Huntington loses world-class event

Susan Wise

Huntington Beach, host to the largest Fourth of July parade on the

west coast, should be having an all-day centennial event this year

ending with a spectacular fireworks show at the beach.

Instead of worrying about what could happen (riots and vandalism),

they should be thinking about what would happen: thousands of hotel

rooms filled to capacity; local merchants and restaurants booming

with business; and all that tax money going straight into city

coffers. Not to mention the positive press and chance to make

Huntington Beach a world class vacation destination.

The City Council claimed two main arguments against having a

fireworks display at the beach -- parking and safety. They discussed

a lack of parking for a potential 40,000 people. Yet, of the 3,200

spaces downtown, (already designed to hold 40,000 per the city

website) no one mentioned that Huntington and Bolsa Chica State

Beach’s parking lots would be utilized along with the numerous

metered spaces along Pacific Coast Highway. Instead, they are leaning

toward a smaller venue -- Huntington Beach High School or the new

multimillion-dollar Sports Complex.

The high school was recently re-sodded. The Sports Complex is

still sitting idle after two years while the grass grows. Won’t the

fireworks themselves or the crowds destroy all this new greenery?

What about the loud noise affecting the innocent horses across the

street at the Equestrian Center?

Instead, why not utilize both these venues as shuttle stops and

increase income potential? As for safety, the fireworks themselves

would be on a barge in the water, and the Police Department will be

out in force that day no matter where the event is held.

As for riots and vandalism, I won’t allow fear or the past to

dictate my future. Many cities throughout the U.S. hold fireworks

displays on bodies of water -- San Diego, Long Beach, New York City

and Cincinnati, just to name a few.

Anyone having attended such a spectacular event can assure you of

its lasting impression. Huntington Beach should be on that list.

If the council ever wonders why they get such bad press, I hope

they think about how they have voted on the issues: fireworks, signs,

banner planes, property taxes, Wal-Mart, and the Huntington Beach

Mall, just to name a few. They’ve even wasted time debating which way

a gas station should face its front doors and led us to believe

batting cages will financially sustain our new Sports Complex. All

this while cutting much-needed services like Public Works and

fighting numerous no-win lawsuits.

Last year, Huntington Beach had more than 100,000 people at the

beach for the U.S. Open of Surfing. This is primarily the under-30

crowd everyone is so afraid will become unruly. Will we be canceling

that event this year? Will we be canceling the Fourth of July parade

as well? Both events involve security risks and parking issues. City

Council, please let Huntington Beach become a world-class city.

* SUSAN WISE is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute to

“Sounding Off” e-mail us at hbindy@latimes.com or fax us at (714)

965-7174.