The Baca Hilton transcript

On June 26, 2007 Sheriff Baca was questioned by the Board of Supervisors. The complete transcript of the hearing can be found here. We have highlighted relevant portions and added our own comments.

From reading the transcript it is quite apparent the Baca is very hostile about the whole Hilton debacle and of course refuses to admit that he made the wrong decision, arguing that he did not want anyone "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" him. Quite frankly reading this makes me think that he and "The Decider" Bush may be long lost brothers. Most of the transcript is just rambling BS as he uses the hearing as a platform for overcrowded jails and other totally non responsive material and to pat himself on the back. Yeah Yeah old story. The point is that Hilton WAS NOT RELEASED DUE TO OVERCROWDING. Baca admits this.

Baca was in a tough position but as usual he made the wrong call. We all know that Hilton ended up serving more time than MOST BUT NOT ALL "mortals" for the "crime" (as Baca's claimed figures presented at the hearing supposedly prove). But as she was a celebrity and the criminal justice system was under the scrutiny of the world wide press, the way this was handled had to hold up to scruitiny.

In this case if he wanted to let her out under an "early release program" he should have approached the court and followed the procedure for early medical releases. Instead he apparently "cooked up" a deal with Hilton's menagerie of attorneys, doctors and "handlers" that she needed to be released for "medical reasons" to act as cover for what was an otherwise perfectly legitimate early release. Just not for THIS case. This medical reason was never explained, nor was the judge ever formally petitioned to address the early release for medical reasons. Baca claims that Judge "Saugus" was asked on the phone about the early release but this was not the judge that made the original sentencing order! (original judge was Sauer) Also Baca did not make this call but one of his aids did. The judge apparently disputed all this and it is apparent from the transcript that Baca and his people did not understand that the judge plainly said leave her in! The judge also requested all the "medical reports" and apparently never received them. I doubt they exist.

The point being that Hilton was out partying all night before she went into prison the first time and is out doing the same now. None of her team of high priced lawyers EVER brought this so called "medical" condition to the attention of the judge in the context of petitioning for an early release. Instead they figured that it would be easier to approach Baca who has a history of favorable star treatment as apparently he is star struck and considers himself a celebrity as well.

At one point in the transcript Baca claims: "SHE HERSELF WAS UNABLE TO TELL US THE TYPE OF MEDICATION OR DOSAGE THAT WAS NECESSARY" So that is a reason to let her out early? Give me a break! Has Baca and his team of crack doctors ever heard of a label on a prescription bottle? Helloooo?

He later goes on to say that they have social workers, clergy, and psychologists all on staff at the jail. So these people were not able to help? Apparently they were, in the second half of her stay.

No matter. We all know now that her "medical condition" was "treated" at the second facility and she served all her sentence. So Baca's own department made a liar out of him. I think all of this was pretty transparent and obvious to the supervisors (well at least two of them from the questions they asked.)

Bottom line: There was a procedure in place to deal with Hilton's "medical condition" and it was not used but rather circumvented. This in turn has led to claims and suits alleging favorable treatment by others who need medical treatment in prison and claim not to be getting near the level of treatment Hilton recived. This was handled very poorly and Baca cannot see that, or at least stubbornly refuses to admit it (Like Bush). For that reason alone Baca is incompetent and head and shoulders BELOW "Broadway Bill" over at LAPD. Point is he was elected by voters who dont even know who he is, and as all the articles in this section aptly demonstrate, he will weather this storm and hopefully retire in two years thank God (on a King's pension). Hopefully his successor will be a better manager and a little more savvy of the media.

Trying to Hide the pension mess from Taxpayers

Well Arnie is starting to act more and more like a Democrat. Great idea. Lets use secret bonds not approved by the voters to finance the pension mess. Whoops. That's illegal. Damn courts getting in the way! Well we don't want to ask the voters what to do...or do we? Hell they are stupid enough to pass most other bond issues we run up the flagpole so why not this one. I hope the taxpayers never figure out that they have to pay for all these bonds as well as all the interest on them and that it is all so the fat cat public employees can retire at 50, 15 years before the private sector, with at least twice the benefits.

