Petition Drive to Ban Consumer Fireworks Underway

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Thu, May 24, 2012, 9:22 am  //  Dick Conoboy

Last year I wrote an article explaining the rationale for banning consumer fireworks in Bellingham.  (You can review that article at this link below - 1)  The reasons I outlined in my article still apply.  It is not even July but consumer fireworks started for some of us in April in Bellingham in spite of our local ordinance limiting them to several hours on July 4th and on New Year’s Eve.  About 4:30 a.m. on Monday, April 9th, a 30-second, extremely loud burst of fireworks woke up Bellingham residents (including this writer) in the Samish/Puget hill area.   The exact location of the “display” was not determined, but was likely in the area of the WWU/Lincoln St. parking lot. 

Since January, a group of citizens, Freedom from Fireworks (read more at this link below - 2) has been collecting signatures for a ballot initiative to completely ban consumer fireworks within the city limits.  Officially sanctioned displays would not be affected.  Here is the text of the initiative:

“BALLOT TITLE:  Bellingham Initiative No. 2012-01 concerns the regulation of consumer fireworks within the City.  This measure would amend BMC 10.24.120, BMC 10.24.130 and BMC 17.20.070 to prohibit the manufacture, storage, transportation, sale, possession or discharge of consumer fireworks within the City.  This measure would make the penalty for the first violation of BMC 10.24.130 a civil infraction.  Second or subsequent violations would be a misdemeanor.
Should the measure be enacted into law?  Yes (__)  No (__)”

You can read the entirety of the submission to include the code revisions on this initiative at this link below -3. 

Since launching the hard-copy petition drive in mid-January, many citizens still ask about the rationale for banning fireworks. Here is a quick review of a few of the negative impacts of the personal use of consumer fireworks:

The disturbance of the peace with random, war-like barrages of noise.
The terror experienced by sufferers of post-traumatic stress (think of our veterans) and certain neurological disorders, as well as the undue stress on both domestic and wild animals.
The littering of our streets, yards, sidewalks, roofs and gutters with trash from spent fireworks.
The pollution of the air we breathe and the water we drink, not to mention the water in our streams and lakes ingested by wildlife.
The increased risk of wild fires to wooded-areas as well as to housing and other structures. Note: Twenty-seven (27) fireworks-related fires between 2006 and 2011. The fire damage ($120,000) to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe wooden railroad trestle and tracks in southwest Bellingham in July, 2011.

These are but some of the reasons that Freedom from Fireworks has launched the effort to get PROPOSITION NO. 1 on the November general election ballot to limit fireworks within the City of Bellingham to professionally-staged public fireworks displays.  Those who now vote in Bellingham can sign this petition to put PROPOSITION NO. 1 before all the voters in November.

Organizers told me you can find copies of the petition to sign at the following locations:

Tails-A-Wagging (3959 Hammer Drive) in Irongate
City Dogs (corner of West Holly & Prospect)
Bellingham Veterinary Clinic (corner of State and Virginia)
My Pet’s Place (1212 Dupont)
Maplewood Animal Hospital (2869 West Maplewood)
Hohl Feed and Seed (1322 Railroad)
Village Veterinary Hospital in Sehome (236-36th Street)
Bailey’s Bath House (1633 Birchwood #104)
Paws Awhile (1200 10th #105) In Fairhaven
Trek Video (1213 Harris)
     
Look also for volunteers who are gathering signatures periodically at the Farmers’ Market, both Co-ops, Bellingham Fred Meyer stores, Trader Joes and all Bellingham Haggens stores. 

1         http://www.nwcitizen.com/entry/fireworks-in-ellingham?search=&category=&author=22

2         http://freedomfromfireworks.blogspot.com/

3          http://freedomfromfireworks.blogspot.com/p/hard-copy-petition.html

Paul deArmond  //  Thu, May 24, 2012, 1:57 pm

Good.  More business for the Lummis.  It will also keep those pesky varmits from taking up valuable parking spaces in the city’s commercial parking lots during the pre-ante-penultimate weeks when we ‘Hamsters collectively celebrate our shared and individual sovereignty.

Young man, think always of commerce.

Dick Conoboy  //  Fri, May 25, 2012, 12:31 pm

Paul,

Ah yes.  Merchants of death, disfiguration, destruction, terror and injury.  Absolutely.

Hue Beattie  //  Sat, May 26, 2012, 2:12 am

I’ll have petitions in village green outside of village books on Ski to Sea Sunday.

Petition Drive to Ban Consumer Fireworks Underway

Thu, May 24, 2012, 9:22 am  //  Dick Conoboy

A case for eliminating consumer fireworks in Bellingham city limits

3 comments; last on May 26, 2012

Will Lake Whatcom Watershed Reconveyance Be Approved?

Mon, May 21, 2012, 3:14 pm  //  Wendy Harris

After years of debate, the County Council may be requesting that DNR approve the Reconveyance

0 comments

Johns Repair

Specializing in German vehicles...

Last chance, file for PCO

Fri, May 18, 2012, 11:27 am  //  Riley Sweeney

A short plea for public involvement from Riley

0 comments

DRONES!

Thu, May 17, 2012, 10:43 am  //  Tip Johnson

Footage overlooking the Fairhaven area

5 comments; last on Jun 19, 2012

Cascadia Weekly again on target with the Port

Wed, May 16, 2012, 4:15 pm  //  John Servais

In today's Cascadia Weekly, Tim Johnson analyses the Port Commissioner meeting and the shenanigans of Walker and Chmelik.

0 comments

City Staff Lacks Impartiality On Dock Closure

Tue, May 15, 2012, 7:32 pm  //  Wendy Harris

A City staff memo on the Bloedel dock closure reads more like an advocacy brief

0 comments

Port Commission Expansion to be on November Ballot

Mon, May 14, 2012, 6:07 pm  //  John Servais

Port Commissioners McAuley and Jorgensen voted to put on November ballot the question of expanding commission from 3 to 5 members.

5 comments; last on May 15, 2012

Cascadia Weekly Rips Port - Urges 5

Wed, May 09, 2012, 6:11 am  //  John Servais

Today's Cascadia Weekly rips the Port staff on changed waterfront plans and sees 5 commissioners as possible solution to poor decision making.

2 comments; last on May 10, 2012

R.G. Haley Site: Will Funding Come With a Side of Dioxin?

Mon, May 07, 2012, 11:22 am  //  Wendy Harris

Dioxin contaminated sediment dredged from Squalicum Harbor, dumped at the Cornwall Landfill, may be spread across the R.G. Haley site.

0 comments

Port and City Provide The Truth But Not the Whole Truth

Sat, May 05, 2012, 12:13 am  //  Wendy Harris

Treaty Rights and Public Rights Ignored During Joint Port/City Meeting on Status of Waterfront Redevelopment

1 comments; last on May 07, 2012

Port 5 - Hour of Audio Information

Thu, May 03, 2012, 9:23 pm  //  John Servais

The Joe Show had John Servais on the air for a full hour on Thursday - and we link to the pod cast.

3 comments; last on May 05, 2012

New Facebook Page for Port Reform

Tue, May 01, 2012, 10:24 am  //  John Servais

Bellingham Port Reform has a Facebook page, courtesy of Tip Johnson.

1 comments; last on May 02, 2012

Port Loses New Boat Builder Tenant

Tue, May 01, 2012, 9:34 am  //  John Servais

Port of Bellingham signed lease a month ago to hoopla and now the boat builder is exiting for Anacortes.

11 comments; last on May 08, 2012

 

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