Where was the help?

Gary Spencer

The Fourth of July has come and gone. The debates over fireworks at

Costa Mesa City Council meetings are over for now. Inevitably, a

senior Eastside resident will tell the council how her dog shook from

firecrackers or how a sky rocket went over her house. There will be

many horror stories, but not much will be true.

The city changed many regulations this year in regard to fireworks

sales. And I must admit that most of the new regulations did do good

things.

The deafening sounds of Screaming Willies stopped around 10 p.m.

because stands closed on the Fourth two hours earlier, at 8 p.m. The

number of stands in Costa Mesa was reduced by 52%, from 58 in 2003 to

28 this year.

Contrary to popular belief, fireworks stands make no one group

wealthy -- rather, just able to survive. Most groups will make a

profit this year, thanks to the changes. The parks and schools were

cleaner than past years. The posting of the new regulations in city

parks and enforcement of the rules by park rangers and police really

helped. The Newport-Mesa Unified School District did not allow the

sale of fireworks on school property, so people never figured out

that if you can’t shoot your newly purchased fireworks at city parks,

go to your local school to have your fun. Some did, but overall the

parks and schools were cleaner by 10 a.m. on July 5 than most streets

in the best neighborhoods.

We all survived the Fourth, even though we were without our

beloved ground blooms, spinners and sparklers -- another council

cutback.

Each operator of every stand was scrutinized to make sure it was a

nonprofit organization that specifically served the needs of children

of the city of Costa Mesa. Costa Mesa athletic booster clubs lost six

stands, Estancia High lost four stands, and Newport Harbor lost a few

stands in the downsizing to the 40 allowable stands in the city’s

crackdown on the excessive number of vendors.

Many operators this year weren’t even aware that high school

programs were losing out because of these stand restrictions. In the

end, there were only 28 stands. Not a single high school booster

stand that was cut was added back into the magic “40” number.

My son, Evan Spencer, who will be a senior at Costa Mesa High

School, formed a cleanup of the city’s parks and schools on Monday

that began at 6:30 a.m. Every stand was contacted, not once but

twice. Everyone he contacted received the necessary liability

releases, community service forms, information packets, fliers and

directions on how to participate. It was well-received by everyone

who was running a stand.

Assurances were given that an all-out effort would be forthcoming

from those who were awarded stands this year. Costa Mesa High School

aquatics, which shared a stand with Costa Mesa High School baseball

and Costa Mesa Pony League canceled practice, so the entire 30-member

summer team could pick up trash.

Mesa was also represented by six basketball players. Estancia had

a mix of football (two), baseball (one) and a few parent volunteers.

Newport Harbor High School clubs did not participate. Of the other 10

organizations that were allowed to have stands this year, only

American Youth Soccer Organization participated with two members, who

were both Costa Mesa High School students.

I think that if every group that participates is not only taking,

but also giving back to the community, fireworks sales may remain a

Costa Mesa tradition for years to come. I am very disappointed, but

not surprised that other Costa Mesa organizations, who benefit from

the sales, took the money and ran.

* GARY SPENCER is a Costa Mesa resident and president of the Costa

Mesa High School Aquatics Booster Club.