Ka-Boom: Cruelty to Humans and Animals

Even peace-loving folks like fireworks, but I think almost everyone hates the stealth bombers who set off extra-loud M-80s before, during, and after the Fourth of July. In particular, I think that these insensitive morons are being cruel to animals, who have no defenses against stupid human tricks. If you don’t know what I am talking about, ask any dog or cat owner how pets react to quarter sticks of dynamite going off day and night. If the critters could speak, they might say, “Get me out of here.” To top it off, Pacifica’s mad bombers got away with murder this year. According to published police logs, only one citation was issued. Zero tolerance, my ass!

John Maybury, Editor and Publisher, Pacifica Riptide

Comments

[todd bray]

Still waiting for a number from our chief of police. That number is the cost for extra staffing on the Fourth of July. An 8 percent fee is added to the cost of fireworks that goes toward offsetting the cost of this extra staffing. It will be interesting to see how close the cost of extra staffing is compared to the sum generated by the 8 percent fee charged to all firework sales. Methinks Chris and I are both right and wrong.

[Chris Porter]

Todd, I think you made an incorrect statement, first that Pacifica was footing the bill for the police overtime. I said that you were incorrect. You prove that you are right. I don't have time to do your laundry.

[Steve Sinai]

I should have said howitzers were going off in EAST Sharp Park, where I live. No doubt they were heard in West Sharp Park, too.

It did seem like the explosions were especially loud this year. M-80s were going off at 1 a.m. We should all do a fog dance on July 4th, since that seems to put a damper on the noise.

[Mary Jana]

Chris: While you are doing Todd's errands for him, please don't forget to Simonize his car, do his dirty dishes and laundry, water his lawn and his house plants, put out his garbage (I think it's recycle week for him, but I don't have to tell you that), and take his dogs out for a walk. Also, he prefers his morning eggs sunny-side up and his dinner steak medium rare. On behalf of the entire community of Pacifica, thanks again for taking care of Todd while he is incapacitated. Hopefully, he will regain his mobility in the not-too-distant future and once again be able to fend for himself.

[Lionel Emde]

During the 24-hour period ending on midnight, July 4, the Pacifica Police Log notes 82 calls related to fireworks.

The results of these calls are as follows:

43 Gone On Arrival
33 Log Note Only
4 Abated/Advised
1 Citation
1 Cancelled

Posted by: Pacifica Index | July 06, 2012 at 08:39 AM

That means that the police had the most ineffective enforcement on July 4th in the last three years. Why is that? The first year the new ordinance was in force, there were something like 14 citations handed out. The next year had fewer citiations, and it was also a lot quieter. Now we have a year worthy of WWIII, and there's one citation? I hope some of you elected officials are reading this blog and start asking some hard questions of the police.

[todd bray]

Chris: It's your claim, back it up. Get all that stuff posted up here. Otherwise, it's just more unsubstantiated talk.

[Chris Porter]

Todd: If you need this documentation, you can call the city manager and ask him to print the agreement between the fireworks group and the city, or whatever other document they have between them. I'm sure something will be available. I also know that City Council member Len Stone was behind the push to make sure the city's extra costs were covered, so maybe he can help you out.

[todd bray]

Chris: Prove it. Get the city to publish the contract.

[Chris Porter]

Todd: My facts were substantiated by the city manager.

[Pacifica Index]

During the 24-hour period ending on midnight, July 4, the Pacifica Police Log notes 82 calls related to fireworks.

The results of these calls are as follows:

43 Gone On Arrival
33 Log Note Only
4 Abated/Advised
1 Citation
1 Cancelled

[Dan Underhill]

We now have the technology to create visual and auditory art that easily surpasses anything that can be done with fireworks. I have screen savers that are more colorful and imaginative than any fireworks I have seen. We can project any image we want without putting our eyes, our fingers, or everybody's homes at risk. Let's bring new meaning to "safe and sane" by requiring holiday displays to actually be safe and sane.

