Freedom From Fireworks Speaks Once More to Supervisors
Board of Supervisors
Public Comment - two minutes allowed
11 May 2021
Good morning ~
I'm Jean Brocklebank, speaking on behalf of the Freedom From Fireworks campaign. We wrote to all of you last Friday and are here to remind you of the nine specific 2016 directives regarding fireworks (passed unanimously by this Board) and to ask that they be implemented once more well before this 4th of July when it is quite possible thousands of people will be celebrating their freedom from COVID regulations by causing destructive mayhem throughout the County.
This year fire hazard is on everyone's mind. To that we add health impacts of breathing polluted air, filled with chemical toxins from fireworks. Toxins that contaminate all waterways leading to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Add to fire hazard and environmental health the intense barrage of the harmful noise of fireworks, which affects people, especially veterans with PTSD, as well as pets and wildlife.
Therefore, we ask that the 2016 directives be re-issued for 2021, introduced in a Consent Agenda item on your May 25th meeting, and include these additional directives for this year:
And for next year, these additional two:
Thank you for considering our requests.
Public Comment - two minutes allowed
11 May 2021
Good morning ~
I'm Jean Brocklebank, speaking on behalf of the Freedom From Fireworks campaign. We wrote to all of you last Friday and are here to remind you of the nine specific 2016 directives regarding fireworks (passed unanimously by this Board) and to ask that they be implemented once more well before this 4th of July when it is quite possible thousands of people will be celebrating their freedom from COVID regulations by causing destructive mayhem throughout the County.
This year fire hazard is on everyone's mind. To that we add health impacts of breathing polluted air, filled with chemical toxins from fireworks. Toxins that contaminate all waterways leading to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Add to fire hazard and environmental health the intense barrage of the harmful noise of fireworks, which affects people, especially veterans with PTSD, as well as pets and wildlife.
Therefore, we ask that the 2016 directives be re-issued for 2021, introduced in a Consent Agenda item on your May 25th meeting, and include these additional directives for this year:
- Add Air B&B properties to vacation rentals.
- A press release once a week starting in June.
- Request CalTrans to use its digital signs on Hwy. 17 for one full week ahead of July 4th.
And for next year, these additional two:
- Reconvene the apparently now defunct annual Fireworks Task Force meetings of all jurisdictions of law enforcement officials, Fire Chiefs and State Parks that used to occur each February.
- And two, Draft a Social Host Ordinance regarding fireworks possession and use, that would be included in the permit for vacation rentals, rather than relying on letters to property owners.
Thank you for considering our requests.
Freedom From Fireworks Speaks Again to Supervisors
Board of Supervisors
Oral Communications
6 June 2017
It's fireworks season again and we're here to speak for over 175 organized residents.
Last May you acted decisively on behalf of residents, including committing money for media releases and extra signage, directing the Planning Department to send letters to all vacation home property owners, and other good specific actions. We were so optimistic! Yet, with all of that proactive education, it seemed like there was more fireworks activity than the year before and only one citation was issued by County law enforcement on July 4, 2016.
Fortunately, we had a meeting last October with Chief Craig Wilson and Lt. Jim Ross after learning about the lonely one citation. At that meeting we were assured by them that deputies will be issuing citations this 4th of July weekend. This is good news because without consequences for doing the wrong thing, such behavior will continue, no matter how much money is spent on education.
We are here today because a new problem surfaced. After our meeting with Chief Wilson and Lt. Ross last fall, we had asked about the status of the only citation issued last July 4th. We wanted to know if the issuing officer had to be in court if a citation is contested. Lt. Ross responded that The District Attorney declined to file charges. We were shocked and dismayed. Good grief.
We are here to ask you if you can do anything to intercede with County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell. If law enforcement is willing to start writing fireworks citations this year that is all the more reason the DA should not be allowed to undermine the work of residents, law enforcement or the BOS.
We have written to the District Attorney to request a meeting with him. We have never met with a District Attorney and do not know how our efforts to convince him to take seriously the carnage in our lives created by fireworks will be successful. But try we will. And we'd like your help.
In his report to this Board in September of last year, Sheriff Hart said:
"While we cannot say that these efforts reduced the use of illegal fireworks on the 4th of July holiday, we believe they represent a starting point for greater future compliance, were worthwhile and should be continued in 2017."
Using the Sheriff's language, we'll say that education was a "starting point" and now it is time for citations from deputies that are not dismissed by the District Attorney.
Please help us make 2017 better than 2016.
Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis on behalf of Freedom From Fireworks
Oral Communications
6 June 2017
It's fireworks season again and we're here to speak for over 175 organized residents.
Last May you acted decisively on behalf of residents, including committing money for media releases and extra signage, directing the Planning Department to send letters to all vacation home property owners, and other good specific actions. We were so optimistic! Yet, with all of that proactive education, it seemed like there was more fireworks activity than the year before and only one citation was issued by County law enforcement on July 4, 2016.
Fortunately, we had a meeting last October with Chief Craig Wilson and Lt. Jim Ross after learning about the lonely one citation. At that meeting we were assured by them that deputies will be issuing citations this 4th of July weekend. This is good news because without consequences for doing the wrong thing, such behavior will continue, no matter how much money is spent on education.
We are here today because a new problem surfaced. After our meeting with Chief Wilson and Lt. Ross last fall, we had asked about the status of the only citation issued last July 4th. We wanted to know if the issuing officer had to be in court if a citation is contested. Lt. Ross responded that The District Attorney declined to file charges. We were shocked and dismayed. Good grief.
We are here to ask you if you can do anything to intercede with County District Attorney Jeffrey S. Rosell. If law enforcement is willing to start writing fireworks citations this year that is all the more reason the DA should not be allowed to undermine the work of residents, law enforcement or the BOS.
We have written to the District Attorney to request a meeting with him. We have never met with a District Attorney and do not know how our efforts to convince him to take seriously the carnage in our lives created by fireworks will be successful. But try we will. And we'd like your help.
In his report to this Board in September of last year, Sheriff Hart said:
"While we cannot say that these efforts reduced the use of illegal fireworks on the 4th of July holiday, we believe they represent a starting point for greater future compliance, were worthwhile and should be continued in 2017."
Using the Sheriff's language, we'll say that education was a "starting point" and now it is time for citations from deputies that are not dismissed by the District Attorney.
Please help us make 2017 better than 2016.
Jean Brocklebank and Michael Lewis on behalf of Freedom From Fireworks
Sheriff's Fireworks Report to the Board of Supervisors
September 16, 2016
The fireworks report to the Board of Supervisors is item 28 of the Regular Agenda of the BOS September 20th meeting. You can view the agenda HERE.
The report is the first item on the regular agenda but we have no idea what time it will be heard. The BOS meeting starts at 9:00 am. The Consent Agenda and Oral Communications will likely take at least a half hour, maybe more, but to be safe, those of you who intend to speak to the BOS about the report, should be at the supervisor's chambers on the 5th floor of the County Building no later than 9:30 am.
Click below to download the Sheriff's Fireworks Report.
The fireworks report to the Board of Supervisors is item 28 of the Regular Agenda of the BOS September 20th meeting. You can view the agenda HERE.
The report is the first item on the regular agenda but we have no idea what time it will be heard. The BOS meeting starts at 9:00 am. The Consent Agenda and Oral Communications will likely take at least a half hour, maybe more, but to be safe, those of you who intend to speak to the BOS about the report, should be at the supervisor's chambers on the 5th floor of the County Building no later than 9:30 am.
Click below to download the Sheriff's Fireworks Report.
Sheriff's Fireworks Report.pdf | |
File Size: | 187 kb |
File Type: |
GOOD NEWS!
Our recommendations, placed on the Board of Supervisors
Consent Agenda, were adopted on May 10, 2016!
Consent Agenda, were adopted on May 10, 2016!
Supervisors Zach Friend (2nd District) and John Leopold (1st District) were the co-authors of the following list of policies and directives and are exactly what we wanted! Below is the text of the letter from Friend and Leopold that introduced the agenda item to the full Board of Supervisors:
Over the last few years, our offices have received an increase in constituent correspondence surrounding the use of illegal fireworks in our community. Complaints range from worries about the noise to fire and environmental concerns. While they are particularly problematic in the summer, peaking during the July 4th holiday, we have seen these calls become a nearly year round activity. Not only have we seen an increase in the number of days this activity takes place but over time, it has expanded from beach centric to one that occurs in our urban and rural neighborhoods throughout the county as well.
The illegal use of fireworks often impacts our community by traumatizing pets, disturbing neighborhoods, and poses a significant fire hazard during the dry times of the year. As the problem has grown, we have worked to increase the fines and enforcement but the issue continues to burden our residents and public safety agencies. Each year our Sheriff’s Department and local California Highway Patrol office work hard to protect citizens and visitors from this illegal activity at great expense and cost to the community.
