said. "The hotels around here were filled Saturday with fire evacuees."

Americana at Brand spokeswoman Jennifer Gordon said the pyrotechnics were part of a Christmas tree lighting ceremony that couldn't be rescheduled. "We weren't trying to be insensitive. My mother is one of those who had to evacuate because of the fires today."

Barnes was watching TV coverage of the fires when the fireworks went off. He grabbed his video camera and shot the display and the smoke the fireworks produced as evidence.

To him, the holiday event ended with a thud, not a boom.

--Bob Pool


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

November 5, 2008

Dunrobin explosion: Northern Calif. version

Ahh fireworks. Don't you just love them especially when in the hands of people who dont know of Darwin's Law. This story reminds us very much of the Dunrobin street explosion in March 2006. The differences are that the explosion was smaller in Sunnyvale and caused less damage to surrounding structures (due to less explosive material) and the suspect in Sunnyville was injured more severely than in the Lakewood explosion.

Police say fireworks caused fire in Sunnyvale's downtown

By Cody Kraatz
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_10907024?nclick_check=1
Sunnyvale Sun
Article Launched: 11/05/2008

Sunnyvale's Department of Public Safety is investigating alleged criminal possession of explosives and/or fireworks after an explosion burned two men in a downtown Sunnvyale apartment, said DPS Capt. Doug Moretto.

Fire crews responded to the explosion in a lower-level apartment at 415 S. Sunnyvale Ave. on Oct. 26 at 7:25 a.m. The fire was quickly contained and extinguished.

Two men who were in the apartment were burned. Both were treated at the scene and taken to Valley Medical Center in San Jose.

David Weist, 48, is suspected of possessing and tampering with an illegal explosive, probably a large firework. Moretto said last week that he had not been arrested.

Weist's roommate, Dan Downen, had just finished wiping and hosing burns, blood and bits of finger off the walls last Thursday.

He said that Weist, whom he had not seen since the incident, had been in an induced coma and the previous day had emerged from a surgery that left him with only a pinky finger on one hand. The other man, who did not live there, had been treated for burns on his back, said Downen, who was home at the time of the explosion.

"I swear to God, it looked like my wall swelled like 2 feet. I went over there an opened the door, and there was nothing but smoke. [Weist's clothing] was on fire. I grabbed him, threw him down, ripped off the flames and patted him out," he said, adding that Weist had a history of "playing with fireworks." Moretto said.
DPS investigators, along with Santa Clara County bomb and fire investigators and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, were trying to determine what kind of explosive device Weist had.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

November 4, 2008

Change is here...in many ways

Well we had to laugh at this news tidbit which was over looked by most in all the excitement tonight. We were wondering if this was a silent nod to LAAG's anti fireworks position, a snub to China's fireworks exporters or an acknowledgement of Al Gore's position on global climate change. (humor intended here) In any event we find it refreshing that Obama felt that he did not need to cover a million people in the waiting crowd with smoke and ash to make a point. Words were patriotic/historic enough. We have said it before and we will say it again. Patriotism has nothing to do with fireworks. Its standing for principles.

Obama Canceled Fireworks for This Evening

November 05, 2008 1:05 AM

Given all the pomp and pageantry of past events for President-elect Obama, why was tonight's celebration speech so subdued?

That was intentional.

In fact. fireworks were originally planned for this evening, but President-elect Obama canceled them.

"Given the sobriety of the times, he didn't feel they were appropriate," senior adviser David Axelrod tells ABC News.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 27, 2008

Fireworks for Firefighers...now we have heard it all

When are the pyros going to stop? The article below from West Virginia actually contemplates shoring up sagging pensions funds for firefighters (which are already too high in CA) with the sales of currently illegal fireworks! Hey is you cant get taxpayers to do get the lobbiests to fund it peddling fire! This is too much. The legislators must be breathing in too much fireworks smoke and it has affected their thinking. When you read further you will see that the fireworks industry rakes in $900 million nationally per YEAR. (So maybe its just the effects of the fireworks money on the legislators)...All that pollution and California is just regulating leaf blowers and fireplaces for air quality? Also does anyone see just a little irony in using fire starting fireworks to fund the pensions of firemen? So we start more fires due to all the firework sales, then have to hire more fireman, then have to sell even more fireworks to fund their over bloated pensions. This creates a never ending cycle. Perhaps we should use drug sales to fund police departments (oh wait we already do with asset forfeitures...sorry what were we thinking).

Government never ceases to amaze me with stupidity. As former Senator Fritz Hollings said last week in an interview with Bill Moyers to promote his new book (Making Government Work)...the lobbyists on K street write the legislation as the legislators are too busy trying to go to fundraisers with lobbyists to raise money for re-election. There are two rules in politics: 1. get elected. 2. Get re-elected. Looks like the 900 million from the fireworks industry is being put to good use in the West Virginia legislature.


Published: July 26, 2008
Fireworks for firefighters?

Lawmakers look at source to provide revenue for pension fund
By Mannix Porterfield
Register-Herald Reporter
http://www.register-herald.com/local/local_story_208230000.html

Fireworks are a thing of majestic beauty and scientific marvel in the eyes of one beholder.

In the minds of some lawmakers, they could also provide a source of revenue to underwrite a pension fund for West Virginia’s volunteer firefighters, providing the beleaguered departments an incentive to attract fresh recruits and retain them.

Before the year is out, Select Committee F expects to hear retired Dow Chemical engineer Clifford Rotz explain how the state can benefit financially from legalizing fireworks.

For now, under state law, only the wimpy variety are kosher — the innocuous sparklers and the like.

The kind that shower the night skies with a burst of colors and loud noises — the rockets, Roman candles and firecrackers — remain illegal.

Rotz worked with Sens. Billy Wayne Bailey, D-Wyoming, Shirley Love, D-Fayette, and Ron Stollings, D-Boone, last winter on a failed bill that would let ordinary citizens buy and set off the so-called “explosive” fireworks, but the legislation never reached the Senate floor for a vote.

“I have no financial interest,” Rotz said. “I have just a personal interest. I’ve loved fireworks since I was kid growing up in Minnesota. My interest in fireworks and rocketry as a kid led me to study chemistry and science and ultimately to getting degrees in chemistry and physics at the University of Minnesota.”

After his master’s work in chemical engineering at Iowa State University, he moved to Charleston and began working for the former Union Carbide in 1981.

The Dunbar resident then began to share an affinity his colleagues hold for fireworks.

“Fireworks are, of course, a wonderful mixture of science, chemistry, art and beauty,” he said.

“One of my degrees is in chemistry. I enjoy studying the chemistry of how they work and seeing how different chemicals go into your different effects and colors, producing the effects they’re supposed to. I think it’s just kind of a bottom line, a kind of gut-level thing, where I think various people in the pyrotechnics field internationally love fireworks because there are so many different facets that are of interest, regardless of what your personal interests are in life.”

What the Big Bang theory holds forth in the Legislature is that several million dollars are there to be realized, allowing for creation of a pension fund for volunteer firefighters at a time the departments are struggling to keep their stations open for business. Rising fuel costs, workers’ compensation premiums and a difficult economy which compels many volunteers to hold down two jobs are taking their toll.

West Virginia has but 11 paid departments, and the 424 volunteer units have become a source of special legislative attention this year.

A full range of fireworks is legal in 18 states, but only a decade ago did West Virginia even permit the less threatening variety.

Firecrackers, if legalized, could contain no more than 50 milligrams of powder as approved by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

“A common aspirin tablet is 325 mgs, so the amount of powder in a firecracker is one-sixth of that inside an aspirin tablet,” Rotz said.

Decades ago, Rotz pointed out, states began outlawing fireworks in response to the carnage, at a time when no federal controls existed.

