Ah, the Smell of Fireworks, Part 2 

          Last week we looked at Montebello’s love-hate relationship with fireworks.  While it would be intelligent to have an alternative, meaningful celebration on the Fourth of July, we could not so easily replace the fuming, fundraising festivities of fireworks.  So, how do we make the best of a bad situation? 

          An editorial in Montebello Community News said that our city should budget in order to reinstate a community fireworks celebration at Grant Rea Park.  That would be useful if the celebration were more than a light show:  perhaps youth reading from the Declaration of Independence, perhaps a skit with audience participation.  But we would not need a city-funded light show which did no more than entertain, while harming the environment and failing to impart to its residents something of the meaning of the Fourth. 

          At the same time, many, maybe most, Montebelloans would not leave their homes to attend a public celebration. 

          This calls for an outside-the-box solution.  Although one is not offered here, questions are shared to encourage a discussion. 

          What prevents Montebello from making an insurance surcharge on the purchase of fireworks?  The insurance would be to pay police officers and fire fighters—whichever fire fighters they might be—for additional duty specifically to reduce injuries and property loss. 

          What keeps Montebello from imposing a health and carbon-offset surcharge?  I do not think that anyone would argue that the smoke from fireworks would have no impact on asthmatic children or that the noise would have no impact on pets.  And not many would argue that fireworks would have no effect on the environment.  An additional question would be:  how would this surcharge be spent effectively?  Perhaps the planting of fruit-bearing trees would figure into the picture. 

          Finally, what prevents Montebello from tacking on a cleanup surcharge?  It is amusing that we seem to ignore the remains of cardboard and catalyzed chemicals on our streets, leaving it to passing cars, weekly street sweepers, and the weather to do away with them. 

          Upon purchasing of fireworks, a resident would receive a certificate, which he would display conspicuously when using fireworks on the Fourth. 

          Thus, we can maintain our Montebello “lifestyle”, letting residents burn their dollars and community organizations earn theirs, but with the real costs of fireworks figured into the purchase price.  

If you answer the multiple-choice questions below and e-mail to lessonanswers@mymontebello.com with “Lesson answers” in the subject field, you will be credited toward a “certificate of recognition in community affairs” to be awarded in 2007 by a local nonprofit organization. 

1.  What should a public celebration of the Fourth entail?

(a)  Cavalrymen on white steeds.

(b)  Education and reflection about the reason for the celebration. 

2.  For which effects of fireworks would it be appropriate to have a surcharge?

(a) Injuries and property loss.

(b) Health effects on those with a pulmonary problem.

(c) The cleanliness of our streets.

(d) The effect on the environment from the additional smoke. 

July 19, 2007