94 Replies to "FIREWORKS: Still illegal in Seattle, but will enforcement, or lack of it, be any different this year?"

• coffee June 27, 2019 (2:37 pm)

  I dont understand why they are not illegal state wide.  Fireworks cause so much damage every year, not to mention animal issues, that there is really no reason to keep them legal.  

• buttercup June 27, 2019 (2:39 pm)

  I have always wondered about a fireworks situation. If people call and report illegal fireworks andthe police dont respond or do respond  and do nothing, if someone is hurt or property is damaged, could a citizen hold the city responsible as well as the person using the illegal fireworks. This would be impossible to do on the 4th, what about the days before or after the 4th when it would be much to identify the user? Just curious. Could it be a way to have the city step up to the issue?

• dsa June 27, 2019 (2:50 pm)

  Gee, I stopped because I thought it was not legal.  SPD did show up at a fourth party I was at where fireworks were used out on the street near Westwood V about ten years ago.  Someone quickly hid the fireworks stash before SPD walked into the back yard.

• West Seattle Hipster June 27, 2019 (2:53 pm)

  I am praying for hard for a nice rainstorm on the 4th of July from 6pm to 3am.  Unfortunately, the weather forecast is not cooperating.

  • newnative June 27, 2019 (3:56 pm)

    unfortunately, that would also ruin the big (legal) fireworks that are usually visible from West Seattle. 

• Sham June 27, 2019 (2:55 pm)

  Kamaria’s response is totally bogus. How does one sentence at a wildfire conference address the issue?  Please if you are concerned email: Jenny.durkan@seattle.gov with a cc to Kamaria.hightower@seattle.gov

• Busrider June 27, 2019 (3:02 pm)

  I wish they were banned statewide too. They cause huge environmental damage when they are discarded and wash downstream into puget sound, our lakes rivers and creeks. It stresses animals too They also have caused forest fires in the past. We dont need the risk of another forest fire when this season is already on high alert as it is.

• Tracey June 27, 2019 (3:06 pm)

  I suggest SPD make one arrest or impose one large fine on some random fireworks user.  Make sure the news media hears about it and this nonsense will stop.  People know that the “law” isn’t enforced.  Like many others in this city, I might add…

• anonyme June 27, 2019 (3:09 pm)

  The stats provided to Ms. Herbold regarding fireworks complaints are wildly misleading.  For one thing, residents are warned by SPD to NOT call 911 to report violations but to call non-emergency instead.  YOU CANNOT GET THROUGH ON THAT LINE on the 4th.  I’ve tried several times and gave up after being on hold for 45+ minutes.  Even if you do, it’s unlikely that police will respond.  So it’s not that people aren’t trying to make complaints, it’s because SPD has set up a system that makes it impossible.  If there were actually a working system that allowed citizens to report illegal fireworks I feel certain that complaints would register in the thousands, not 132.   Even then, if 132 $5,000 fines were issued, with jail time for those combining fireworks to create bigger bombs, I’ll bet this BS would stop.  I also agree with Buttercup, that there should (perhaps is) a way to make the City of Seattle legally and financially culpable for any type of damages should they occur due to their failure to uphold the law.

• anonyme June 27, 2019 (3:19 pm)

  If I could afford it, I’d rent a giant water truck with a high-pressure hose, get some volunteers together, and cruise the streets of West Seattle blasting the crap out of illegal fireworks wherever found.  If our city officials are too lazy and too incompetent to deal with this issue, then they leave citizens no option but to take things into their own hands.  I’ve tried contacting local news asking them to expose this situation and actually film “Nightmare on the Fourth of July” but have not been able to contact them.  Please, neighbors, take as much video as you can, including offenders, so that we can make this case to higher authorities than Durkan, who doesn’t give a flying (insert expletive of choice).

  • Rumbles June 28, 2019 (7:38 am)

    I’m not a lawyer, but it sounds like you would be committing a crime here yourself.  

• Susan June 27, 2019 (3:48 pm)

  SPD triages calls and responds first to life & death issues, domestic violence, guns, etc.   Sorry to say, but illegal fireworks is much lower on their priority list. 

  • West Seattle Hipster June 27, 2019 (4:24 pm)

    Of course, you can always count on SPD to respond to the subsequent house fires caused by illegal fireworks.  

