Reinstated firework sales raise money and caution

After a yearlong firework ban, brightly colored booths are gracing Watsonville parking lots again.

[Lucas]

"The Watsonville fire and police departments are wary about fire hazards and illegal activities."

Fire hazards maybe, illegal activities NO. The City Council has instructed them not to enforce the immigration laws.

[Ur daddy 831]

Lucas, STFU

[Mr Carbon]

This year there is an added 7% tax on fireworks.This is to help pay for the extra enforcement.Fireworks are sold at retail stores,too.Are the retail stores also paying the 7% surcharge?

[Tara Rinaldi]

So, will the non-profits pay the costs of putting out fires caused by the fireworks that they 'profit' from? C'mon, there's gotta be a better way to fund these groups. Remember last year's fires (non-firework related)? It seems insane to sell fireworks in this county....

[Recovering Liberal]

And who says capitalism and special interest is dead? Money, money, money,...money! Gotta get me some of that money any way wee can regardless if we have a severe drought and the folliage is bone dry... money talks!

[verb police]

Do you really think these plywood and chicken wire pyro stands are "gracing" Watsonville parking lots again?

[SV Taxpayer]

Tara hit the nail on the head!
Who pays for the costs when these fund-raising fireworks ignite fires? The taxpayers, that's who. Sounds like a great idea to me!

[Local - actual]

Recovering Liberal, you complained about "liberal land" in the car chase post, now you have a problem with Capitalism at it's best?

Those are conflicting views. Maybe you're just ignorant and angry?

It does seem very irresponsible to sell fire works at this point, and it;s not like some of those fireworks might not wind up causing problems in other cities and counties.

[Responsible Dog Owner]

Better not bring those fireworks to the state beaches. The cops are waiting there to issue $1000.00 citations this year.

[Caelum Sinclair]

Putting aside peoples different viewpoints regarding fireworks and their potential danger, it seems to me that knowing a major income source can go away any given year would lead to organizations striving to replace that source with something more dependable and more acceptable to the community as a whole. Apparently that is not the case.

[Pit Kattle]

Wreckless third world hasbeens. It goes hand-in-hand with the pillaging of State and County Health Services. Since they are not going to have to pay for fire fighting services in the event of a brush or house fire anyway, why not let them have some fun. That is what tax payers are. Yeah right! Do me a favor and keep them South of Buena Vista Drive and north of Castroville.

[Wescruz]

Some of the goofs near where I live have already been blowing them off illegally.
Go figure.

[The Lovely Sophie]

Responsible Dog Owner wrote:

Better not bring those fireworks to the state beaches. The cops are waiting there to issue $1000.00 citations this year.

Ah, remember what happened last Forth of July: the police and sheriff arrested quite a people for breaking the "no fireworks" law, along with the no alcohol law.
Remember the judge either threw the cases out or slapped the offenders with a mere $100.00 fine?
It must be soooooooo frustrating to be an officer of the law these days.
And I can only image the people who got away with it last year are coming back for more this year, knowing the fines are gonna be small if they do get caught.

[siats]

The city and the county are likely liable if there is a fire. Alls that would have to be proven is that the source was from the sale. The permissive attitude is grossly negligent.

[mad men]

Caelum Sinclair wrote:

Putting aside peoples different viewpoints regarding fireworks and their potential danger, it seems to me that knowing a major income source can go away any given year would lead to organizations striving to replace that source with something more dependable and more acceptable to the community as a whole. Apparently that is not the case.

well said

[wildman]

People are over reacting. Aren't these fireworks safe and sane?

[Robert Norse]

Burning a flag in solidarity with the Honduran people on July 4th makes more sense to me than burning a flag as a "celebration of the First Amendment." Divorcing flagburning from its visceral ("Yanqui, go home!") content is a way of stripping the action of its force. Using constitutional arguments and hailing the First Amendment seems to me to be an attempt to dampen reactionary kneejerk jingoism("see, it's not so threatening"). But the point of a flag-burning in countries occupied by the U.S. or profiteering international corporations closely tied to U.S. guns and money IS to threaten ("get the fuck out!").

Burn a flag on the 4th in front of the Honduran counselate in protest of continued U.S. support
for the Honduran coup-sters. That's a real way of
using the First Amendment in more than an empty symbolic way. Divorcing U.S. flagburning from what it traditionally means throughout Latin America is a way of concealing or ignoring important history. Millions are being ripped off by the maquiladoras (exported NAFTA industries using cheap labor), especially in Honduras.

[Insane Inane]

Why would they do this when we are in drought conditions????? FIRE IS A REALITY!

[I love our local rag]

More great tidbits from the SC Sentinel's elite reporting staff.

Great opening sentence:
"After a yearlong firework ban, brightly colored booths are gracing Watsonville parking lots again."

Non profit companies? Maybe organizations or groups?
"Law enforcement and fire agencies are wary of the upcoming holiday, but nonprofit companies couldn't be more thrilled about the firework sales."

Isn't it illegal for kids to sell, buy, or use the fireworks?
"We are really excited to be able to sell again this year," she said. "It is a great fundraiser for the kids."

Glad to hear this.
"The Watsonville fire and police departments are wary about fire hazards and illegal activities."

So they can be ignited in occupied properties?
"Igniting fireworks in 'hazardous areas' such as unoccupied properties."

[Smokey]

Hope it burns big time on July 4. We get what we asked for.