Hats off to The Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers (whom we linked to long ago) for catching this and nipping it in the bud so that that voters can at least try to stop this madness.

http://globalpensions.com/?id=me/17/news/28/46004/38/
State loses bond battle
by Heather Dale 04-07-2007

US – Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration has lost its court case bid to issue US$560m in bonds to cover government pensions

The Third District Court of Appeal ruled that the State’s proposed “pension obligation bonds” are illegal because they were not submitted to voters as the Californian Constitution requires.

A court document stated: “Concluding the pension obligation is one imposed by the State on itself and, therefore, does not fall within an exception for obligations imposed by law. The court entered judgment against the Committee.”

Authorised by the Legislature and the governor in August 2004, the bonds were designed to pay a portion of the State’s contribution to the Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) for a single year.

The Fullerton Association of Concerned Taxpayers (FACT) was the only challenger to the bonds in a “validation” action brought by the State. In late 2005, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Raymond Cadei ruled the bonds invalid under Article 16, Section 1.

The State appealed, argument was held by the Third District on 25 June, and this ruling is the result.

Pacific Legal Foundation attorney Harold Johnson, who represented FACT in challenging the bonds, said: “The court upheld the basic right of the people of California to chart their fiscal destiny and have the ultimate say over major state borrowing.

“The court affirmed that the Legislature can’t saddle the people of California with major debt without first getting their permission. This ruling should also be a warning to spendthrifts in government. They can’t spend like tipsy sailors and automatically borrow their way out of the mess they make.”

Can't we use tickets as warnings?

What ever happened to the street sweeping law to be put into effect July 1 2007? Not done. What about the shift of RV's and Trailers onto private property? We will be lucky to have something worked out on that fiasco by October 2007 (even though the city had a large staff working on it since Nov 7, 2006). Ever wonder what the so called "parking control" budget is vs what the city takes in by way of parking fines? Lets challenge the city to post that information. if they dare. see LAAG's related prior story

As far as warning owners of RV's on street parking have they not had since Nov. 7, 2006 as ample warning? Just another example of a city which lacks the guts to enforce the law for fear of being unpopular or being like that "fascist regime" known as Cerritos where "mean spirited" parking laws are enforced regardless of complaints!! The Horror!!


Lakewood RV laws take effect
RV, trailer owners have 2-week warning period.
By Karen Robes, Staff writer
Article Launched: 07/05/2007 11:38:54 PM PDT
http://origin.presstelegram.com/news/ci_6309541

LAKEWOOD - Minutes after starting her shift Thursday, Natasha Martin, the city's lead parking control officer, zeroed in on a trailer parked on the street.

After checking to see if it had a city permit, she proceeded to write up the trailer.

"Hey, did you give me a ticket?" an annoyed man said as he rushed to his vehicle.

"It's a warning," she said to the man, who looked relieved.

As Martin threaded through the neighborhoods bordered by Del Amo Boulevard, Candlewood Street, Cherry and Downey avenues, she spotted within the first hour of her shift at least six trailers and RVs in violation of new laws that ban recreational vehicles and trailers on city streets without a permit.

"People are getting it," Martin said. "It's letting them understand where you're coming from. We're just (carrying out) what the residents voted for."

The ticket-like warnings are part of an information campaign the city has been conducting since April to warn residents about the new laws that took effect Sunday.

Hoping to stop owners from using city streets for storing rigs and motor homes long-term, the City Council recently passed a series of measures to address the issue. They included a pair of November ballot measures banning the vehicles on public streets without a permit, which voters overwhelmingly passed.

The permit allows for a maximum three-day pass. Residents can get up to 16 permits annually, but must allow at least three days between permits.

Since April, the city has been mailing letters and postcards, leaving paper hangers detailing the city's new laws and issuing warnings leading up to Sunday.

The city decided to give owners a two-week warning before officially ticketing on July 15.

"We expect that by the time citations are going to be issued that every RV and trailer owner knows the consequences of parking their RVs or trailers on city streets without a permit," said spokesman Don Waldie.

Waldie said that the information campaign appears to be working, judging from the city's last four "windshield counts."

The windshield counts - another way of describing the number of warnings issued to RVs and trailers - have diminished by more than 90 percent in the last four months, Waldie said.

The last count, which was being compiled Thursday, showed fewer than 90, significantly lower than the 350 counted in April. "It's a really remarkable testament to the willingness of owners" to follow the rules, he said.