• TJ June 27, 2019 (3:58 pm)

  Well will the police then enforce open marijuana use as well to look out for the vast majority of people who want people cited for that? I mean it is illegal as well. The difference is fireworks are used for about a week and do not draw in derelicts, while the allowed open drug use here is year round and has been a invitation to a ton of the wrong people here. It’s a few days what should at most be a minor irritant to some people, yet gets blown out of proportion. I would like to say lighten up, but not in Seattle 

  • St June 27, 2019 (4:55 pm)

    Yeah I agree, open air marijuana use is illegal and needs to be enforced but it’s too low on the priority list apparently. I have let community officers know about people smoking pot at Hiawatha athletic field for example where no smoking is allowed anyway. Officer replies to my email and wants my phone number so we can talk about it even though I included who what when how where in my email. Less talk. More action! I don’t care if people smoke pot, drink alcohol etc just do it legally.

  • Nolan June 27, 2019 (7:48 pm)

    If you can demonstrate that open-air marijuana use causes as much property damage as fireworks do, then bring that to the police chief and make your case. Otherwise, it’s just whataboutism.

    • Bradley June 28, 2019 (12:55 am)

      The open marijuana users at our parks are getting behind the wheel of their 4000-5000 pound cars, trucks, and SUVs minutes after smoking it and driving around past kids on bikes, beachgoers crossing the street, etc. I’d say that is infinitely more dangerous than fireworks from a local White Center stand.

      • Nolan July 1, 2019 (12:33 pm)

        Luckily, we can focus on two things at once. Right now, we’re talking about illegal fireworks and the known damage they cause. Why are you so interested in marijuana, right here and right now, when everyone else is talking about fireworks?

• Mj June 27, 2019 (4:10 pm)

  The City needs to enforce all laws equally across the board.  Regarding damages the person who conducted the illegal activity needs to be held accountable, not taxpayers.

• fourfingers June 27, 2019 (4:11 pm)

  Complaining will accomplish nothing. If you are not satisfied with the City’s response on the 4th, consider voting with your dollars and don’t spend any money locally on the 5th. Business owners who collect taxes for the City will be heard if their bottom line suffers. I’m spending my dollars in Canada next week.Shaming the offenders by taking video of people breaking the law could help too. SW Seattle fireworks are MUCH milder than SE Seattle. On the other side of Beacon Hill it’s constant day and night from the 1st thru the 5th.

• buttercup June 27, 2019 (4:33 pm)

  Tj come over by my house and listen to it not a week or even two. It goes on for almost a month. I don’t get a full night sleep as it is due to medical issuez6, this moronic behavior robs me of some precious sleep I need. So ignorant of these people.

• St June 27, 2019 (4:40 pm)

  WildwildWest

• Mynameis June 27, 2019 (4:42 pm)

  Was thinking about taking a big speaker down to Alki on the 4th and blasting Rick Astley’s “Never Going to Give You Up” from a lawn chair strategically placed near whoever starts shooting fireworks first. If we all do it and make the beach an inhospitable area of 80s pop rock, maybe everyone will decide to call it a night early? Just an idea for the community. 

  • Real west seattlite June 27, 2019 (6:53 pm)

    I love that song. Lol. That’s what I’ll sing about my fireworks. “Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down” 

  • Rumbles June 28, 2019 (7:36 am)

    I believe that would violate the noise ordinance.  

  • Katrina June 29, 2019 (7:39 am)

    This happens all over West Seattle not just on Alki. In my neighborhood, lots of M-80s as well as others lit off right in the intersection where my house is on the corner. Up the hill from me a house under construction burned down one July 4th thanks to fireworks. 

• Alkimark June 27, 2019 (4:59 pm)

  I saw SP D give a ticket to a father who’s little girl had a sparkler a couple years ago on Alki  so I have seen it enforced.  

