Fourth of July might look different in Long Beach next year, after the City approved discussions about allowing the sale and use of “safe and sane” fireworks at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
An already split city council and interested stakeholders gave their varying opinions on the use of “safe and sane” fireworks, which are fireworks that do not leave the ground, do not explode and meet all state regulations regarding noise.
Councilmembers Kristina Duggan and Daryl Supernaw voted against the further exploration of the item, while all other councilmembers voted in favor of the item and Councilmember Joni Ricks-Oddie was not present at the meeting.
Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan and Police Chief Wally Hebeish voiced their opposition to the matter, citing fire hazards, medical injuries and air pollution. Both chiefs conceded they have not looked into data from other cities that have begun allowing legal fireworks.
“Fireworks, being legal or illegal, are ignition sources,” Chief Buchanan said. “As we see in the news we have quite a few brush fires caused by fireworks. I’m glad we don’t have brush here in the city of Long Beach, but we do have a nature center, we do have DeForest Park, we do have vegetation along our freeways and waterways and I am concerned about that.
Fireworks erupt from the top of the Long Beach Terrace Theater after the lights are turned on for the Christmas tree during the 8th annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 5, 2022. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
The proposed framework for legal firework sales would also include a 7% fee to help fund community education and enforcement actions to crack down on illegal firework usage. How those funds would be used to help with enforcement is unclear. The City Manager’s Office is going to examine if other cities were able to better enforce their illegal fireworks ban after allowing for the use of legal ones.
“This could be an opportunity to shift a citywide problem into a citywide solution,” Councilmember Mary Zendejas said.
Though she voted in favor of the item, Councilmember Suely Saro expressed reservations about the safety of “safe and sane” fireworks. She said ideally people would use them in their driveways, but questioned how people who live in apartments would use them, saying it could result in people using them at parks or in garages.
Councilmember Roberto Uranga asked the City to gather data on the number of injuries caused by illegal fireworks and legal fireworks.
“I cannot in good conscience vote to allow people to legally set things on fire in our neighborhoods in the name of improving safety,” Councilmember Duggan said. “The phrase ‘safe and sane’ just doesn’t seem reasonable.”
The City Manager’s Office will return within 60 days with a report on the cost revenue, impact and recovery that comes with allowing legal fireworks, the amount of stands Long Beach would have, and how other cities have been impacted by allowing the sale and use of legal fireworks.
A sign that reads “FIREWORKS ARE ILLEGAL” sits near Houghton Park in Long Beach on June 1, 2021. The signs have been showing up in high traffic areas lately. (Richard H. Grant | Signal Tribune)
The Non-Profit Point of View
The exploration of legal fireworks in the city comes with the opportunity for local nonprofits to raise funds through running their own stand. In the preliminary report from Tuesday night, staff reports estimated the city would have around 10 stands operating, though Mayor Rex Richardson pointed out that the city of Lakewood, which is much smaller than Long Beach, has 25 stands.
The number of stands the city would allow remains unknown, but multiple nonprofits spoke at the meeting in support of the item, excited at the opportunity to raise much needed funds.
“The market of fundraisers and galas is becoming overly saturated, every university does it,” said Joey Notch, director of baseball operations for the Long Beach Dirtbags. “We feel another avenue of fundraising like this would greatly benefit us and would be a way for us to connect with our community.”
Notch was joined by other nonprofits including Centro Cha, the Jewish Community Center, Jazz Angels and Paws in the Sand to advocate for the sale and use of legal fireworks. Vice President of TNT Fireworks John Kelly was also at the meeting to voice his support.
If there are more nonprofits wanting to run a stand than there are stands available, the City may conduct a lottery to choose who gets a stand. The council briefly discussed how they could make the process more equitable and if certain nonprofits should be given priority over others.
“How can it be equitable if it’s a lottery?” Councilmember Saro asked.
The City would also save 4% of post-sale revenue for Nonprofit Partnership grants. Grants will be determined by the city council on an annual basis.