Woman Arrested In Fireworks Sale

The illegal fireworks here were not TNT's but this was one of their sellers. An interesting issue that has not been closely looked at in California I am sure. Legal fireworks sellers using booths to sell illegal fireworks. Perfect.

http://www.theledger.com/article/20070705/NEWS/707050460/1004

Published Thursday, July 5, 2007
Woman Arrested In Fireworks Sale
Officials say she was warned before worker sold illegal product to officer.

By Gabrielle Finley
The Ledger

LAKELAND - A 27-year-old Oregon woman was arrested Wednesday in Lakeland after a sheriff's deputy found illegal fireworks at a stand in North Lakeland, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said.

Shauna Ranee Powell of Newberg, Ore., was given a warning Tuesday when sheriff's Detective Gordon Opitz spotted the illegal fireworks and told her to get rid of them, a sheriff's report said.

But, according to the report, she didn't heed his advice.

On Wednesday, a 17-year-old boy who was working for her sold the plainclothes officer illegal fireworks, the report said.

Powell was charged with two counts of selling illegal fireworks and one count each of conspiracy to sell illegal fireworks and solicitation to sell illegal fireworks, all misdemeanor charges, the report said.

She was also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, also a misdemeanor, the report said.

Powell told the deputy she owns all six of the TNT Fireworks stands in Polk County, the report said.

At the stand in Lakeland, Opitz saw mortar shells that leave the ground and explode, the report said.

The 17-year-old worker told the deputy that Powell told him to only sell the illegal fireworks to "African Americans or Mexicans because white people could be cops," the report said.

The boy also told the deputy that on Wednesday, Powell told him to put the illegal fireworks under the table so they weren't visible to law enforcement officers, the report said.

Gabrielle Finley can be reached at 802-7590 or gabrielle.finley@theledger.com.

3 shot to death in dispute over fireworks, police say

another reason not to have fireworks [LAAG]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/07/05/fireworks.ap/index.html

# Story Highlights
# Firefighter arrested in connection with fatal shootings near his home in Cleveland
# Near Seattle, man shot to death during argument at fireworks event
# Near Detroit, two injured in explosion; police think they were making fireworks
# In Florida, man charged with arson in fireworks chain reaction; two injured

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- A neighbor apparently angry about noisy fireworks shot three people to death early Thursday and wounded two others, police said.

Terrance Hough Jr., a 35-year-old off-duty firefighter, was arrested in connection with the shootings near his home shortly after midnight, police spokesman Lt. Thomas Stacho said. No charges had been filed Thursday morning.

The shooter was apparently upset about loud noise from fireworks at a house next door and opened fire, killing two men and a woman, all in their early- to mid-20s, Stacho said. He said another man was shot in the elbow and a woman was wounded in the hand.

The area of neat ranch homes overlooking the industrial Cuyahoga River valley is popular among firefighters and police officers who are required to live in the city.

Near Seattle, Washington, another man was shot during an argument at a fireworks celebration and died after aid workers trying to help him felt threatened by a hostile crowd, authorities said.

More than 100 people were present when the two men began arguing around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot in Skyway, an unincorporated area between Seattle and Renton, Washington. Paramedics called after the shooting found the crowd so threatening, they had to quickly take the wounded man out to continue CPR, said David Nelson, a spokesman for county Fire District 20.

Sheriff's Detective Bob L. Conner said it was unclear whether moving the man before continuing CPR was a factor in his death. King County sheriff's deputies were searching for the suspect.

In a Detroit suburb, an explosion that could be felt blocks away injured two brothers who authorities believe were trying to make fireworks in a maintenance building at an apartment complex.

The men, in their 30s, were in critical condition following the Fourth of July blast in Oakland County's Independence Township, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit, authorities said.

"Obviously something went wrong, we're not sure if it was static electricity or they did something else stupid," said Oakland County Sheriff's Sgt. Kevin McCall.

Authorities believe the two men, whose identities were not released, were using explosive powder to build fireworks, but said the explosion was under investigation.

In Port Richey, Florida, a woman and her 5-year-old son suffered minor injuries when a man lit a firecracker in a fireworks stand, setting off a chain reaction of hundreds of fireworks. The woman sprained her ankle while trying to escape the burning roadside stand, and her son's hair and head were scorched.