“Things like the M-80s and even bigger explosives were allowed, and a lot of kids were getting hurt,” Rotz said.

Consequently, rather than approach the issue from a selective basis, the tendency was to make all such fireworks illegal.

“Now, with the CPSC, we don’t have to ban all of them,” he said.

“There’s been a trend in this country over the past 30 years or so to actually re-legalize fireworks.”

Rotz is a member of Fireworks Alliance, which seeks to maintain a legal status for the devices, and Pyrotechnics Guild International. (wait I thought Rotz said he has no financial interest..LAAG) The latter meets annually, attracting thousands from across the nation — professionals, amateurs, businesses and the academics.

“There is a literature of fireworks as a rich heritage that goes back hundreds and hundreds of years,” Rotz said.

“People even collect rare books.”

From the standpoint of money — one that catches any politician’s eye — Rotz says that in 2006 fireworks amounted to a $900 million industry nationally.

Broken down, that amounted to 26.2 million pounds marketed to professional pyrotechnics and 252 million pounds to amateurs. (wow that is a big difference; LAAG) Using those figures, that means about $815 million worth were snapped up by individuals. Rotz considered the rural nature of West Virginia, where fireworks tend to be more popular than in suburban locales of other states, and figured this state could witness some $12.6 million in sales.

Imposition of a special, 10 percent fireworks safety fee could translate into some $1.26 million that could be applied to a firefighters pension account, which Rotz considers “a very, very noble” idea.

Rotz isn’t sure when he is to appear before Select Committee F, but one panelist, Sen. Mike Green, D-Raleigh, while not sold on the idea of legalized fireworks, intends to invite him.

“I’m still up in the air,” Green said.

“I’m not sure I’m a proponent of legalizing those fireworks. His take is that people are going up into Marietta, Ohio, and different places and bringing them in. There’s no oversight. I just don’t know what the public outcry or response would be for legalizing those things. But it’s something worth looking at to face the problems we have with the volunteer firemen.”

In the proposed legislation, no one under 16 could buy fireworks. Anyone under 18 would be required to wear some type of eye protection, such as goggles folks strap on while using weed-eaters. And, in every type of fireworks sold, a safety brochure for the proper use of handling must be included.

Modern history appears to be on the side of proponents such as Rotz.

Available data kept by the industry show the number of injuries has been falling “very, very rapidly” since the 1970s, even as more and more people are setting off fireworks, he said. (note there is no mention of pollution effects as that is a loosing argument the fireworks industry does not want investigated or discussed; oh and lets trust the lobbyist supplied data on injuries, which by the way are only for injuries on one day a year unlike all other injury statistics for other products; LAAG)

On its Web site, the American Pyrotechnics Association shows that 29 million pounds of fireworks were touched off in 1976, and there were an estimated 11,100 injuries, for a rate of 38.3 per 100,000 pounds. Two years ago, the consumption soared to 278.2 million pounds and injures had plummeted to 9,200, or a rate of 3.3 per 100,000. Growth in the industry has been nothing less than phenomenal. In 1997, it reported sales of $350 million, but two years ago, the figure had leaped to $900 million.

Contact Mannix by email at mannix@register-herald.com

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

An answer to our question

For some time now LAAG has posed the question: What to "civic groups" do to raise money in cities like Long Beach (the majority in CA) that have outlawed the sale of safe and sane fireworks? Well the story below is one answer. A golf tournament. Also then raised over 100,000 in donations. But I guess selling smoke and fire (also enriching the Chinese fireworks factories) is a more "environmentally friendly" way to raise quick cash. I think the problem we have with the economy right now is people trying to raise funds "the quick and easy way".

We post this story for the benefit of all the more enlightened cities (or rather city councils) out there battling the fireworks money/lobbyists and the civic groups who cry about not being able to raise the money via "bake sales" to replace the toxic fireworks sales. It can be done, but of course fireworks is the "quick and dirty" way to do it. Again, like selling crack, which another quick and easy way to make to make big profits.


L.B. Kiwanians raise $50,000 for campers
By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/26/2008 09:33:26 PM PDT

LONG BEACH - A $50,000 check from Kiwanis Club of Long Beach, made out to the Send-A-Kid-To-Camp program, has been presented to Press-Telegram Executive Editor Rich Archbold and columnist Tom Hennessy.

Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is an organization of service clubs headquartered in Indianapolis that emphasizes service to children and youth.

"The Kiwanis' mission is to essentially change the world one child and one community at a time," Long Beach Kiwanis President Bob Reilly said at the Tuesday luncheon where the check was presented. "I think if we don't take care of our children our future's going to look pretty dim."

Reilly encourages others to contribute to the youths in their community.

"If there's anything society can do it is take care of our children. Give them hope and educate them," he said.

Each year, proceeds from the club's annual golf tournament reach the $50,000 goal, but they hope to give more this year.

"We give as often as we can," Reilly said. "We would like to try and increase that this year to $60,000."

Hopes for campers

"We hope that for each child it's a life-changing experience for them," Reilly said. "Many of the kids we send to camp have never been to camp and many of the kids we send, even in Long Beach, have never seen the ocean that they live four to five miles from."

Every little bit helps, said Reilly.

"If you just get kids to do happy things for one week it's something they will never forget," he said.

"There's a famous person who once said `Suffer the little children,'... if there is any reason to take care of children, I'd think that would be one."

Kiwanis' Golf Tournament 2008 will be Oct. 27 at the Old Ranch Country Club, 3901 Lampson Ave., Seal Beach. It is open to the public. Entry fees are $250 per person. All proceeds are given to Send-A-Kid-

To-Camp. For information, call 562-495-3193.

Including the Kiwanis donation, $102,680 has been raised so far this year by 457 donors to help send kids to camp.

pam.hale@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1476

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 20, 2008

Will the fireworks money win like it did in Lakewood?

Well we wish Petaluma a lot of luck in dealing with the fireworks industry and their lobbyists (the so call civic groups or "non" profits) in the story below. I for one love to see all the money thrown around. Proof once again that its not patriotism but cash that drives the fireworks lobby. Its a bit like fighting the SUV driving soccer moms and their allies the oil companies when it comes to off shore drilling. Hey California only had one spill...Hey Petaluma only had a few fires caused by legal fireworks (that we KNOW of). Its very hard to wean people off their addiction to oil just like fireworks when the only immediate beneficiaries you can point to are the environment and the peace and quiet that all the other residents not working for a so called "civic group" enjoy (as do the animals). Where is Al Gore when you need him?


Battle over fireworks heats up
Council members favoring ban face opposition from nonprofit groups, pyrotechnics industry
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20080720/NEWS/807200384&title=Battle_over_fireworks_heats_up

By PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Published: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 4:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 10:55 a.m.
A political brawl shaping up in Petaluma over whether to outlaw fireworks could mirror one in Santa Rosa nearly five years ago that set records for campaign spending and ended in a citywide ban.

Battle lines were drawn during the recent Northern California wildfires when Petaluma Mayor Pam Torliatt appealed to the City Council to place a prohibition on the Nov. 4 ballot.

Although none of the fires were started by fireworks and there have been few mishaps in the city that can be traced to them, she said residents have expressed concern about dry conditions and are asking to put the matter to a vote.

Several council members appeared to support the idea and some said they favor an immediate ban to spare the $7,000 to $14,000 expense of an election. A decision is expected at the Monday council meeting.

"It becomes an issue and has been an issue over the years," Torliatt said July 7.

However, opposition is mounting from 16 city nonprofits who sell fireworks to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and leaders in the fireworks industry who organized the Santa Rosa campaign.

New rules suggested

Dennis Revell, a spokesman for American Promotional Events, the distributor of Red Devil, Freedom and TNT fireworks, said in a letter to Torliatt and council members that outlawing state-approved fireworks is wrong.

