Pierce May Lower the Boom on Fireworks

The annual July Fourth fireworks show at Pierce College has become a liability rather than a boon for the campus and the college shouldn’t be involved, new college President E. Bing Inocencio said Wednesday.

Citing large repair costs for property damage caused by Independence Day revelers and complaints by visitors about the cost of the last event, Inocencio said it may be time for the fireworks display to be held elsewhere.

“It may sound like it’s not terribly friendly,” he said, “but we have a deficit to face and students to protect.”

Inocencio said he will be speaking to City Councilwoman Laura Chick, who represents the area, about changing the venue, possibly to a municipal park.

Chick said she will go into the meeting “wanting to save the event, but I’m open to hearing what the problems are,” adding that in her opinion the president may have some valid points.

“This event hasn’t been totally problem-free,” she said, noting traffic, staffing and neighborhood complaints about the event brought to her attention over the years.

Officials of the Woodland Hills Chamber of Commerce, which has coordinated the fireworks show at the college for more than 20 years, said it would be difficult to find a new venue. Chamber treasurer Thomas DeLong said Wednesday he had not been notified by college officials of their concerns.

“We’d be a little disappointed if they did make a decision like that without us,” said DeLong, who organized the show. “It would be sad to see an event that has been going for 22 years stop.”

Inocencio said that in addition to concerns about property damage to the college, he and members of the Pierce College Council have received complaints from the public about the admission price for the event.

DeLong said the calls probably concerned an admission fee charged of all people entering the campus last July 4, not just those entering the stadium, as in years past.