Tony Glenn Rogers, 39, of Tampa was arrested on arson charges and was being held on $51,000 bond Thursday, Pasco County sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin said. Deputies were searching for another suspect. It was unclear from court and jail records Thursday if Rogers had a lawyer.

In St. Pete Beach, Florida, a mortar from a fireworks show triggered an explosion that shattered 22 windows at a motel. Four people at the motel were cut by flying glass and eight working on the fireworks show suffered minor injuries, said city spokeswoman Natalie Strong.

Fireworks displays linked to perchlorate contamination in lakes

this story below is related to the SeaWorld Story we reported.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | May 23, 2007
ACS News Service Weekly PressPac - May 23, 2007
American Chemical Society (ACS) News Service Weekly press package (PressPac)

Environmental Science & Technology

Fourth of July fireworks displays, often held over lakes and other bodies of water to minimize the risk of fire, can deposit significant amounts of perchlorate into the water, according to a study scheduled for the June 1 issue of ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Richard T. Wilkin and colleagues, who did the research, point out that concerns have arisen over the effects of environmental perchlorate on human health and wildlife. Sources of perchlorate range from lightening and certain fertilizers to the perchlorate compounds in rocket fuel and explosives.

Scientists long suspected that community fireworks displays were another source, but few studies had been done on the topic.

Wilkin’s group definitely established fireworks displays as a source of perchlorate contamination by analyzing water in an Oklahoma lake before and after fireworks displays in 2004, 2005, and 2006. Within 14 hours after the fireworks, perchlorate levels rose 24 to 1,028 times above background levels. Levels peaked about 24 hours after the display, and then decreased to the pre-fireworks background within 20-80 days.

ARTICLE: “Perchlorate Behavior in a Municipal Lake Following Fireworks Displays”

click here to read entire publication

DOWNLOAD PDF
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/esthag/asap/pdf/es0700698.pdf
DOWNLOAD HTML
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/esthag/asap/html/es0700698.html

CONTACT:
Richard T. Wilkin, Ph.D.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ada, Oklahoma 74820
Phone: 580-436-8874
Fax: 580-436-8730
Email: wilkin.rick@epa.gov

Communities nix fireworks on 4th

DROUGHT PERSISTS IN WEST AND SOUTHEAST

By Judy Keen, USA TODAY

A laser light show will replace traditional July Fourth fireworks in Burbank, Calif. Woodstock, Ga., canceled its fireworks and plans to shoot them off on Halloween.

Dozens of communities in drought-stricken areas are scrapping public fireworks displays and cracking down on backyard pyrotechnics to reduce the risk of fires.

"From a fire standpoint and a safety standpoint, it was an easy call," Burbank Fire Chief Tracy Pansini says. He recommended calling off fireworks at the Starlight Bowl because they're launched from a mountainside covered with vegetation that's "all dead."

It's the only time Burbank's fireworks have been canceled since they were first held at the amphitheater in 1994. "Ticket sales are pretty slow" for the night's events, says city recreation supervisor Cathryn Villalobos. "People are saying, 'If you're not having fireworks, we're not coming.' " Elsewhere:

• Alabaster, Ala., canceled its public fireworks and Fire Chief Frank Matherson might propose at a City Council meeting Monday that all fireworks be prohibited.

"Most people will comply because they see how dry it is," he says. Water restrictions, including a ban on watering lawns, make fireworks even more risky, he says.

• A 120-day ban on fireworks in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest took effect Tuesday, says fire management officer Mitch Gandy. The 700,000-acre forest is popular with families with their own fireworks. It's the first ban since 1999.

"We've had 70 fires so far this year," Gandy says. "Fireworks land in the leaves and set fires, which is potentially very dangerous." The fine for possessing or igniting fireworks: $75.

• In Madison, Ala., public fireworks were canceled so firefighters can focus on possible fires from illegal but rampant private fireworks. "We're worried about tying up the manpower because we're afraid we'll be busy elsewhere," Fire Chief Ralph Cobb says.

• The July Fourth parade and festival are still on in Woodstock, but residents worried about dry conditions wrote to the city recommending that the fireworks be postponed, says city community affairs director Donna Godfrey.

