FIREWORKS: City Council Strikes Out Again:

More Email on Fireworks:

Dear Grandpa Terrace,

We just read the Press Enterprise article concerning the fireworks sold by our sports organizations in Grand Terrace as a means to raise money for their prospective organizations on your blog. Our family and friends have been involved in these organizations for a number of years. Over the past few years, we have wondered why these organizations need to sell fireworks. Here is why we question it...

It is said, "to pay for... ummmm.... well... uhh..." Exactly! What? Some of the board members are still unclear and say for balls, for new poles, new nets, uniforms, trophies, etc... How often do they get repurchased?

So my question is so where does the registration fee for each player of $ 75.00 go? Where did the sponsorship money of a minimum of $175.00, required by each team, go? Where did the proceeds from the "each player must sell one- 50 count box of World's Finest Chocolate" go? Where do the proceeds from the snack bar go?Why has there never been accounting shown when asked? And lastly, why is there a board member on the soccer board, who has been able to make profit from the organization?

This soccer board member has been given the direct opportunity to expand his business by providing trophies, pictures, and banners to the soccer organization for each player and team. Before he was on the board, we had a different company who handled the pictures. We also had a different company do the trophies (which were much better quality than they are now) and banners as well. We used to get in our coaches manual, a couple of different companies to order our team's banners from. Since this certain entrepeneur has come on to the board, this has ceased to exist... We get his company flyers and advertisements only. Looks like a huge conflict of interest to me! No wonder they don't want to get rid of their big money maker... Firework booth sales!

I think the city council should be able to request a detailed account of the last three years (at least) and show exactly the amount earned and the amounts spent. Only then will the truth surface! Time to weed out the corruption within our youth organizations. Just to note, we had a problem with squandering money from the youth sports organizations, what 4 or 5 years ago... Is it happening again?

Fearing retailiation, we choose to remain anonymous until the time comes.... We don't like seeing our kids punished for coming forth with the truth!

Thanks for running a blog that is fair and just, so we the people can be heard!

And More From the Email:

Grandpa Terrace...

So when did the Board of our local Sports Organizations start being able to make decisions for an entire city and supersede the decisions of our elected City Council? Why do the board members have so much clout? It is obvious that the board members have a hard time with change and lack moral character.... They are surely making it known that money is more important that people's lives, homes, and possible livelihood.
I agree with the idea that fireworks should not be sold in our city. Walt, and the city council that's in agreement with such, have went at it, possibly, at the wrong angle. Simply put, if they ban fireworks from being sold here, whats to stop the residents from going right down the hill to Colton and purchasing them. If the intent is too truely prevent needless fires and harm in our city from occuring, then, why not just put it on the ballot to ban them in any way shape or form... From use and sell of!


The local sports organization boards have some really selfish and greedy reasons as their explanation to keep selling fireworks in Grand Terrace. Have an audit done, and we may see why...

Just food for thought.... I know of two board members who don't even live up here on the Terrace... So no wonder they don't care if a fire hits our city! They have nothing to loose!

And This From Email:

BTW... This year we were "required"...each soccer player, to sell a box of chocolates $50 worth... When asked why we are doing this, it was said at the fundraiser meeting and pick up, "to help bring in money and get ahead for next year, because next year we will not have the firework booths here in Grand Terrace to help bring in funds." Nice to make money off kids a whole year prior. Since when did Grand Terrace believe in the sweat shop mentality?





Grand Terrace considers a fireworks ban

10:00 PM PST on Sunday, January 31, 2010
By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

GRAND TERRACE - The City Council is grappling with an explosive question: Should it ban the sale and use of fireworks?
Both sides in the debate -- residents fearful of the fire danger and the youth sports groups who depend on selling fireworks for survival -- made their cases this past week to the council.
Council members admitted they are torn. Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz even proposed putting the question to voters this November.
Stands like this one could become a thing of the past in Grand Terrace, where officials are considering a ban on the sale of fireworks. However, the proposal faces opposition from youth sports groups that rely on fireworks as a fundraising source.
In the end, the council put off a decision on the fate of Fourth of July fireworks at least until its Feb. 23 meeting.

(The Council is allowing Politics not Reason to affect their decision. IF they can not see what is safe and not safe, they should not be on the City Council.)

Battalion Chief John Salvate, of the San Bernardino County Fire Department, states in a written report that at least seven brush fires and 10 investigations, including a fire that injured an 8-year-old boy, have been attributed to fireworks in the city of 12,500 over the past nine years.
Three of the fires were larger than an acre, including the 2006 Pico Fire that scorched 450 acres in Grand Terrace and Reche Canyon.
Salvate did not make a recommendation.

(HOW MUCH DID ALL THIS COST? DID THE SPORTS TEAMS PAY FOR THE FIRES OR INJURY? DID THE CITY or Citizens?)

But resident Dennis Kidd asked the council at last week's meeting to act: "Will my house have to burn down for you to ban fireworks?"

Josie Johnson, a 15-year-resident, argued that "surely there must be some other way to raise money.
"I get scared every time the Fourth of July comes up," she said.