Instead of a ban, he asked the council to consider restricting sales and use and imposing stiffer fines for first-time violators, which could put money in city coffers.

Rather than allowing sales for the six days before the Fourth of July, Revell said the city could reduce it to four days. Likewise, the use of fireworks could be cut from 96 hours over 6½ days to 13 hours on the holiday only.

A fine of $1,000 would make people who possess or use illegal fireworks such as skyrockets say "ouch," Revell said in his letter.

"Everyone agrees that when it comes to fireworks, the problem has always been and continues to be illegal fireworks, not state-approved fireworks," Revell said.

Nonprofits also object to any ban.

Dick Sharke of the McDowell Drug Task Force said fireworks have allowed his group to raise an average of $53,000 a year since 1999 to spend on worthy programs that benefit students, Vietnam veterans and the poor.

He has vowed to fight any effort to stop fireworks.

"(The group) has been in the community for 26 years and has never asked for or received any local, state or federal funding," Sharke said in a letter to council.

Similar arguments were made in Santa Rosa in 2003, when the council enacted a ban after a house was destroyed by state-approved fireworks.

SR referendum lost

The fireworks industry brought a referendum to voters in March of the following year and lost, 57 percent to 43 percent. The two sides in the fight over Measure F spent a combined $372,130, a record for municipal elections in the county.

American Promotional Events, a Florence, Ala.-based fireworks distributor, and its allies spent more than $280,000.

Yes on Measure F forces spent $87,634. Most of the money came from companies that do business with the city or rely on the city for building approvals.

On Monday, the Petaluma council will consider options that could trigger similar responses from the industry and nonprofits.

Three scenarios

Fire Marshal Michael Ginn said the council can decide to place a ban on the November ballot, enact an outright prohibition or do nothing.

If the council enacts a ban, opponents likely would begin the referendum process to put the question to voters in November 2010, Ginn said.

Certification of a referendum would temporarily suspend any ban until voters can chime in, he said.

The Fire Department has long fought for restrictions over the years, but Ginn said there is little evidence that state-approved fireworks are to blame for fires.

On July 4, one person was cited for possession of illegal fireworks and a small grass fire was blamed on the legal kind, Ginn said.

The city will have to decide if the risks outweigh the benefits, he said.

"One misused firework and we could have something like what happened in Santa Rosa a few years ago," Ginn said. "I hate to be the guy saying, 'the sky is falling,' but the potential is there."

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 762-7297 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com.


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 18, 2008

Fundraising at any cost

This editorial writer below must have read some of LAAG's articles written in the November 2006 election cycle as the selling of drugs line sounds familiar. LAAG did not "advocate" the selling of drugs just nice legal ("safe and sane") cigarettes. Those sell really well, are high priced (good profit margin), sell year round, and have very reliable big companies behind them that I am sure would be willing to share a little profit "for the children" just like the fireworks companies. The added benefit of allowing this form of distrobution is that you get the kids to back the selling of the product. And who can argue against sales of anything that benefits kids!! Plus like fireworks, tobacco has a long "honored tradition" in this country. Its almost un-American not to grow and sell tobacco. Lets not forget that a few of the founding fathers were tobacco farmers. (long American tradition as you recall is a big agrument fireworks promoters try to throw in if the "children" argument does not work on someone) And tobacco is still grown today. Plus its totally legal and when used responsibly does not start fires.(so we could label them "safe and sane" ciagarettes...but just the ones sold for the kids) So whats the problem? Well you see cigarettes got a bum rap a few years back by these darn "health advocates" as we learned that even though people really like them it turns out they have no redeeming qualities and cause harm...sort of like fireworks. Sooner or later as the effects of global warming ravish this state and fires are a year round condition and people have to pay a carbon tax for the air pollution they cause (via fireworks), perhaps the civics groups and the "kiddies" will have to give cigarette sales another look. After all the ends always justify the means when comes to the kiddies new baseball uniforms right?

OP ED: MY TURN - July 16, 2008
By Peter S. Beck, Pacifica CA
Article Launched: 07/16/2008 02:00:00 PM PDT
http://www.pacificatribune.com/ci_9900406?source=most_viewed

Every year on the 4th of July, our city becomes one of only a few in the entire Bay Area to allow fireworks to be sold and ignited within the limits of the city.

Not only do we allow it, we pursue the sale of fireworks with such abandon, that we attract citizens of many other, more sane communities, to our rapidly constructed, temporary sales offices.

For the 17 years that I have lived in this city, I have read the numerous arguments for preserving this idiotic tradition.

It is always the same drivel, "without the fireworks revenue, our programs could not survive", or "We would have to pursue other means to raise the money that would never make as much money as the sale of fireworks", or "We make all the money we need all year in just a few days selling fireworks".

Might I suggest a few alternative measures: sell drugs, sure they're illegal, but with a little effort, our local city council could probably declare them necessary to support our various civic programs.

But drugs are harmful and people get addicted, you might say. No more addicted than all the people in our city who simply must celebrate the birth of our nation, by blowing up fireworks all night long.

Actually, that makes a lot of sense, if you blow up fireworks, you don't have to think about the sacrifices our forefathers made to establish and nurture our great country. Blowing up fireworks makes us all as smart as 5th graders and isn't that what we all strive for?

Don't you love the signs on all of our fireworks stores? "Pacifica is a Zero Tolerance City".

If you have no tolerance, you have to be able to enforce it don't you? Like keeping dogs on leashes, driving 45 miles per hour on Highway 1, actually signaling when you make a turn, or even granting the right of way to the other driver.

Yes sir, we are a no tolerance city alright, the only problem is, that nobody cares and we can't do anything to stop it. So let's see, we've discussed selling drugs as an alternative, if that doesn't work, let's sell cigarettes and liquor to all of our underage residents. I bet that will give us enough revenue to support all of our civic programs.

Let's stretch our virtual reality a bit. Suppose your entire state is engulfed in wildfires. There are over 18,000 firefighters working day and night to control these wildfires. Highways adjacent to many of these fires have been closed to all traffic and, to top it all off, we have been warned to stay indoors because the wildfire smoke air we are breathing is dangerous.

What do we do to help this situation? Why here in our city, we sell fireworks and encourage everyone to set them off adding both smoke and danger to an already dangerous situation.

I realize that this sounds a little stupid, but how will we ever be able to pay for all of our civic programs without fireworks?

So let's cut down all the redwoods and sell the wood, let's burn down the forests and pollute the air because, by George, we need that revenue to run our civic programs and coming up with alternatives just takes too much thought and too much effort. Wait till next year, we'll have even bigger and better bombs for sale.

Maybe next year we can add rifles, pistols and a few rocket launchers too. Happy 4th of July folks and keep those excuses coming.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 6, 2008

Getting to the bottom of the fireworks enforcement problem

As LASD refuses to post up to date daily crime and call logs LAAG is forced to make Public Records Act (PRA) requests, which are usually only partly honored, if at all. The problem with the PRA in California is that there really is no teeth in the law. Government entities flout it and LASD I am sure is one of the best at doing so. Again as we have reported before, they don't want taxpayers to have detailed up to date crime info as it would show things are worse than they are telling you in the PR spin the council gives us via the council controlled publications we get. Secondly, they don't want you to know how little they really are doing to fight crime and "quality of life" problems (such as fireworks scofflaws). All the city council does is throw more money at it in terms of LASD overtime. It is almost like a kick back. Paying LASD more money is like pouring money down a rat hole: you will never see it again and it sure won't do you any good.

In any event our PRA sent to LASD today is reprinted in part below. We'll see what happens.