There have been a record number of fire danger warnings this year, Fire Marshal Dave Soumas says. The official fireworks always cause "little spot fires" that people don't see, he says. "Imagine how dry it is, and maybe we can't keep those contained."

His advice to anyone planning fireworks: "Have adult supervision and a hose or fire extinguisher in the area."

Your tax dollars hard at work supporting safe and sane fireworks sales

Well it looks like LAAG efforts after the March 2006 Miller explosion (and Sheriff's department embarrassment) are starting to pay off. We realize of course that all this enforcement is very expensive and we are not too sure how many of the fireworks in the Carson or Watts supply houses (see stories below) would make their way to Lakewood. However as the Sheriff department covers many cities and county land within the County this so called "Lakewood Fireworks Suppression Task Force" (as Lt. Terry Benjestorf of the Lakewood Sheriff's Station refers to it on CBS2 news) should be renamed the "LA County Fireworks Suppression Task Force" and funded by all cities served by the Sheriffs, LAPD and smaller departments, not just focused on Lakewood or using Lakewood's budget, which already went up nearly 7.5% just for Sheriff's protection likely due to fireworks "suppression" efforts. The fireworks problem is at least county wide if not state wide. The NBC spin on the story does make it appear a few other agencies were involved (but no details on budgets, manpower or costs) and does not spin the story as much in the Lakewood Sheriff's department favor.

Also we don't see any "legal" safe and sane fireworks companies stepping up to help out with these costs even though our tax dollars are being used to protect their sales turf from illegal fireworks. And from our other articles on this the cities with safe and sane fireworks are clearly attracting more illegal fireworks.

Also, not to belittle these efforts, but this is rather like the "war on drugs" that has been raging over the last 20 years. Lots of people in in prison and lots of tax dollars spent but no relief in sight. I think the "war on fireworks" may be headed in the same direction.

Another issue. The media is really good at repeating the pablum they fed by law enforcement agencies but not very good on follow through. What will happen to all these arrests? Will the there be prosecutions? Will they be successful? Will there be trial or plea bargains? What will the sentences be. Of course LAAG will have to follow up as I am sure we will not here from the Sheriff's Dept. or the media again on this aspect of the "story".

Finally, it needs to be emphasized that until LAAG came along these types of efforts by the Sheriff's department were unheard of. Local Government only responds to political or legal pressure. No pressure no action. For this reason LAAG is not going away any time soon.


Originally published Tuesday, July 03, 2007
http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/articles/8296017.html
Carson bust nets ton of fireworks
By Larry Altman
Staff Writer

Deputies seized more than a ton of illegal fireworks and arrested seven people in a pre-Independence Day crackdown at a Carson house over the weekend, authorities said Monday.

In a separate case, deputies discovered about 200 pounds of illegal fireworks and arrested a Carson man who unwittingly sold some to undercover deputies he met on the Internet.

In the first case, deputies from the Lakewood sheriff's station working a fireworks task force developed information that led them to a house in the 22200 block of Marbella Avenue.

"We suspected them of supplying the fireworks to people, including residents in the community," sheriff's Lt. Terry Benjestorf said.

Undercover deputies purchased illegal fireworks from someone who had obtained them at the Marbella house, and conducted surveillance operations there, he said.

After stopping a car with three occupants leaving the house, deputies discovered they had a significant amount of fireworks.

They returned to the house, served a search warrant early Saturday and discovered 2,000 pounds of illegal fireworks.

"It's illegal from the standpoint they are not safe and sane, fire-marshal approved," Benjestorf said. "They are aerial-type rockets and firecrackers."

Benjestorf described the Marbella residence as a "supply house." Other people purchased fireworks there to resell.

"It's very dangerous," Benjestorf said. "When you consider that on average about 20 to 25 percent of the gross weight of any pyrotechnic device is the explosive powder."

Deputies arrested two adults at the house, in addition to four people and a teenager in cars leaving the residence.

Their names were not immediately available.

In the second case Sunday night, Carson deputies arrested Gerald Castaneda, 27, after he allegedly sold illegal fireworks to undercover officers he met through an Internet site.

"We set up a sting operation and we contacted an individual who was willing to sell us fireworks," Carson sheriff's Sgt. Chris Perez said. "We met him in the city of Carson and he showed up with a quantity of illegal fireworks."

Although safe-and-sane fireworks are allowed in Carson, aerial and artillery-type fireworks are not.