We believe there is an opportunity to take a more comprehensive approach to address the current problem of fireworks in the county. Working with local community groups and the Sheriff’s Office, we have come up with a set of policies and directives to address the increasing impacts fireworks are having on our communities and our burdened County resources. The approach is threefold: improved tools of enforcement, better education locally, and outreach to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks.
Therefore, we recommend the Board take the following actions:
1. Direct the Planning Department to write a letter to all vacation rental permit holders that clearly articulates that fireworks are illegal in Santa Cruz County and citation of a vacation rental occupant for violations related to firework use is grounds for permit revocation proceedings.
2. Direct the Planning Department to return with language that would require vacation rental owners to notify occupants that fireworks are illegal in Santa Cruz County.
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return with a proposal to implement permanent triple fines for fireworks and other key county violations on July 4th and other holiday periods.
4. Direct the Chair to write a letter to State Parks for improved and increased enforcement on state beaches and parks during July 4th and other peak times.
5. Request the Sheriff’s Department work with local schools to reiterate to the children in our community that fireworks are illegal.
6. Increase visibility of fireworks enforcement through the use of expanded digital signage near appropriate neighborhoods.
7. Direct the Chair of the Board to write letters to the Mayors of Watsonville and Salinas explaining that the sale of fireworks in their respective jurisdictions is contributing to illegal activity in the County of Santa Cruz.
8. Direct the CAO to work with the Public Information Officer to develop a media outreach and education campaign and return to the Board for approval.
9. Request the Sheriff’s office to return to the Board with a report on the effectiveness of these increased measures no later than September.
We worked hard for this first major step by our Supervisors. Let's let them know how much we appreciate their efforts on our behalf. Send your emails of appreciation to:
[email protected],
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
We can give ourselves some high fives. We're on a roll and let's keep up the momentum!
Over the last few years, our offices have received an increase in constituent correspondence surrounding the use of illegal fireworks in our community. Complaints range from worries about the noise to fire and environmental concerns. While they are particularly problematic in the summer, peaking during the July 4th holiday, we have seen these calls become a nearly year round activity. Not only have we seen an increase in the number of days this activity takes place but over time, it has expanded from beach centric to one that occurs in our urban and rural neighborhoods throughout the county as well.
The illegal use of fireworks often impacts our community by traumatizing pets, disturbing neighborhoods, and poses a significant fire hazard during the dry times of the year. As the problem has grown, we have worked to increase the fines and enforcement but the issue continues to burden our residents and public safety agencies. Each year our Sheriff’s Department and local California Highway Patrol office work hard to protect citizens and visitors from this illegal activity at great expense and cost to the community.
We believe there is an opportunity to take a more comprehensive approach to address the current problem of fireworks in the county. Working with local community groups and the Sheriff’s Office, we have come up with a set of policies and directives to address the increasing impacts fireworks are having on our communities and our burdened County resources. The approach is threefold: improved tools of enforcement, better education locally, and outreach to neighboring jurisdictions that sell fireworks.
Therefore, we recommend the Board take the following actions:
1. Direct the Planning Department to write a letter to all vacation rental permit holders that clearly articulates that fireworks are illegal in Santa Cruz County and citation of a vacation rental occupant for violations related to firework use is grounds for permit revocation proceedings.
2. Direct the Planning Department to return with language that would require vacation rental owners to notify occupants that fireworks are illegal in Santa Cruz County.
3. Direct the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to return with a proposal to implement permanent triple fines for fireworks and other key county violations on July 4th and other holiday periods.
4. Direct the Chair to write a letter to State Parks for improved and increased enforcement on state beaches and parks during July 4th and other peak times.
5. Request the Sheriff’s Department work with local schools to reiterate to the children in our community that fireworks are illegal.
6. Increase visibility of fireworks enforcement through the use of expanded digital signage near appropriate neighborhoods.
7. Direct the Chair of the Board to write letters to the Mayors of Watsonville and Salinas explaining that the sale of fireworks in their respective jurisdictions is contributing to illegal activity in the County of Santa Cruz.
8. Direct the CAO to work with the Public Information Officer to develop a media outreach and education campaign and return to the Board for approval.
9. Request the Sheriff’s office to return to the Board with a report on the effectiveness of these increased measures no later than September.
We worked hard for this first major step by our Supervisors. Let's let them know how much we appreciate their efforts on our behalf. Send your emails of appreciation to:
[email protected],
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
We can give ourselves some high fives. We're on a roll and let's keep up the momentum!
FFF Report with Recommendations Submitted to the Board of Supervisors (1/12/16)
BOS Recommendations Final Report | |
File Size: | 971 kb |
File Type: |