July 6, 2008
Total of 3 page(s) via e mail
PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST

Custodian of Records for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept.
Risk Management Bureau

Dear Custodian of Records:

Pursuant to the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.), we seek to inspect and or obtain a copy of the following, which we understand to be in the possession, custody or control of your agency or department:

All the following records should be organized into these time periods and related only to the city of Lakewood:

July 3, 7:00am to July 6 700am 2005
July 3, 7:00am to July 6 700am 2006
July 3, 7:00am to July 6 700am 2007
July 3, 7:00am to July 6 700am 2008

Any and all DOCUMENTS (see fn 1) depicting, evidencing, referencing, referring, relating or pertaining to:

1. Any or all calls related to fireworks (calls for service) (along with address information on the calls)

2. Any or all dispatches of units for the calls above or related to fireworks complaints (along with address information on the dispatches)

3. Any or all citations issued related to fireworks calls or as a result of the dispatches in 2 above (along with address information on the cites)

4. Total overtime hours for LASD personnel including but not limited to total cost to city of Lakewood for such overtime;

5. Any or all injuries reported/discovered on 1 or 2 above or calls where LASD assisted with LA County Fire Dept. on the calls (along with address information on the calls);

6. Notwithstanding the foregoing dates, all reports related to any fireworks calls or injuries within 1000 feet of any side of Jose San Martin Park or Del Valle Park from July 3, 7:00am to July 6 700am 2008


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

As memories of the 3/06 Dunrobin explosion fade...

Well it looks like things are back to "normal" in Lakewood. Fireworks problems (legal and illegal) are "better" than they were in July 2004-2005 but not as good as 2006-2007 (post Dunrobin explosion March 2006). One thing is for sure: Lakewood fireworks users don't give a damn about fires in CA! "Just give us our damn fireworks!" For all this overtime we taxpayers are paying for I never saw one sheriff car this July 4 (compared to numerous sightings on July 4, 2006). Hmmm makes you wonder if they spent all that 2008 overtime sitting behind some store.....or watching those new flat screens in the new 20 million dollar sheriff "palace"...We also wonder what portion of Lakewood's sheriff overtime money was spent in Lakewood vs some other nearby cities. From some of the reports (see #5) it sounds as if we may need to call out the national guard. I do know no one at the Lakewood Station takes vacation on July 4, but it sounds to me like they might as well.

LAAG readers report they are not too happy either..here are some reports:

Report 1:

You may wish to be attentive to a news story, or other area resident's stories, regarding a drunk 18 year old igniting illegal fireworks and possibly a stick of dynamite near San Martin Park late last night. It is my understanding that a dozen homes in the area, and cars, were damaged by the blast, including the 18 yr old having a chunk of his leg blown off. Lakewood city hired 50 deputies on overtime (time and a half) to patrol the streets for firework scofflaws. They began at 2 pm and virtually had no activity until 8 pm. So for six hours, 50 deputies fed at the city trough. The new fines and citations won't begin to offset the costs of a police presence. The amount of illegal fireworks I witnessed didn't seem any less then any other year. When you consider the city costs for all of this, you'd think we would come out ahead if the city just went ahead and gifted public funds to the football/soccer/baseball/cheerleader or whatever who claim they can't make it without firework stands. It has to be less then what we are paying deputies to drive around. As for the news story, I haven't seen anything about it yet. But possibly you have some readers that live in the area that are more informed.

Report 2:

We saw a bunch of police cars near the park, but we didn't know exactly what was going on because we had our own issue going on over here. One of our neighbors was shooting off huge illegal fireworks and we called LASD but the only thing they did was come by an HOUR later, then they took one look around the street, found nothing and then left. The neighbors then continued shooting off illegal fireworks until 1 a.m. .... Seriously. This city is a JOKE.

Report 3:

Lakewood sheriffs are the laziest pieces of trash I have ever seen in my life. On the 4th of july our very inconsiderate neighbors fired numerous illegal fire works off and when I called the sheriff's department I got a volunteer that took my complaint and knew nothing about the laws on fireworks in Lakewood. I had to tell him the law on it!

Then I told him that these people here are shooting of the illegal fireworks and hiding them in a vehicle nearby. The stupid, lazy sheriff came one hour later, rolled up in their squad car with police lights on one block away and, of course, all the illegal activity stops. They did the same tactic last year.

If reports come out this year that there were less people cited or arrested, it's not because things are better, it's because the LASD have figured out how to do less work. The sheriff who finally came by, didn't even shine his lights into the vehicle that contained all the illegal fireworks.

Now, if you wanted to catch these people, WHY would you run the police lights up and down the block you might ask? Because they don't want to fill out all the paperwork that would be involved. And why don't they make more arrests? Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork, and crap they would get from the jailers for making their 4th of july a lot more work-intensive.

What's the final outcome? Sheriffs are pissed off because they have to work on this holiday and they're going to do as little as possible; the jailers are pissed off if they have to do any extra work; and the law-abiding homeowners are pissed off because nothing is being done on their behalf; The only ones who benefit are the criminals who destroy property and maim others with not only illegal fireworks, but with "Safe and Sane" fireworks as well.

The other problem is that the so-called "Safe and Sane" people shoot off their fireworks right alongside the illegal people. So, next year I wonder what would happen if people put up signs in the neighboring cities that say something like: "THE CITY OF LAKEWOOD WELCOMES ALL FIREWORKS" because by not showing up and cleaning up this mess, that is essentially what they are doing--condoning it. And then call and call to report all the illegal activity going on. Videotape the illegal acts and send a copy to the Mayor and the rest of his Lakewood cronies who probably had a very good night's sleep last night.

Report 4:

I heard a similar story about this [stick of dynamite near San Martin Park], but it was my understanding that it was near Del Valle Park on Woodruff, not San Martin Park. What I heard was similar to what you said: a large explosive device, damaged cars and some drunk injured and arrested.

Report 5:

...With the shortage of trained Lakewood deputies, most of the two man cars assigned to firework abatement were filled on overtime by jail deputies with no patrol experience. And virtually in all of the contacts that deputies made during the night for fireworks, the were confronted with large groups of drunk individuals. Opting to get involved in a major disturbance or confrontation with odds not in their favor, most deputies avoided contact. They were outnumbered and back up wasn't always available. And in many areas of East Lakewood and Hawaiian Gardens, deputies were confronted with drunks firing handguns, rifles and shotguns in the air. Confrontations could have been tragic and the judgement of the deputies to become involved would have certainly been questioned. There wasn't anyway for them to come out with a win situation.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

July 4, 2008

"Green" Fireworks...the marketers at work

What is missing from the articles below is a discussion of so called "safe and sane" fireworks pollution and a real discussion about the effects of chemicals in the runoff after such "safe and sane" (aka "legal") fireworks have been shot off (burned) on the asphalt. What is in all that residue people wash off the streets and sidewalks into the storm drains and into the ocean? Has anyone tested it? Can you imagine how much of the toxic brew of chemicals is ending up in the ocean just from the safe and sane users in LA County alone?

Also the articles point out the little known effects of all these dangerous chemicals. It is amazing to us what outrage there has been by parents over lead in consumer products from China yet parents are more than willing to expose their kids to these toxic fumes from Chinese fireworks without batting an eye. Silly.

When you buy some "safe and sane" fireworks this year ask the sellers what they think about all this. You will get a blank stare and given the number of the PR agent for the smoke and fire distributors (or you can call China)

Also the mere fact that they are trying to make fireworks "greener" tells you that there is a problem. "Green fireworks" Wonderful. Now we will have the PR spinmeisters selling "safe, sane and green" fireworks when nothing could be further from the truth. Reminds me of the "smokeless", "low tar" and "light" cigarette campaigns.

Chemists brew 'greener' fireworks
Posted by Elsa Wenzel
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/86/8626cover.html

Researchers are working to reduce the pollution left by the shooting stars and bursting bombs that spangle skies in fireworks displays.

