A Safe and Sane way to Raise Money
April 05, 2012 | Fairfield Daily Republic
A safe and sane solution
Posted by Kelvin Wade
John Adams thought Independence Day would and should be celebrated by future generations of Americans. He wrote, “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” Suisun City is doing its part to keep those festivities going by working to allow the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks at three stands within city limits.
In Solano County, only Dixon and Rio Vista sell legal “safe and sane” fireworks. Safe and sane fireworks are sparklers, cones and other fireworks that aren’t aerial like bottle rockets and don’t explode like firecrackers and M80s.
The community plans to bring in more than $80,000 in fireworks sales to help finance community events, specifically the Fourth of July celebration, which is Suisun City’s biggest event of the year. Nonprofit organizations will share the proceeds.
Now obviously the concern is the possibility of fires and injuries due to fireworks. There are always going to be those possibilities and maybe in stronger fiscal times those risks would be too high.
Proponents say legalizing sales may help reduce the use of illegal fireworks like firecrackers. I doubt that. Those who want to light illegal flying bottle rockets and M80s will continue to do so. I understand the desire to dress this up in the best light possible, but the reality is legalizing the sales is just about raising revenue.
Nothing wrong with that.
I imagine most of us grew up with fireworks. When I was a kid, my family would go out to JC Penney and watch the big fireworks show (back when there was just a huge field there before suburbia vomited on it). Later, we’d go home and (illegally) light fireworks that we bought in Vallejo when they allowed sales.
Having had some bad experiences with fireworks, I’m not personally attracted to them. But I do know that used in sober, adult hands with a garden hose at the ready, safe and sane fireworks provide a thrilling end to Fourth of July celebrations.
In my brother’s recent “Back in the Day” column, where he met with longtime local residents, they all said they celebrated the Fourth of July in Suisun City. Bud Tonneson was quoted saying, “They had a gazebo and they shot all the fireworks toward the slough. . . . and you could buy firecrackers, cherry bombs, anything.”
So Suisun City has a history of fireworks sales at a time when businesses and homes were more flammable and fire departments were less capable.
Dixon’s fireworks sales were approved on a two-year basis. After this year, they will reassess the situation and see if there were any detrimental effects that outweigh the benefit of allowing the sales. If so, the sales will be banned. Sounds fair to me. Suisun City can do the same thing.
California cities are reeling. Fairfield just declared a state of emergency. We’re on the brink of losing basic services, let alone recreational ones. During these stark times, Suisun City officials have stumbled upon something that will allow them to continue to entertain the public and define their city come next Fourth of July.
Why didn’t Fairfield think of it first? Peace.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES: It's not a cure-all but it is a step. You have to hand it to people for thinking outside the box. Yes, irresponsible people will burn themselves, or burn something else with these fireworks but we can't outlaw everything that stupid people will abuse. The stupid and reckless will always be with us. WELl, until their Darwin Moment. But fundraising is essential now that money is tight.
Posted by Kelvin Wade
John Adams thought Independence Day would and should be celebrated by future generations of Americans. He wrote, “It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” Suisun City is doing its part to keep those festivities going by working to allow the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks at three stands within city limits.
In Solano County, only Dixon and Rio Vista sell legal “safe and sane” fireworks. Safe and sane fireworks are sparklers, cones and other fireworks that aren’t aerial like bottle rockets and don’t explode like firecrackers and M80s.
The community plans to bring in more than $80,000 in fireworks sales to help finance community events, specifically the Fourth of July celebration, which is Suisun City’s biggest event of the year. Nonprofit organizations will share the proceeds.
Now obviously the concern is the possibility of fires and injuries due to fireworks. There are always going to be those possibilities and maybe in stronger fiscal times those risks would be too high.
Proponents say legalizing sales may help reduce the use of illegal fireworks like firecrackers. I doubt that. Those who want to light illegal flying bottle rockets and M80s will continue to do so. I understand the desire to dress this up in the best light possible, but the reality is legalizing the sales is just about raising revenue.
Nothing wrong with that.
I imagine most of us grew up with fireworks. When I was a kid, my family would go out to JC Penney and watch the big fireworks show (back when there was just a huge field there before suburbia vomited on it). Later, we’d go home and (illegally) light fireworks that we bought in Vallejo when they allowed sales.
Having had some bad experiences with fireworks, I’m not personally attracted to them. But I do know that used in sober, adult hands with a garden hose at the ready, safe and sane fireworks provide a thrilling end to Fourth of July celebrations.
In my brother’s recent “Back in the Day” column, where he met with longtime local residents, they all said they celebrated the Fourth of July in Suisun City. Bud Tonneson was quoted saying, “They had a gazebo and they shot all the fireworks toward the slough. . . . and you could buy firecrackers, cherry bombs, anything.”
So Suisun City has a history of fireworks sales at a time when businesses and homes were more flammable and fire departments were less capable.
Dixon’s fireworks sales were approved on a two-year basis. After this year, they will reassess the situation and see if there were any detrimental effects that outweigh the benefit of allowing the sales. If so, the sales will be banned. Sounds fair to me. Suisun City can do the same thing.
California cities are reeling. Fairfield just declared a state of emergency. We’re on the brink of losing basic services, let alone recreational ones. During these stark times, Suisun City officials have stumbled upon something that will allow them to continue to entertain the public and define their city come next Fourth of July.
Why didn’t Fairfield think of it first? Peace.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
ADDITIONAL NOTES: It's not a cure-all but it is a step. You have to hand it to people for thinking outside the box. Yes, irresponsible people will burn themselves, or burn something else with these fireworks but we can't outlaw everything that stupid people will abuse. The stupid and reckless will always be with us. WELl, until their Darwin Moment. But fundraising is essential now that money is tight.
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