Cautious council denies fireworks, fun

Barry L. Williams

On Tuesday evening Community Service Director Jim Engle announced to

the July Fourth Board that the police, fire and staff would recommend

to City Council that the board not be allowed to host a fireworks

show at the beach in 2005.

The reasoning was that the 2004 Show was too successful.

Police Chief Kenneth Small was hired with one of his attributes

being handling large crowds in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, his previous

employer. It has Harley Bike Week, Spring Break and a Fourth of July

fireworks over the water. Are the residents of Huntington Beach less

responsible than a bunch of bikers and young party animals full of

liquor and libido?

The Fire Department would have to abandon their in-house gyms,

televisions and kitchens to be on the streets to serve.

There was a very successful horse show held in Huntington Beach

for several years with a true “Blue Blood” attendance roll (Joan

Irvine Smith, etc.) but was driven from town by excessive controls

and fee’s imposed by public safety on the event.

The Halloween event on main street in October of each year doesn’t

even have a requirement to hire one outside guard service yet is

attended by more than 7,000 potentially rebellious young people in

costumes. Is there equity or reason behind this separation of events?

There is a Duck-a-thon held each spring to support a worthwhile

charity. Is it to also be driven from town because of success and too

many people on the pier to see ducks launched?

Or perhaps the Easter egg program in Central Park -- there are

lots of potential bad people congregated there. Rabbits, chickens and

such other mischievous participants.

Remember there was not an incident at all in 2004. So there is no

hidden burning couch issue to blame for the decision. As was used for

several years prior to this.

The meetings for these decisions were held without an invitation

to the council liaisons Debbie Cook, Jill Hardy or any members. The

chair of the volunteer board was not invited. The bureaucratic

mentality prevailed that we will decide what is best for the

residents without their input. Board members asked to be included in

the after-event discussions but were excluded.

The board and 2005 events are scheduled to appear as an agenda

item on the Nov. 15 council meeting.

The more residents who appear and voice their positions, the more

the bureaucrats might respect their very well-paying employers.

It would seem obvious since the city’s hotels were sold out,(a

wrist band was issued to gain access to guest only events.) All

restaurants in the Downtown area were reported to be literally sold

out of many products before dark on the Fourth last year. I’m sure

they are already yearning for the opportunity to repeat this success

in 2005.

The residents of Huntington deserve more from their hired help.

The parade is more than 100 years old and will be here after many of

us are long gone, so it’s about time the public safety officials who

are paid a very handsome salary to do their job realize the parade

and celebration is part of that job and quit attacking the

celebration of our country’s independence. No party is too big to

celebrate freedom.

If they find that working here is so uncomfortable perhaps

someplace else would be more appealing.

This entire celebration cost the city absolutely nothing as all

funds are raised by the board through donations and product sales.

Even the police and fire salaries are charged to the board and paid

from these funds. If the July Fourth Board doesn’t pay for the

salary’s for that day the city will have the expense anyway.

It’s a good thing our resident bureaucrats don’t work in Pasadena

or they would close the Rose Bowl game down as there is no major

street access and no parking at the Rose Bowl and it is situated in a

residential area, yet they enjoy the national attention it garners

and make it work. We have miles of beach and parking lots that no

other venue on the coast enjoys, so why would we not be proud and put

on an extravaganza to celebrate our independence and our city’s

benefit?. Isn’t that why we pay for a visitors bureau to attract out

of town dollars?

Please contact a City Council person with your position or be at

the Nov. 15 council meeting to speak in person to the issue.

If we don’t speak out we may always remain a wide spot on Pacific

Coast Highway. The council looks for successful activities to drive

the economy and the bureaucrats present obstacles and pessimism to

success.

* BARRY L. WILLIAMS is a Huntington Beach resident. To contribute

to “Sounding Off” e-mail us at [email protected] or fax us at (714)

965-7174.