A huge Fourth of July fireworks display for the 250th anniversary of America has been wrecked by climate warriors.<\/p>\n
Long Beach scrapped its \u201cBig Bang on the Bay\u201d for the first time in 15 years after the California Coastal Commission refused the use of pyrotechnics.<\/p>\n
The festival typically attracts thousands to watch the incredible spectacle over Alamitos Bay on the evening of July 3 but is now being strongarmed into using drones.<\/p>\n
It comes as San Diego also launched a war on fireworks for the Fourth of July, with a popular show at SeaWorld switching to drones and the city slashing explosives in their show by 15% last year.<\/p>\n
Fireworks explode in the sky between the Queen Elizabeth, left, and the Queen Mary in Long Beach on Thursday, July 4, 2019. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n
The California Coastal Commission approved a five-year permit for Long Beach last year, with the city agreeing to transition from fireworks to a drone show beginning in 2026.<\/p>\n
Businessman John Morris, who organizes the show, unsuccessfully appealed the decision in a meeting with the commission on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The city will nix its annual July 4th fireworks display, named \u201cBig Bang on the Bay,\u201d for the first time in 15 years after the state denied an appeal to host the show in its traditional form. MediaNews Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n
A local business owner and organizer of the show, John Morris, appealed the decision in a meeting with the commission on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe I\u2019m in the right, so I\u2019m always going to fight,\u201d Morris told The Long Beach Post.\u00a0<\/a>He previously noted the switch to drones was unlikely, leaving the show\u2019s cancellation imminent.<\/p>\n Morris said testing done for 10 years shows that fireworks do not pollute the water or affect wildlife. \u201cWe have big plans for the 250th birthday next year for this country,\u201d he told<\/a> the commission last year.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course it\u2019s going to be about fireworks.\u201d A drone show would be much more expensive, he said at the hearing. \u201cSo, all of a sudden, from a $40,000 fireworks show, we\u2019d be up to $200,000,\u201d Morris said.<\/p>\n Morris argued he had support for the fireworks from Rep. Robert Garcia, state Sen. Lena Gonzalez and Assemblyman Josh Lowenthal, as well as Long Beach City Councilmember Kristina Duggan.<\/p>\n His appeal was denied. Morris said that testing they\u2019ve done for 10 years shows that the display does not pollute the water or affect wildlife. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/p>\n