The case for the other side came from about a dozen parents, residents and officials of two youth sports groups that sell fireworks: Grand Terrace Little League and the Grand Terrace Community Soccer Club.
"I've seen people hurt in cars," Little League President Ken Boardman said. "Do we ban cars in Grand Terrace?"

Theresa Gray, a board member of the soccer club, said sales of fireworks raised $6,000 for the organization last year. Without it, the club would not have been able to pay for uniforms, equipment and scholarships.
(Figure earned keeps going down... last report it was $9,000)
She also argued, as did most of the others who spoke, that a ban would come with enforcement problems.
"Just because we don't sell fireworks here doesn't mean people won't get fireworks somewhere else," she said.
Nearby Colton, Rialto and San Bernardino allow the sale of so-called "safe and sane" fireworks.
(Law Enforcement Stated that a Ban on All Fireworks is easier to enforce.)
Former Grand Terrace City Manager Tom Schwab said, "The only thing you are doing is preventing these people from selling fireworks and raising money for our youth sports programs."
(No Mr Schwab, it would protect our city, that you clearly weren't interested in protecting in the past from fireworks or the alleged embezzlement of Steve Berry. I bet you'll run for City Council or Mayor on the I support Sports and Fireworks when it was YOU who cut back on Parks and Rec Services in retaliation of not getting your way on a tax hike. But, you managed to find money for your own home and increased income at city expense.)
John Kelly, a vice president of TNT, the Fullerton company that supplies fireworks for sale in Grand Terrace, said the company supplies only those fireworks that have been approved by the state fire marshal and offered to reimburse the city for the cost of beefing up fire patrols on the Fourth of July and to help educate the public on fireworks safety.
(This partnership with the city makes the city liable for any property loss or injury costs.) (The State of California has a ban on state fire marshal approved fireworks, except where a City takes the responsibility of the potential risk for allowing them in their jurisdiction.)
City Manager Betsy Adams told the council in a report that it would cost about $24,000 to reimburse the youth groups for lost revenue and pay for enforcement of a ban.
(City Manager failed to provide information on the cost of the fires and injury caused by the fireworks. She also failed to provide the cost of enforcement if there is a partial ban. This half information is not what we hope for in a new city manager.) (How much more is home owner fire insurance because the City has allowed fireworks to be sold and used in the community?) This information the City Manager should provide to the City Council.)

Councilman Jim Miller said he wants to know where the city will get the money and asked for a report on how much money the sports leagues have. His proposal to put the question to voters was not put to a vote when other council members pleaded for a continuance of the fireworks ban proposal.
( Interesting: Shall we put to vote Marijuana Shops, New Development, Expanding the Debt of the City and RDA?)

Councilwoman Bea Cortes questioned whether the youth groups have looked for alternative revenue sources. (NO THEY HAVE NOT)


Mayor Maryetta Ferre said she wants both the city and the sports groups to "find something else" to raise money.
"The priority of this City Council is public safety," she said.

(If it is safe to have these fireworks at a Home then it should be even safer to have them in the Parks where there is more open space. The City prohibits the use of Safe and Sane Fireworks in City Parks because of the RISK.)


Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com


Gramp's Review of the statements above:

The Fire Departments report on the damage and injury in GT done by Fireworks should be sufficient evidence that Safe and Sane is not so Safe or Sane. Public Safety would dictate there be a ban on all fireworks.

The statement that people will go some where else and buy fireworks and use them in GT is flawed logic. Yes some people will break a law anytime they can. In prior meetings law enforcement stated that it is easier to enforce a total ban than a partial ban of fireworks. Public safety would thus dictate there be a ban on all fireworks.

The Sports teams have been told to look for other funding methods and they have publicly stated they are not going to try to even look as long as there is a hope of selling danger, on the 4th. Their arrogance will result in a year of lost planning and funds shortage, not the action of the City Council trying to protect the citizens and the children who play ball on their teams.

In the past Animal Control Officers and Pet Owners have tesitified about the increased displacement of pets and stress on animals due to the use of fireworks. Dogs running in the street can cause an auto accident again even this could rise to a Public Safety Issue.

The Sports Team Managers just don't care about the rest of the citizens. Perhaps those people who buy fireworks should be required to set them off at the Team Managers House. The Legal and Illegal ones so the enforcement people can clear the rest of the city of the threat of fire and injury.

The City Council should at a minimum Ban all Fireworks.

There should also be a ban on all welding during red flag days.

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Prior Email Input:

The Managers of the Sports Teams have been asked to look for alternative funding projects. Their attitude is that there is no need to look. Their tactic is to not try to find an alternative and to stay with fireworks down to the last possible moment.

Has that moment arrived? Will the City Council Protect the Citizens or be bullied by the Sports Teams one more year. Will the City Council say safe and sane fireworks are ok for home owners and not city parks which would be a safer and saner place for setting them off? If it is unsafe in a city park it is 100 times less safe in a neighborhood filled with homes, trees, can so forth.

The City Can't say, it is unsafe in the Parks, and it is safe at your home. So.. It SHOULD BE CLEAR : All fireworks can start fires, and cause injury. All fireworks should be banned in Grand Terrace.