Efforts by Walt Disney and the military are driving the changes, according to a report by Bethany Halford in Chemical and Engineering News.
Fireworks

Fireworks may not cause ecological catastrophes, but researchers are exploring recipes that pose fewer health hazards.
(Credit: Sabrina Campagna via Flickr)

Fireworks have become more colorful within the last two centuries, but the basic technology hasn't changed much in 800 or more years since early forms of gunpowder were likely used in rituals and battles in China.

Staple ingredients are a fuel to create heat and an oxidizer to accelerate burning. Additional chemicals slow the burn, making the light show last longer.

Pyrotechnic cocktails borrow from the Periodic Table of the Elements for color.

Strontium and lithium may be used for red, barium and copper lead for green, and sodium glows golden. Calcium deepens colors. Zinc makes smoke clouds, aluminum sparkles, and antimony adds glitter.

In the past, lead and mercury were in the mix.

Among the toxic culprits being addressed lately, potassium perchlorate is a reliable and inexpensive oxidizer, but it has been connected to cancers and thyroid problems.

Environmental Protection Agency analysis of an Oklahoma lake between 2004 and 2006 found that levels of perchlorate rose in some instances as high as 1,000 times above normal after fireworks shows.

And fireworks can lead to hazier summer days, exacerbating asthma sufferers.

Scientists in Germany and at Los Alamos National Laboratory have explored reducing perchlorate, smoke, and carbon by using substances rich in nitrogen.

Los Alamos researchers responded to complaints some 10 years ago from Anaheim, Calif., residents about pollution from fireworks shows every night at Disneyland.

The theme park in 2004 announced it was adopting safer air cannons that use compressed air instead of a chemical propellant, eliminating black smoke.

DMD Systems of Los Alamos, N.M., uses nitrocellulose to create fireworks with less smoke and more eye-popping colors.

More customers are asking DMD for low-smoke fireworks, which are ideal for indoor displays, Halford noted.

Unless demand expands for eco-friendly pyrotechnics, which can cost twice as much as the majority (which are assembled cheaply in China), they probably won't splash in the skies any holiday soon, Halford told CNET.

Scientists at the University of Munich and Vienna University are thus focusing on low-smoke military flares rather than recreational fireworks.

There appears to be no solid estimate of how much pollution fireworks cause, but the ecological damage is relatively minimal, Halford added.

For instance, most releases of perchlorate come from rocket fuel and other military uses. And heavy metals from fireworks tend to disperse quickly in the environment.

Improperly-handled explosives likely pose more imminent dangers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission counted fireworks-related injuries in 9,600 people in 2004. The rate of injuries per amount of fireworks released has declined in the early 2000s to nearly one-third the level of the early 1990s, according to the National Council on Fireworks Safety.

These tips for "greening" Independence Day celebrations come from the Environmental News Network.


http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fireworks4-2008jul04,0,245124,full.story
From the Los Angeles Times
Along with beauty, fireworks create a beastly mix of pollutants
Traces of metals, fuels and other toxics can stay in the air and water for days, even months. Scientists are creating cleaner versions, but they're still not widely used.
By Marla Cone
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

July 4, 2008

When the rockets and the bombs burst in the air tonight, spectators will experience more than a spectacular show celebrating America's birthday.

When their blends of black powder, metals, oxidizers, fuels and other toxic ingredients are ignited, traces wind up in the environment, often spreading long distances and lasting for days, even months.

Although pyrotechnic experts are developing environmentally friendly fireworks, Fourth of July revelers this year will be watching essentially the same high-polluting technology that their grandparents experienced decades ago.

Throughout the Los Angeles region, concentrations of fine particles, or carbon soot, skyrocket for up to 24 hours after the Independence Day shows, reaching levels as high as those from wildfires.

Public health officials warn that people with heart problems or respiratory diseases, such as asthma, should avoid the smoky celebrations, staying upwind or indoors.

"I enjoy a fireworks display as much as anyone else, but we do have concerns about exposure to high levels of smoke and particles," said Jean Ospital, health effects officer for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Also, traces of poisonous metals, which give fireworks their bright colors, and perchlorate, a hormone-altering substance used as an oxidizer, trickle to the ground, contaminating waterways.

One Environmental Protection Agency study found that perchlorate levels in an Oklahoma lake rose 1,000-fold after a fireworks display, and they stayed high in some areas for up to 80 days.

European chemists Georg Steinhauser and Thomas Klapotke wrote in a recent scientific journal that "several poisonous substances are known to be released in the course of a pyrotechnic application" and that they are dispersed over a large area.

"It is clear from a vast array of studies that traditional pyrotechnics are a severe source of pollution," they wrote.

The black powder, or gunpowder, used in most fireworks has an extremely high carbon content; when ignited, it fills the air with fine particles capable of inflaming airways and lodging in lungs.

Every July 4 and 5, the Los Angeles region suffers "generally poor air quality for particulates," said Philip Fine, the AQMD's atmospheric measurements manager.

Particulates can cause coughing, sore throats and burning eyes. For people with asthma or other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, the effects are much worse. Hospital admissions and deaths from asthma, heart attacks and respiratory disease increase whenever particulate levels rise.

In the areas around fireworks displays, particulate levels increase about 100-fold and don't return to normal until around midday on July 5, according to AQMD data.

During a fireworks show in Indio in 2004, particulate measurements peaked at 847 micrograms per cubic meter of air, nearly six times the federal health standard. Particulate readings are averaged over a 24-hour period, so that was not technically a federal violation.

Metals in the air also surge, although they do not exceed state health guidelines. Nonetheless, they build up in waterways and soil.

Ironically, green-colored fireworks are the least "green" because the metal that produces the color, barium, is highly poisonous.

Scientists in India found that airborne barium increased by a factor of 1,000 after a huge fireworks display there. Strontium, which creates red, and copper, which forms a blue hue, can also be toxic.

"The use of heavy metals like barium or strontium should be reduced or, if possible, avoided," said Karina Tarantik, a chemist at the University of Munich in Germany whose lab is working on cleaner pyrotechnics.

Much of the new research has been propelled by concern over perchlorate, which has been used since the 1930s to provide oxygen for pyrotechnic explosions.

Perchlorate, which has contaminated many drinking water supplies from military and aerospace operations, can impair the function of the thyroid gland by blocking the intake of iodide. Fetuses are most at risk, because thyroid hormones regulate their growth.

Scientists have made significant advances in low-smoke and perchlorate-free technologies, prompted by the military, which uses flares and other pyrotechnics, and by Walt Disney Co., which stages about 2,000 fireworks displays a year.

In the late 1990s, Disney approached the Los Alamos National Laboratory with a request to develop cleaner fireworks to reduce smoke at Disneyland, which was prompting complaints to the AQMD from neighbors in Anaheim.

Instead of carbon-based materials, scientists there experimented with nitrogen atoms, which produced far less soot and smoke.

"In addition, because the high-nitrogen materials burn more cleanly, you could use less coloring agents. We were able to get much nicer colors with . . . less metals," said David Chavez, a materials chemist at Los Alamos.

Based on those experiments, Los Alamos chemists Michael Hiskey and Darren Naud took an entrepreneurial leave and founded DMD Systems.

Their fireworks use nitrocellulose, which is inexpensive and plentiful, and they emit water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide instead of smoke and perchlorate, Hiskey said. The metal content has been reduced by about 90%, he said.

The cost is about the same as for other U.S.-manufactured fireworks. Disney World in Florida has used his company's comets for about six months.

Disneyland developed aerial launchers that replaced black powder with compressed air in 2004. The resort puts on more than 200 fireworks shows each year, burning about 60,000 pounds of fireworks, far more than all the other theme parks and stadiums in the region combined.