[Lionel Emde]

Chris Porter is correct about some of the public safety and cleanup costs being paid for by fireworks revenues.

The question for me is how effective law enforcement was in handing out $1K tickets. That was how the help from the sheriff's department was supposed to be paid for. If the cops didn't do very well yesterday, we need to examine how they are allocating resources to fight this really bad problem.

The nonprofit groups, after fireworks costs and city fees were deducted, made about $100K, split between 12 or 13 groups, as of three years ago. Not much money, but we're increasingly impoverished in Pacifica.

[todd bray]

Chris, thanks for the unsubstantiated clarification, none of which detracts from the fact that we should not allow toxic waste to be burned and dumped on our beaches by literally thousands of people every July 4th. We need to change that ordinance this year.

[Chris Porter]

I also forgot to say that the illegal fireworks were the worst they have been in years in upper Linda Mar. The bottle rockets and M-80s (my son knows the names) were so loud that it made one of the small children on my block cry who was enjoying himself with his sparkler. There was one explosion so loud and so close to our home about 10 p.m. that our windows shook. I don't understand the pleasure that people get from these types of fireworks, and I know the pets really suffer.

[Chris Porter]

Hi, Todd: You are wrong about the fireworks people not paying for the Pacifica police overtime. They not only pay for the police overtime but the firefighter overtime and part of the public works overtime. They are also required to pay for a debris box for litter abatement at the beach.

[Dave Yuhas]

The 4th of July has turned into a celebration of the right to be a moron.

[Karen Rosenstein]

I agree! Our cat was in one of her safe spots from about 7 p.m. till late. When I finally went to bed after 1 a.m., because of a still-going neighbors' party, our cat couldn't wait to crawl on me and have me pet her.

Plus, many parts of Pacifica, like mine, have lots of dry brush in the canyon. We are tempting fate for a few to enjoy a few hours of burning their money up. And many of these neighbors are ones who complain about how the city handles its finances. Go fig!

Oh, and Steve, how nice that we might be of a similar opinion regarding something for a change!

[todd bray]

I'm with Chris.

The issue is very political because so many charitable organizations receive funding from the sales of these products. But the increased expense to the city for extra cops is not funded by the sale of fireworks, so we eat that cost. Good for cops, bad for the general fund.

Years ago, a cost comparison was done between providing the funding directly to the charitable organizations versus paying for the cop overtime. Can't remember the results, but they are in some city study somewhere.

Bottom line is not to allow ANY fireworks. Sell them as much as you want, but stop encouraging the psychotic barrages we witness every year on our beaches. For the amount of effort our community puts into beach cleanup and education, it makes no sense to then allow literally tons of toxic waste to be burned and left to rot on them every year.

[Cyd Crampton]

Very true. A "neighbor," who is a part-time resident at best, had a party for all of her friends to attend and set off legal fireworks, but accompanied by all kinds of firecrackers and M-80s. They then left the entire mess in the street. I'm just fine watching the fireworks on TV, frankly.

[Steve Sinai]

People are shooting off howitzers in West Sharp Park.

[Chris Fogel]

Folks, it's time for our city to end this nonsense and enact a zero tolerance policy toward ALL fireworks.

I don't know what other districts have been like, but this evening has been completely and utterly ridiculous in terms of the level of mayhem here in Linda Mar.

How about it, City Council? Let's start getting serious about safety in our community.

NOTHING is worth the fright and upset this evening is causing family, friends, and pets.

[Lionel Emde]

I was in Linda Mar this afternoon and it sounds like it's going to be a bad one tonight. Huge explosions in the early afternoon.

If the cops follow past strategies, they'll have county sheriffs riding with them. If you see parties blowing up the illegal stuff, I think you can email the cops, which might be faster than trying to get through to dispatch on the phone.

[John K]

The zero tolerance policy on non-"safe and sane" fireworks is a joke.