EDITORIAL

There will be no Fourth of July fireworks at the Newport Dunes next

week. Newport Beach City Manager Homer Bludau and company sought a couple

of options to replace the pyrotechnic display, but unfortunately came up

empty.

But city officials definitely tried.

They tried to resurrect the show at the Dunes, but neither the Dunes

nor the company that put on the fireworks event wanted a part of it.

Liability issues, which caused Dunes officials to drop the show in the

first place, led the fireworks company to pass as well.

The city considered igniting the display from the water, either at one

of the piers or from a barge, but that proved unwise in that it would

draw extra visitors to an already busy Balboa Peninsula.

And, to further shut out the possibility of sparking a display near

the peninsula, the Police Department pointed out that its officers are

already a bit too busy on the Fourth of July patrolling the West Newport

area to monitor another bustling crowd.

It is a shame, especially as patriotism flourishes in our nation, that

an alternative display could not be created to replace the Dunes

fireworks, but residents are not without their options.

In fact, look no further than the city’s neighbors.

Costa Mesa hosts a magnificent fireworks display at Orange Coast

College’s Le Bard Stadium. Both Huntington and Laguna beaches also host

fireworks shows, as do several other cities throughout the county.

So sure, it won’t be the same as having it at the Dunes, but there are

other options to celebrate our nation’s independence at a time when we

all feel a need to do exactly that.