"Now we're on a path toward creating the next generation of fireworks," said Disney Imagineering spokeswoman Marilyn Waters.

She said that other ultra-low-smoke and perchlorate-free technologies are already used in some Disney shows in Anaheim, Florida and Hong Kong and that an international team of vendors and scientists is testing more innovations.

But municipalities and civic groups, which buy inexpensive fireworks from China, can't afford the cleaner ones for their Independence Day celebration. So far, they cost about 10 times more than the Chinese-made ones.

"Everything they get is from China," Hiskey said. "It's going to be very difficult to break the China habit."

But John Conkling, an adjunct professor of chemistry at Washington College in Maryland and former executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Assn., is confident that environmental concerns are driving the industry.

"Certainly if we can replace perchlorates, the world will be a better place," he said.

"I'm optimistic that we will have fireworks shows down the road with much less perchlorate, if any, and we'll still have the spectacular shows we've always had," Conkling said. "I expect even by next season there will be less perchlorate in fireworks. Within a five- to 10-year period, we'll see major, major changes."

In the meantime, Hiskey has some Fourth of July advice: Where there's smoke, there are toxic substances.

"If I'm having trouble seeing things because it's so smoky, if the smoke is headed toward the crowd, that really stinks," he said.

marla.cone@latimes.com

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™r>
click here to receive LAAG posts by email

June 15, 2008

Status of Fireworks Displays and Fireworks Regulation in the South Coast Air Basin

We find this report below very interesting and see it as a good first step. I see no reason why lawnmowers and light bulbs should be regulated for greenhouse gas problems (and other toxic air pollution issues) but not some of the most polluting stuff out there: fireworks. Also what do you think the effect is of everyone in the country shooting off backyard fireworks all during the month of July every year? Any idiot could surmise that the combined environmental detriment of all those backyard fireworks far outpaces the damages from one these theme park's 15 minute pro fireworks displays. Yet there is no investigation by AQMD or EPA. Hmmmm. Also the other thing that we like to point out is most other sources of pollution have a real and tangible benefit. For example cars help move people around. What tangible benefit do fireworks have other than excite pyros and enrich the Chinese manufactures and the US distributors of this "perchlorate porn"? Oh that's right it helps the kiddies buy new baseball uniforms...well never mind then....

We also find this gem of a code section in the report linked at the end of this article:

AQMD Rule 402; Nuisance & California Health and Safety Code sec. 41700-Nuisance
– "No Person Shall Discharge Pollutants, prohibit any person from discharging from any source whatsoever such quantities of air contaminants or other material which cause injury, detriment, nuisance, or annoyance to any considerable number of persons or to the public, or which endanger the comfort, repose, health or safety of any such persons or the public, or which cause, or have a natural tendency to cause, injury or damage to business or property. The only exemption contained in Rule 401/H&S Code 41700 is for odors emanating from agricultural operations necessary for the growing of crops or the raising of fowl or animals."


BOARD MEETING DATE: July 9, 2004
AGENDA NO. 25
REPORT:

White Paper on Status of Fireworks Displays and Fireworks Regulation in the South Coast Air Basin and Recommendation to Seek Letter of Agreement from Disneyland Resort

SYNOPSIS:

Various theme parks throughout Southern California routinely conduct nighttime ground level and aerial fireworks and pyrotechnic displays as part of their public entertainment programs. AQMD Rule 219 specifically exempts from written permitting requirements pyrotechnic equipment, special effects, or fireworks paraphernalia equipment that is used for entertainment purposes. However, fireworks and pyrotechnic displays are subject to AQMD visible emissions and public nuisance prohibitory rules. Staff has prepared a white paper that reviews complaint history regarding fireworks displays; and describes AB2588 Risk Assessment, AQMD particulate sampling analysis results, and current and proposed strategies at one theme park to reduce emissions from fireworks displays. The white paper also provides options developed by staff for the Board's consideration, regarding fireworks displays and/or potential AQMD regulations or activities to further mitigate emissions from fireworks displays and equipment.

COMMITTEE:

Stationary Source, January 23 and June 25, 2004, Reviewed and Recommended Alternative Action (Status Report Only)

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

1. Receive and file white paper.

2. Approve staff recommendations to:

a) Pursue a Letter of Agreement with Disneyland Resorts to continue development and implementation of alternative and new technologies to reduce total emissions and smoke resulting from fireworks and pyrotechnic displays; and
b) Report back to the Board annually regarding smoke reduction progress at the end of the next two summer seasons.

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

Historically, AQMD and predecessor local county air pollution control agencies have exempted from permitting requirements pyrotechnic equipment, special effects, or fireworks paraphernalia. AQMD Rule 219 - Exemptions from Written Permit Requirements specifically exempts pyrotechnic equipment from permit requirements. AQMD prohibitory Rule 444 - Open Burning, also provides exemption from rule provisions for various fireworks and pyrotechnics activities. However, AQMD Rules 401 - Visible Emissions, and 402 – Nuisance, do not provide exemption for emissions from fireworks displays or pyrotechnics used in the creation of special effects at theme parks.

Disneyland Resorts, Anaheim, has used both aerial and ground level fireworks displays and pyrotechnics special effects as part of various public entertainment programs since 1956. AQMD has received seventy-three (73) public complaints alleging smoke and fallout due to fireworks from 1991 to present. AQMD has investigated these complaints but has been unable to substantiate the occurrence of any air quality violations as the number of complainants on any one occasion has not yet reached the threshold necessary to establish the legal requirement for a “considerable number” of affected persons.

In January 2002, Mr. William Fitzgerald, a board member representing “Anaheim Home Owners Maintaining Their Environment (HOME)” expressed concerns to the AQMD Governing Board regarding possible adverse air quality and health impacts resulting from exposure to emissions from multiple fireworks displays at Disneyland Resorts in Anaheim. AQMD further investigated this complaint and reviewed Disneyland Resorts’ AB2588 Health Risk Assessments of which the first was submitted in 1991 and subsequently updated in 1998 and 2000. The last two updates included emissions from all fireworks related activities conducted at the facility. These updated assessments showed that the facility Cancer Risks and Non-Cancer Hazard Index values were well below any notification requirements of AB2588 or the action levels of Rule 1402 - Control of Toxic Air Contaminants from Existing Sources.

Additionally, AQMD conducted air particulate sampling downwind of Disneyland Resort during fireworks display activities in March and June of 2002. The collected samples were processed in the AQMD Laboratory and the results were reviewed by the AQMD’s Health Effects Officer. The review showed no exceedances of the State’s Reference Exposure Levels (RELs).

To gain a broader perspective of fireworks displays in the South Coast Air Basin, AQMD staff also evaluated the fireworks display activities of four other Southern California entertainment theme parks and two professional baseball parks. When compared to Disneyland Resorts, these facilities conduct fewer fireworks displays and therefore use less pyrotechnics materials in their shows. Also, AQMD’s review found no public complaints regarding fireworks displays at these parks.

In August 2003, Mr. Fitzgerald expressed his concerns again to the AQMD Governing Board. In response to Mr. Fitzgerald’s subsequent concerns about emissions from Disneyland’s fireworks the AQMD Board directed AQMD staff to present an overview of the fireworks activities at Disneyland to the Stationary Source Committee. On January 23, 2004, and subsequently on June 25, 2004, AQMD staff made presentations on “Disneyland Fireworks Show and Air Quality Issues” to the Stationary Source Committee. The overview provided a historical summary of Disneyland’s aerial fireworks displays, complaint history, air quality concerns, AQMD actions to date, applicable AQMD rules, review of Disneyland’s AB2588 Health Risk Assessments, AQMD’s 2002 Disneyland sampling project and results, and Disneyland’s fireworks modifications and projected research to reduce visible emissions and odors. At the January 23, 2004 meeting, the Stationary Source Committee recommended that this information be presented to the full AQMD Governing Board for their review.