Deputies searched Castaneda's house on J Street and discovered 150 to 200 pounds of illegal fireworks, Perez said.

The 1,000 pieces included large mortars and rockets.

larry.altman@dailybreeze.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.knbc.com/news/13613746/detail.html
Nearly Five Tons Of Illegal Fireworks Seized From LA Area Homes
Illegal Explosives Found In Watts, Carson Homes

video http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=125628

POSTED: 8:08 am PDT July 3, 2007

LOS ANGELES -- Nearly five tons of illegal fireworks were recovered from homes in Watts and Carson in separate raids over the weekend, authorities said.

At least two people were facing possible charges of possession and distribution of illegal fireworks following the seizure of more than 6,000 pounds of the contraband at a Watts residence Sunday, authorities said.

A multi-agency investigation led to the seizure at 1250 E. 100th St., near Central Avenue, about 8:40 Sunday night, said D'Lisa Davies of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The fireworks were found primarily in a garage and van at the location, she said.

Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators were notified Sunday about 4 p.m. by Compton Fire Department arson investigators about the illegal sale and distribution of fireworks from a Los Angeles home, Officer Mike Lopez of the Los Angeles Police Department's Media Relations Section.

The Compton investigators had followed a white Chevrolet van to the home after spotting a van that had been used earlier to sell fireworks in various area parks.

They had also watched individuals unloading boxes of fireworks and stacking them in the back yard, Lopez said.

LAFD arson investigators were dispatched and discovered that the home was actually in an unincorporated area and the van was gone.

A license plate and description of the van was given to the Los Angeles Police Department's Southeast Division. The van was located at 8:15 p.m. after it returned to the original residence.

A woman was standing outside the van when authorities arrived. They asked the driver if they could look inside the van and when she gave them verbal consent, they found about 200 pounds of illegal fireworks, Lopez said.

Los Angeles police then detained the woman while the LAPD's Criminal Conspiracy Section, the bomb squad and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were notified.

The home's owner gave written consent and officials searched the garage where the bomb squad removed 6,325 pounds of the contraband.

Los Angeles County arson officials also became involved because the home was in an unincorporated area. However, the Los Angeles police and fire departments remained the lead agencies because they were already on scene, Lopez said.

The two suspects were scheduled to be arrested for possession and sales of illegal fireworks, Lopez said.

The LAPD will handle the evidence of fireworks and the fire department will hand the arrest and filing of the case, he said.

The arrests in Watts followed the arrest of seven people, including one juvenile, in a Carson home the previous day.

More than a ton -- 2,400 pounds -- were recovered at a Carson residence early Saturday morning in the 22200 block of Marbella Avenue, said Lt. Terry Benjestorf of the Lakewood Sheriff's Station.

Members of the Lakewood Fireworks Suppression Task Force conducted the investigation, Benjestorf said.

Benjestorf told NBC4 that two men originally approached undercover sheriff's investigators and "attempted to sell them a large quantity of illegal fireworks.

Both raids prevented what could have been major problems.

In the case of the Watts arrest, one county firefighter said that "if an ignition source was introduced to that amount of fireworks, you would have a devastating effect on the neighborhood."

Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief John Miller said with weather conditions as they are, the danger of explosion was "severe. I can't stress that enough. Severe. The smallest spark would cause a catastrophe we haven't seen in a long time."

Names of the suspects in the cases have not been released.

Costa Mesa and Lakewood CA share a bond of fire...

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/opinion/homepage/article_1751240.php

Monday, July 2, 2007
Late-breaking letters: Sparks fly over fireworks on the Fourth
Posted July 02, 2007

As a 38-year resident of Costa Mesa, I feel a need to apologize to all the surrounding cities that prohibit fireworks. Our city seems to be one of the few that doesn't grasp the need for a fireworks ban. I know that all the high schools, soccer teams, etc., say it's their main fund-raiser. But at what cost? It terrifies animals and small children and causes injuries. The fire and police are diverted for fireworks calls.

I know what they sell is legal but it is difficult and almost impossible to know which is legal and which is illegal. It opens the door for all the m-80s, bottle rockets, etc. I was embarrassed while driving into Huntington Beach to see a huge warning sign at the border of Costa Mesa announcing no fireworks and a possible traffic search for fireworks.

