Community Corner

Issue: Which Is Foremost—Environmental Law of Fireworks on the Fourth?

San Diego City Hall is fighting lawsuits by Gonzalez's Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation.

A measure pending in Sacramento aims to exempt small community events from environmental laws.  But Senate Bill 633 gives little hope to folks like John Pilch, organizer of the Lake Murray Fourth of July fireworks. For the second straight year, he's had to cancel the show because of issues raised by Encinitas lawyer Marco Gonzalez. San Diego City Hall is fighting lawsuits by Gonzalez's Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation.
 
U-T San Diego quoted Robert Howard, an attorney representing the city, as saying the bill “doesn’t fix the problem … The problem is setting up a system where fireworks shows don’t have to defend themselves in court. Most are low budget … The cost of litigation is dramatically above the cost of the show.”

A state appeals court will eventually rule in the San Diego fireworks cases, but Sacramento can weigh in.  Should SB 633 be reworked to explicitly allow Fourth of July fireworks displays?  Or should the California Environmental Quality Act be respected at all levels? Share your thoughts in the comments.


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