In preparation for the Board review, AQMD staff prepared the attached white paper “Status of Fireworks Displays and Fireworks Regulations in the South Coast Air Basin.” The report is a comprehensive review of AQMD’s regulations with respect to fireworks displays, complaint history, AQMD investigations and actions, and review of Disneyland Resorts and other entertainment park facilities’ fireworks activities. The report includes updated Disneyland Resorts information regarding new fireworks air launch technology and future low-smoke and ultra-low smoke explosives developments, which decrease the use of black powder, resulting in reduced ground-level visible smoke and odors. As a result of the research and experimental work accomplished by Disneyland Resort, their proposed 2004 fireworks net explosives are reduced by 33 percent in weight compared to material used in 2003.

Future Considerations

Based on the information available to date and as discussed in the white paper, AQMD staff provides the following response options for the Board’s consideration:

1. Continue to monitor local progress towards the development and use of air launch systems and low- and ultra-low smoke technologies with no change to current AQMD rule requirements and exemptions.
2. Initiate rule amendment activities that would remove the current AQMD Rule 219 exemption and require permitting of various fireworks and pyrotechnics related equipment and activities.
3. Initiate rule amendment activities to remove the current Rule 444 exemption and require the reporting and management of smoke related emissions from the detonation of fireworks and pyrotechnics related materials.
4. Enter into a Letter of Agreement with Disneyland Resorts to continue development and implementation of alternative and new technologies to reduce total emissions and smoke resulting from fireworks and pyrotechnic displays.

Staff Recommendation

Staff proposes 1) to seek a Letter of Agreement in which Disneyland Resorts commits to the continued use and ongoing evaluation and refinement of air launching technologies for aerial fireworks displays as well as continued research into the use and availability of low-smoke and ultra-low smoke explosives for use in their aerial fireworks displays with the goal of phased implementation of such technologies beginning in 2004 and through 2005-2007; and monitor the progress of these smoke reduction efforts and report back to the Board annually at the end of the next two summer seasons regarding the status of these efforts and their success in reducing firework emissions impact on Anaheim residents. However, it should be noted that the Stationary Source Committee recommended an annual status report only without a Letter of Agreement.

White Paper on Status of Fireworks Displays and Fireworks Regulations in the South Coast Air Basin


Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

May 27, 2008

Sen. Feinstein wants perchlorate polluters to pay

I really don't think this is going to get anywhere. Like most mass pollution cases one company will blame all the others nearby. Still no one at EPA is looking at the spent residue washed off the street after the "safe and sane" fireworks are used. That is a possible source of perchlorate contamination as well, at least in the coastal waters where we have all the other run off pollution problems. That is also not even mentioning the horrible air pollution problem for the days surrounding July 4th due to legal "personal use" fireworks. It seems people that peddle fireworks get a free pass on air pollution (due to its "fund raising" factor) while everyone else runs out and buys a Prius and gets compact florescent bulbs to save the air. Politics.

Senator on the alert
Feinstein wants suspected polluters to pay up now
Jason Pesick, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/25/2008 10:46:13 PM PDT

RIALTO - Sen. Dianne Feinstein wants companies suspected of polluting the city's groundwater to pay for safe drinking water while a final cleanup strategy is devised.

"Given that identifying and implementing a final remedy will likely take several years, it is appropriate for the responsible parties to assume the burden of providing clean drinking water in the interim," the influential California Democrat recently wrote in a letter to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C.

The water is contaminated with perchlorate, a chemical used to produce explosives like rocket fuel and fireworks.

"Seven years have gone by. The residents are squeezed to the limit," said Barry Groveman, a lawyer for the West Valley Water District, which provides almost all of the city's drinking water along with Rialto's water department.

The perchlorate and a toxic industrial cleaner have spread into underground water, though contaminated water is not served to residents. Perchlorate can interfere with the thyroid gland, which plays a role in metabolism and mental and physical development.

Rialto customers have a perchlorate surcharge on their water bills, and it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars a year to operate the treatment systems.

Groveman said the suspected polluters - Rialto has identified more than 40 - will be less likely to employ creative delay tactics as the state and EPA try to make them clean up the contamination if they must pay to provide clean water in the meantime.

In March, Feinstein wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson saying the agency should order suspected polluters to provide replacement water.

The replacement water is particularly important as Rialto tries to build new residential developments that need water services, said Rialto City Councilman Ed Scott.

"We have to have drinking water for the city," he said.

EPA officials have said they would like to use their resources to develop a cleanup plan, not to fight for replacement water.

"It's a question of priority and a question of what they would accomplish," said Wayne Praskins, the EPA project manager assigned to Rialto.

On May 13, Feinstein sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter saying any settlement between state agencies and suspected polluters should include providing clean water.

The calls from Feinstein and Groveman for replacement water come amid rumors an agency is nearing completion of settlement talks with three of the suspected polluters.

The Riverside-based Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board is conducting the talks.

Kurt Berchtold, the board's assistant executive officer, would not comment on whether negotiators are seeking replacement water from the suspected polluters - Goodrich, the Black and Decker entity Emhart and Pyro Spectaculars.

But he did note that an earlier draft order from the board's staff included a call for replacement water at some wells.

Berchtold said he does not believe the board can order replacement water for wells contaminated with levels of perchlorate below the state standard of 6 parts per billion. Most of the West Valley wells are contaminated below that standard.

Groveman, the author of much of the relevant water code, did not concur.

"I respectfully disagree. These are more bureaucratic reasons not to do things," he said.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

May 22, 2008

Buena Park restricts 'safe and sane' fireworks

It is a small concession but we would like to see a lot more of these types of "use" restrictions especially given the police costs "safe and sane" fireworks force cities to incur. And with many cities facing a "Vallejo dilemma" any budget cost that can be cut is welcomed, especially in the public safety arena as those costs are so inflated to begin with (for what you really get in terms of effectiveness).

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Buena Park restricts 'safe and sane' fireworks
Residents will no longer get to light up on busy La Palma Avenue.
By SERENA MARIA DANIELS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fireworks-park-buena-2041950-year-city#

BUENA PARK – Residents wanting to light up fireworks this Fourth of July will face more restrictions after the city banned them on a strip of La Palma Avenue that's usually overrun with celebrants.

La Palma, between Western Avenue and El Monte Drive, has for years been home to as many as 3,000 people, all in the street, blocking traffic to get a spot to see the fireworks show at Knott's Berry Farm.

While they're waiting, many light up their own legal fireworks on the street, blocking traffic and creating safety hazards, said Buena Park police Sgt. William Kohanek.

"Congestion on this major thoroughfare is just overwhelming," Kohanek said.

Fireworks can be safely shot off on the city's other public streets.

City Councilmen Don McCay, Steve Berry and Mayor Jim Dow approved the restriction at Tuesday evening's meeting. Council members Patsy Marshall and Art Brown were not present.

Buena Park is one of five cities that allow so-called safe and sane fireworks; so do Santa Ana, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove and Stanton.

Last year, Buena Park banned Piccolo Pete fireworks, in part because of noise complaints.

Fines have been imposed on people caught with illegal fireworks in Garden Grove.

Santa Ana officials, on the other hand, have tentatively agreed to extend operating hours for firework vendors. Stands would open an hour earlier – at 9 a.m. on July 2, 3 and 4. Santa Ana council members are expected to finalize the extended hours next month.

Buena Park's restriction comes a month after an Orange County grand jury report called for a three-year moratorium against fireworks in the five cities to allow time to find ways of improving public safety. The report says that county taxpayers paid about $188,000 last year for extra policing and fire services during the Fourth of July season.

