In Southern California, Fourth of July festivities are expected to be notably subdued this year due to a combination of factors including fire dangers, funding shortages, environmental issues, and apprehensions over immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles City Councilmember Ysabel Jurado has announced the postponement of July 4 celebrations funded by Council District 14, which includes communities like Boyle Heights and El Sereno. This decision was made in light of fears regarding potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweeps, as reported by local media partner Boyle Heights Beat.
Following suit, two other cities with significant Latino populations, Bell Gardens and Cudahy, have also decided to delay their celebrations, citing safety concerns.
Santa Monica has also canceled its fireworks display this year, primarily due to a shortage of funding. In a statement, Santa Monica College Superintendent Kathryn E. Jeffery revealed that the usual partners who help finance the Celebrate America festival have withdrawn their support.
Long Beach has announced that this will be the final year for its fireworks extravaganza, dubbed Big Bang on the Bay. Environmental concerns, particularly related to water quality and the effects of fireworks on migratory birds, have led the California Coastal Commission to require the city to transition to a drone show starting next year.
One notable change is occurring in Pasadena as well, where the traditional fireworks show at the Rose Bowl will be replaced with a drone performance for the first time in over 20 years. This shift has been driven by ongoing fire threats and a desire to honor the victims of recent wildfires, including the Eaton Fire, which destroyed approximately 150 homes in the Pasadena area earlier this year.
City spokesperson Lisa Derderian emphasized that the risk of fire remains high, noting that the vegetation affected by the Eaton Fire is still highly combustible.
“It’s important to stress that just because people assume we had a fire in January and that those have burned and they’re not gonna burn again, that vegetation is already on those mountains,” she explained.
Derderian warned that even a small sparkler capable of reaching temperatures of 1,200 degrees could ignite the still-flammable vegetation, potentially leading to another disastrous fire.
In response to these concerns, Pasadena plans to enhance enforcement this year. The city has implemented a ban on all fireworks, including those classified as “safe and sane.”
In the past, residents often brought their own fireworks to the Rose Bowl parking lot or gathered in Upper Hastings Ranch, hoping to get a good view of the fireworks displays across Los Angeles County.
However, this year, Derderian advises against such activities, stating that fireworks could be distressing for victims of recent fires and their pets.
As recovery processes are underway, the sounds, smells, and air quality associated with fireworks could cause further psychological harm to those who have already faced significant challenges.
“The noise of fireworks, the smell, the air quality, it’s just creating angst for those that have been through so much already,” she said.
In addition to the drone show, the city plans to deploy police and fire personnel for patrols starting this weekend, urging residents to abide by local laws concerning fireworks.
For those contemplating hosting their own fireworks displays, it’s critical to scrutinize local regulations and understand that municipalities are intensifying efforts to crack down on illegal fireworks.
As Southern California navigates these numerous challenges, it remains to be seen how the Fourth of July will be celebrated this year. Residents can anticipate a move toward innovative alternatives like drone shows while confronting the serious implications of fire safety and community wellbeing.
image source from：laist