Again, I apologize for Costa Mesa polluting all the non-fireworks cities because of the greed and disregard for the general safety of the public by the non-profits and schools. What a lesson we are teaching, especially in this year of serious drought. Happy Fourth of July. God bless America.

Mary Spadoni

Costa Mesa

Pressure in Napa Valley CA to ban fireworks

Well maybe the direst season in 130 years in LA County will cause more people to come to their senses...naaaa...we need the fund raising. To hell with the fire danger....

One fire only costs anywhere from 200,000 to a couple million to put out. No big deal. At least little Johnny will have a new baseball uniform purchased with fireworks cash. This sounds like a story line for a Simpson's episode.

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/06/28/news/local/doc4684722f5e580548194833.txt

St. Helena fire chief wants ban on fireworks sales

By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

Thursday, June 28, 2007

St. Helena Fire Chief Kevin Twohey is not a happy man. The Upvalley city is only place in Napa County were people can buy and shoot off fireworks.

Every other square inch of the county is off limits for fireworks, even if they are purchased in St. Helena.

Although the St. Helena City Council has approved the sales of fireworks by the American Legion and Lions Club, saying it is their biggest fundraiser, Twohey calls it “ludicrous to be selling fireworks in the midst of fire season.”

“The City Council says the money the nonprofits make from fireworks sales goes back to the community. But there are other ways — safe ways — to raise money,” Twohey said. “I have nothing against fireworks. But let’s sell them in January when we are not in fire season. And if you have your heart set on fireworks for the Fourth of July, go to one of the many sanctioned fireworks shows in the county.”

Dave Curtin, commander of the St. Helena American Legion Post, has been selling fireworks for the past 45-50 years and in the 26 years that he personally has been involved in selling the fireworks; he “has never experienced one problem or difficulty.”

“I am doing what the City Council wants,” said Twohey. “They made the decision, but I am not happy about it. I’m the fire chief, and I know it only takes an instant for a person to lose their home or life or be seriously injured from fireworks. I’ll guarantee you that the other fire chiefs in the county are not happy my city is selling fireworks.

Twohey said one of the public’s biggest misconceptions is that as long as you buy the fireworks in St. Helena, you can shoot them off anywhere in the county.

“No, no, no only within the city limits of St. Helena,” he said.

There are two fireworks stands in St. Helena that are operated by the nonprofit groups. Both are on Highway 29, one by the high school and the other by Taylor’s Refresher. Each booth has a map posted showing the area where the fireworks can be ignited. Each person who buys fireworks is given a brochure — in English and Spanish — containing the information where the fireworks can be shot off.

Safe and sane fireworks are those that don’t shoot up in the air or explode. “We encourage everyone to read the brochures on the proper usage of the fireworks,” Curtin said.

Napa Fire Capt. Sharon Quick said the city’s public safety has taken a “no tolerance” approach to shooting off fireworks within the city limits.

“Anyone we find shooting off fireworks in the city limits will be issued a citation, which can cost them anywhere from $100 to $500. No one gets a break. We will confiscate the fireworks as well,” Quick said.

Quick said, firefighters will be working with police officers patrolling the city, zeroing in on the urban areas, such as Westwood and Alston parks.

“No one gets a break this year. The fire conditions are far too dry. If someone starts a fire using fireworks, they can be arrested and held accountable for suppression costs as well,” Quick said.

The city fire station will also have an extra engine company on duty on the Fourth for emergency response, said Napa Fire Capt. Scott Sedgley.

Sedgley warned of the dangers of fireworks.

“Even safe and sane fireworks can be dangerous. A number of years ago, several students were severely burned when a bag of safe and sane fireworks they had inside their car ignited,” Sedgley said. “Even sparklers generate enough excessive heat which can cause serious burns.”

Napa Police Cmdr. Jeff Troendly said the department is gearing up for the anticipated large crowd expected to participate in the Fourth of July downtown festivities.

“We are expecting about 15,000 people. We will have extra patrols on duty that night. They will be in patrol cars, on foot and on motorcycles. We are not going to tolerate anyone using fireworks. They will be cited and depending on what type of fireworks they have, they could be arrested and taken to jail,” Troendly said.

David Stoneberg of the St. Helena Star contributed to this story.