{"id":321392,"date":"2017-04-09T19:59:52","date_gmt":"2017-04-10T01:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=321392"},"modified":"2017-04-09T19:59:52","modified_gmt":"2017-04-10T01:59:52","slug":"oppose-changes-to-the-countys-fireworks-ordinance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/04\/oppose-changes-to-the-countys-fireworks-ordinance\/","title":{"rendered":"Oppose changes to the county’s fireworks ordinance"},"content":{"rendered":"

COMMENTARY:<\/strong>\u00a0On Tuesday at 9 a.m., at 845 N. Motel Blvd.<\/a>\u00a0in Las Cruces, the Do\u00f1a Ana County Board of Commissioners will be voting on whether to approve an ordinance amending the current safe and sane fireworks ordinance. The proposal would allow \u201cspecialty retailers\u201d to sell ground audible and aerial fireworks year round (currently prohibited by the county\u2019s safe and sane fireworks ordinance). Supposedly, these fireworks would only be sold to non-Do\u00f1a Ana County residents.<\/p>\n

\"William

Courtesy photo<\/p>

William Corbett<\/p><\/div>\n

I am writing to ask that you email our five county commissioners to request that the current countywide safe and sane fireworks ordinance remain in effect as is, and that the commissioners who received big campaign contributions from the fireworks venders recuse themselves.<\/p>\n

In emailing the commissioners (see the Las Cruces Sun-News article from March 14<\/a>), please also request that Commissioner Solis and Commissioner Vasquez recuse themselves from this vote, since each received a campaign contribution of $2,500 from Bowlin Travel Centers, Inc., which is the specialty fireworks vendor who will benefit from an ordinance change and sell banned fireworks year round. This smacks of \u201cpay for play\u201d as Commissioner Garrett mentioned at the March 14 meeting.<\/p>\n

Further, actual or the appearance of impropriety undermines public trust in our commission. It\u2019s odd that the first method the commission considered to promote economic growth was increased fireworks sales.<\/p>\n

Further, please attend Tuesday’s county commission meeting to speak and oppose the proposed amended ordinance and ask that two commissioners recuse themselves. At the March 14 commission meeting the vendors had eight\u00a0people speaking in favor of amending the fireworks ordinance; there were only two people opposing. We need a robust turnout for Tuesday’s commission meeting.<\/p>\n

The reasons to oppose the amendment to the ordinance are:<\/p>\n

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  1. Permitting more retailers to sell ground audible and aerial fireworks to non-county residents will not keep these fireworks from being used in Do\u00f1a Ana County. The decrease in use of these fireworks from 2007 to now is a result of fewer vendors being permitted to sell these fireworks due to our current county safe and sane ordinance. While there are still violations of the ordinance, the reduced availability of these fireworks has resulted in their decreased use.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Enforcing compliance and record checking by these specialty fireworks vendors will consume fire and law enforcement resources that are better spent elsewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      1. The public is not requesting a change in the ordinance; the change is being requested by the fireworks vendors. The increased GRT revenue would be\u00a0exceeded by the disturbance of the public peace, trash cleanup and fire, EMS and law enforcement costs.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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        1. The public already has access to consumer fireworks. The current county ordinance permits many types of less dangerous fireworks available for purchase by the public (sparklers, toys, cones, fountains, wheels, etc.). In addition, there are safe and enjoyable public fireworks displays on July 4.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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          1. The ground audible and aerial fireworks compromise public safety, causing fires, injuries and violations, all consuming public safety resources.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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            1. Many residents are truly disturbed and suffer damage due to the loud ground and aerial fireworks, including individuals suffering from PTSD, the elderly, the young, those living near the fireworks, people\u2019s pets, livestock, etc.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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              1. Loosening the safe and sane fireworks ordinance will embolden the fireworks vendors to further modify and eventually again try to eliminate the safe and sane fireworks ordinance.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

                In 2005, the City of Las Cruces, and in 2007, Do\u00f1a Ana County, passed ordinances outlawing ground audible (firecrackers, cherry bombs, etc.) and aerial fireworks (mines, shells, aerial explosive fireworks, etc.) for personal use. These were the so-called \u201csafe and sane\u201d fireworks regulations.<\/p>\n

                Note: eight categories of fireworks, such as sparklers, cones, fountains, etc., are not affected by safe and sane regulations and are available to the public.<\/p>\n

                Your email could be sent jointly to all commissioners advocating \u201cdo not modify our current safe and sane countywide fireworks regulations and recuse commissioners who received large campaign contributions from the vendors.\u201d The sender\u2019s street address and telephone number should be included in the email. The emails of all five commissioners and other contact information are here:<\/p>\n