But the report holds no legal authority.

Last year, Buena Park police responded to 240 firework-related calls on July 1-4.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3795 or sdaniels@ocregister.com

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email

May 10, 2008

Orange County Grand Jury Report on "safe and sane" Fireworks

The OC Grand Jury report calls the permitting process for fireworks sales "flawed" and finds that taxpayers are required to foot the bill – last year about $188,000 – for extra police and fire services during the Fourth of July season.

Grand Jury report said police and fire officials said that they are often overwhelmed by fireworks-related calls for service during the Fourth of July season and some neighborhoods resemble "war zones" during that time. The full report can be read here

Basically the fireworks sellers and the cities want local control as it makes it much easier for the fireworks companies and the teams and clubs that benefit from them to make this look like a grass roots populist campaign when in reality all it is is "astroturfing" which is activity which seeks to create the impression of being spontaneous, grassroots behavior, hence the reference to the artificial grass AstroTurf. The goal of such a campaign is to disguise the efforts of a political or commercial entity as an independent public reaction to some political entity—a politician, political group, product, service or event. Astroturfers attempt to orchestrate the actions of apparently diverse and geographically distributed individuals, by both overt ("outreach", "awareness", etc.) and covert (disinformation) means. Astroturfing may be undertaken by anything from an individual pushing one's own personal agenda through to highly organized professional groups with financial backing from large corporations, non-profits, or activist organizations. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astroturfing)

One mayor quoted below noted “There seems to be a lot of attention paid to the fact that it’s a fundraising mechanism, but it’s also an American tradition,” he added. Of course what he failed to point out was that all of the "astro-turfers" only use the "tradition" as cover for what they really want; a quick way to raise some loot (while polluting th environment and raiding city coffers for extra police presence). This is all very transparent.

Published Saturday, April 26, 2008 9:50 PM PDT
Public safety
July 4 safety discussed
Costa Mesa officials pass on proposal to suspend sales of legal fireworks. City resembles ‘war zone’ on the holiday, some say.

By Chris Caesar

Reaction to an Orange County Grand Jury report calling for a three-year moratorium on the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks in Costa Mesa for the Fourth of July has been lukewarm with elected officials saying they would not hear or endorse the proposal — at least for this year.

Five Orange County cities, including Costa Mesa, permit the regulated use and sale of “sane and safe” fireworks endorsed by the state Fire Marshall, which has led to some friction between the cities and their neighbors.

Some officials say the cities resemble a “war zone” on the Fourth of July, and that even the use of legal fireworks contributes to the holiday’s chaotic atmosphere and a significant increase in the use of their illegal counterparts.

Sports teams and extracurricular groups, however, sell the items as part of their annual fundraising drives, leading some city officials to be wary of banning the practice outright.

Mayor Eric Bever, who reviewed a rough draft of the report prior to its final publication, said he would favor a “local control” approach to fireworks regulation, noting the city has its own internal task force to improve fireworks safety.

“I know the state, feds, county and everyone else wants to mandate everything, but I think that the local people should have as much control as possible in regards to their destiny,” he said. “We’re working toward finding ways of managing fireworks more efficiently, and we’ve had our task force out in the field on the Fourth of July in the last three years. I think people are getting the idea that they won’t get away with illegal fireworks anymore.”

“There seems to be a lot of attention paid to the fact that it’s a fundraising mechanism, but it’s also an American tradition,” he added. “Certainly there are people who are disrupted by illegal fireworks — I count myself among them — but I don’t think that killing off an American tradition is the way to solve that problem.”

Councilwoman Wendy Leece said the city can become a “war zone” on the holiday and that she sympathized with the city’s fire and police departments during their heightened patrols on the Fourth of July.

Yet, she also said that personal responsibility and citizens working together would be the only force that would enhance safety, and that any moratorium should be implemented with local groups in mind.

“Putting a moratorium on our fireworks sales this year would be a hardship for organizations which depend on this money for their programs,” she said. “However, if things are worse this year in our city, I will support some type of a moratorium for next year.”

Costa Mesa resident and mother Linda Schwandt said that she frequently participates and donates to fundraisers supporting local youth, and said she would feel bad if the proposed moratorium hindered their activities.

But, assuming they are given ample time to reorganize their efforts, she thought it may be worth a shot.

“I think that would be pretty fair,” she said. “Let the numbers speak for themselves.”

The City Council will provide direction to staff in regards to a list of suggestions generated by city staff during its scheduled May 6 meeting, though Bever said it would be unlikely the city would take up any formal discussion of the grand jury’s recommendations.

Attempts to reach a representative of the Orange County Grand Jury were unsuccessful.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at chris.caesar@latimes.com.


Thursday, April 24, 2008
Update: Grand jury says cities that allow fireworks sales should stop
Report calls on 5 cities that permit 'safe and sane' fireworks sales to enact 3-year moratorium for safety's sake.
By ERIC CARPENTER
The Orange County Register
Comments 41 | Recommend 4

SANTA ANA The Orange County Grand Jury released a report Thursday calling for the five Orange County cities that allow the sale of fireworks to temporarily ban such sales – adding fuel to a debate that's flared for years.

The Grand Jury recommended the cities – Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Stanton – adopt at least a three-year moratorium on fireworks sales to improve public safety.

That recommendation quickly met with resistance from some city officials who have been dealing with the issue for years.

Supporters of so-called "safe and sane" fireworks say they are a good fundraiser for community groups and are a tradition for families who, in most cases, use them responsibly.

The Grand Jury report calls the permitting process for fireworks sales "flawed" and finds that taxpayers are required to foot the bill – last year about $188,000 – for extra police and fire services during the Fourth of July season.

Grand Jury Foreman Ann Avery Andres said police and fire officials told the jury that they are often overwhelmed by fireworks-related calls for service during the Fourth of July season and some neighborhoods resemble "war zones" during that time.

Allowing the sale of legal fireworks – those that don't explode or fly through the air – appears to contribute to the use of illegal fireworks, she added.

"Three years is what law enforcement officials determined would be an optimum time to change the culture of firework use and curb the use of illegal fireworks," said Grand Jury member Bill Guidas, of Yorba Linda.

Last year, Costa Mesa assigned an additional 20 police officers and firefighters on July 4 and responded to 272 calls for service.

"We get bombarded every year with fireworks calls," said Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Dondero.

The Grand Jury report has no enforcement teeth; cities won't be required to make any changes to existing laws. Officials from each city are expected to file a written response within 60 days.

Garden Grove Councilman Mark Rosen didn't hesitate when he heard the recommendation for a three-year ban.

"Not going to happen," Rosen said. "Part of it is that it's a good fund-raiser (and) it is a tradition that families enjoy being able to have, fireworks in front of their homes. I'll continue to support fireworks."

Last October, the Garden Grove council delayed a vote on whether to let voters decide whether fireworks should be banned until after the coming July Fourth holiday.

"We put some heavy fines in place recently for unlawful use of fireworks, and we want to see how that plays out first," Rosen said.

Costa Mesa City Manager Allan Roeder said the city has tightened its regulation over the years and limited the number of booths allowed to sell fireworks to 40.

More regulations, unrelated to the Grand Jury report, are scheduled to come before the council May 6, Roeder said.

Buena Park Councilman Art Brown said his city is chaotic on July 4 and city crews are left to clean up the debris.

"Personally, I would like to see fireworks banned and to have the city provide a free fireworks show for the citizens to view," he said.

But because voters there decided in 2004 to allow the sale of fireworks, the Buena Park council would likely take no further action, he said.

The full report is available online at www.ocgrandjury.org.

Lakewood Accountability Action Group™ LAAG | www.LAAG.us | Lakewood, CA
A California Non Profit Association | Demanding action and accountability from local government™

click here to receive LAAG posts by email