CORRESPONDENCE - #43 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Orozco, Norma From: Leon Raya <Iwrpsr1 @gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, December 21, 2021 3:23 PM To: eComment Subject: Opposition to Item 43- Consider Ban on Use, Possession and Sale of All Fireworks Dear Mayor and City Council Members, My name is Leon Raya, President and Founder of the RAYA Foundation, a Santa Ana based non-profit dedicated to the mission of developing youth to be successful adults by providing positive athletic opportunities, academic success and family support. We strive to provide accessible, affordable. activities and programs for the children and families of Santa Ana. I am writing on behalf of our Foundation to oppose the discussion to ban the use, possession and sale of all fireworks. Such a ban would be extremely detrimental to our Foundation. The majority of our fundraising comes from the annual firework stand that we operate. While some have proposed the alternative of a street fair with food booths operated by non -profits, that in itself is cost prohibitive as it requires the non-profit to provide expensive equipment and supplies needed to adhere to Health Department regulations. There are many start-up costs associated with such an operation. This is not the case with firework stands. TNT Fireworks has been our partner and provider and they do an excellent job emphasizing safety. We do not believe the City can provide a fundraising activity that would equal the revenue we now generate. Illegal fireworks that are being exploded during 4th of July and Tet New Year and those that are launched into the air are the safety problem. Not the safe and sane fireworks now sold by local non -profits. We do not think the City has put enough effort, if any, into enforcing the current ban against illegal fireworks. Anyone can drive down a City street during 4th of July and easily spot residents launching illegal fireworks. As a 35 year resident of Santa Ana I have yet to see or hear of a single time that a resident has been cited for using illegal fireworks. In the past the Council members opposed to safe and sane fireworks have used the safety issue and the amount of calls to the Fire Authority and Police as reasons to ban all fireworks. Again, illegal fireworks are responsible for these issues and are not safe and sane. We understand that now some Councilmembers are citing a study showing that fireworks contribute to air pollution. We believe there are more important and pressing issues causing environmental injustice than the smoke caused by fireworks on 4th of July that the CIty Council should be devoting their time too. Orange and surrounding cities ban fireworks and it has not resulted in illegal fireworks stopping. If the City bans all fireworks you will only be penalizing the many non -profits who use the revenue to provide vital programs and services to its residents.