Every summer, fireworks spark debate in California. But in nearly 300 communities, the small seasonal fireworks stands you see in late June are not commercial ventures at all \u2014 they are nonprofit fundraisers, often the most important one of the year. These stands support youth sports, food banks, senior programs, veterans\u2019 services, school groups, cultural organizations, and dozens of other community programs.<\/p>\n
For many nonprofits, Safe & Sane fireworks aren\u2019t simply part of the celebration \u2014 they are essential to survival.<\/p>\n
What many residents don\u2019t realize is that allowing State Fire Marshal-Approved Safe and Sane fireworks doesn\u2019t just help nonprofits. In many cities, it has also become one of the most effective tools for reducing illegal aerial fireworks and funding stronger local enforcement \u2014 including the very resources Long Beach needs.<\/p>\n
A Funding Source That Strengthens Local Nonprofits<\/p>\n
California has strict statewide testing requirements. Only fireworks that pass the State Fire Marshal\u2019s safety evaluations \u2014 and carry the official state seal \u2014 may be legally sold. But having a certified product does not give anyone the right to sell it. Local governments decide whether Safe and Sane fireworks are allowed, under what conditions, and who may operate stands.<\/p>\n
Cities determine how many permits to issue, where stands may be placed, what safety standards must be followed, and what hours and days sales may occur. They may also limit participation to nonprofits and impose local fees, inspections, and community outreach requirements.<\/p>\n
Nonprofits in many California cities report that Safe & Sane fireworks sales are among their most important fundraisers of the year, often generating enough revenue to support important programs that would otherwise struggle to survive.<\/p>\n
Across Southern California, the impact is clear:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Lakewood: 25 nonprofit-operated stands generate over $1.5 million in annual retail activity to support youth sports, senior programs, and community organizations.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Downey: Local stands generate roughly $800,000 in annual retail sales, providing substantial funding to youth leagues, cultural programs, and school-based groups.<\/p>\n
\u2022 El Monte & South El Monte: Roughly 40% of participating nonprofits say it is their single most important fundraiser.<\/p>\n
For these nonprofits \u2014 many serving residents whose needs are growing as federal and state resources tighten \u2014 Safe and Sane fundraising is not optional. It is a lifeline. Statewide, nearly 2,700 nonprofit organizations participate in Safe & Sane fireworks fundraising annually \u2014 a direct investment in community programs at a time when demand for local services continues to grow.<\/p>\n
A Revenue Tool That Helps Cities Fight Illegal Fireworks<\/p>\n
A persistent misconception is that allowing Safe and Sane fireworks burdens cities. In fact, the opposite is true \u2014 especially since the Legislature passed AB 1403 in 2023.<\/p>\n
AB 1403 allows cities to collect a fee of up to 7% of gross fireworks sales to fund:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Public education<\/p>\n
\u2022 Enforcement personnel<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drone surveillance<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fire inspections<\/p>\n
\u2022 Post-event cleanup<\/p>\n
\u2022 Community outreach<\/p>\n
Few municipal programs pay for themselves. Even fewer help fund enforcement against illegal aerial fireworks \u2014 which cities spend millions trying to combat.<\/p>\n
Cities that impose total bans receive none of this revenue. As a result, enforcement must be paid out of shrinking general fund dollars, competing directly with libraries, parks, youth programs, and public safety staffing.<\/p>\n
Allowing Safe and Sane fireworks gives cities dedicated, non-general-fund revenue to invest in the tools needed to reduce illegal activity \u2014 without cutting other services.<\/p>\n
Evidence From Cities That Recently Made the Change<\/p>\n
One of the most relevant examples for Long Beach is the City of Orange, which allowed Safe and Sane fireworks in 2025.<\/p>\n
In its first year:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Fireworks-related calls dropped 12% citywide<\/p>\n
\u2022 Calls on July 4 dropped 68%<\/p>\n
\u2022 Illegal fireworks seizures increased twelvefold<\/p>\n
This is the opposite of what some expect \u2014 but it matches the pattern seen in other cities across Southern California. When residents are given a clear, safe alternative, illegal activity often goes down, not up. Enforcement becomes more targeted, and community complaints fall.<\/p>\n
The key is clarity:<\/p>\n
If it carries the State Fire Marshal seal, it\u2019s safe and legal. Everything else is illegal.<\/p>\n
That line helps both residents and first responders.<\/p>\n
Why Long Beach Should Consider This Approach<\/p>\n
Long Beach faces the same problem many California cities face: increasingly powerful illegal fireworks that disrupt neighborhoods, frighten seniors and pets, and pose real fire hazards.<\/p>\n
Safe and Sane fireworks are not a cure-all \u2014 but they provide three advantages Long Beach does not currently have:<\/p>\n
1. A legal, safe alternative<\/p>\n
Reduces illegal use by giving residents a clear safe option for celebrating.<\/p>\n
2. Dedicated revenue for enforcement<\/p>\n
AB 1403 allows Long Beach to build enforcement capacity without using general fund dollars.<\/p>\n
3. A major boost to local nonprofits<\/p>\n
Long Beach\u2019s nonprofit sector is one of the most active in the state. Safe and Sane fundraising would strengthen programs serving youth, seniors, vulnerable families, and neighborhoods across the city.<\/p>\n
Nearly 300 California communities \u2014 including 36 cities in Los Angeles County \u2014 already allow Safe and Sane fireworks. Their experience shows that nonprofit fundraising, city-controlled safety regulations, and stronger enforcement tools can work together to reduce illegal fireworks activity and improve public safety.<\/p>\n
Safe and Sane fireworks aren\u2019t just about tradition. They\u2019re about giving cities \u2014 including Long Beach \u2014 a practical, community-centered strategy for safer celebrations and stronger nonprofits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every summer, fireworks spark debate in California. But in nearly 300 communities, the small seasonal fireworks stands you…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":126464,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[65560,131,133,132],"class_list":["post-126463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-long-beach","tag-kenneth-schultze","tag-long-beach","tag-long-beach-headlines","tag-long-beach-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126463","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126463"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126463\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126463"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126463"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126463"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}