• Kt June 27, 2019 (5:07 pm)

  The last two years have been quieter, which I suspect has something to do with people feeling less patriotic due to the #RacistInChief

• Virginia Piper June 27, 2019 (6:09 pm)

  Also, I welcome those naysayers to visit the veterinary emergency hospitals on the 4th and the days around the holiday. It is not a MINOR nuisance. Pets lives are lost. They get terrified, run through windows and screen doors, get lost, get hit by cars, etc.  The case that has stuck with me the most was a cat that was brought in with full respiratory distress. She got so terrified she went into cardiac distress that spiraled out of control. She lost her life that night. Died basically from sheer terror.  Truly, is that worth your fun and games?! Not to mention the veterans who are suffering from PTSD. Enough already. Enforce the laws!

• Real west seattlite June 27, 2019 (6:45 pm)

  Not a Trump supporter so I’ll save you all that response, but what happened to being able to celebrate our independence and have fun? You all sound like a bunch of whinny hipsters. And a question, how many of you have in been in West Seattle longer then 10 years? Hmmm? We’ve been setting off fireworks here since long as I can remember, early 80s, and even before that. 200 people don’t like them so let’s ban them for the thousands of others that do. Lol. Cmon now people. It’s only for a short time once a year. You all will survive.

  • Tracey June 27, 2019 (6:56 pm)

    since 1997 for me and I’m beyond sick of it.  

  • AMY June 27, 2019 (7:22 pm)

    Ha, Real West Seattle, we’re a all inclusive neighborhood until you say something we don’t agree with. If you haven’t lived in WS longer then 10 years your feelings and opinions aren’t valid. Been here long before the 80’s and I’m sick of it as well. 

  • Also John June 27, 2019 (7:23 pm)

    Since 2000 and I’m beyond sick of the lawbreakers.  Environmental and noise pollution is not how we should celebrate or independence.How about volunteering your day and doing something good for the environment?  You’ve seen the photo above.  That is the class of people who set off fireworks.

    • Wha?! June 28, 2019 (7:44 pm)

      Way to be a open and inclusive. It’s funny how when you say these types of things about “those kind of people” as long as they are white or Trump supporters you believe it is fine. What a hypocrite and horrible person you are. 

  • um June 27, 2019 (7:27 pm)

     “200 people don’t like them so let’s ban them for the thousands of others that do. Lol.”Newsflash (I mean that literally–it was in the effin’ headline to this article): they are already banned.  Lol.Now if you want to mount a campaign to make them legal, more power to you, but if you’re asking why people are getting pissed off about illegal activity that kills pets and annoys residents…  um, maybe just think a bit more about the topic.ps”You all will survive.”But not all the animals.  And don’t you think that’s something to consider?

  • Nolan June 27, 2019 (7:50 pm)

    “I personally don’t think X is a problem” is an utterly contemptible response to not just anecdotes, but data showing that X is a problem.

  • WW Resident June 27, 2019 (8:11 pm)

    Well nothing says American patriotism like shooting off Chinese made fireworks

  • miws June 28, 2019 (10:45 am)

    Real West Seattleite,  in just under three months it will be 61 years, minus the 4 1/2 years I lived over on the Kitsap Peninsula beginning a couple weeks or so just past 50 years ago.  Long tired of it. —Mike

    • Rick July 1, 2019 (2:07 pm)

      Hey Mikey, remember the beers and boomers at the lake house on Long Lake on the Kitsap Peninsula? Funny how it’s old now.

  • Elle June 28, 2019 (11:52 am)

    I’m actually with you, Real West Seattlite, I think letting people play with fireworks for one night a day is fine :) And I know this is a very unpopular opinion (truth), but the negative effect of domestic pets on the environment if far bigger than one night of fireworks.

    • WSB June 28, 2019 (12:09 pm)

      Do tell how my 19-year-old indoor-only-all-his-life cat, who I will have to comfort though he’s otherwise pretty unflappable, is a negative effect on the environment.

      That aside, in the 12 years we’ve had fireworks stories with long comment threads, the concerns have not at any time been exclusively about pets, dating back to this thread following a 4th of July three-house fire in 2007.

      P.S. Read the whole thread – same complaints (such as police non-enforcement) as now, 12 years later.

      • Wha?! June 28, 2019 (7:50 pm)

        Not that I care but kitty litter and kitty poop are horrible for the environment. Even the environmentally friendly litters still take a huge amount of resources to produce. Now take your cat and multiply by millions and you can see the issue.That being said sorry your kitty has to deal with the fireworks. 

        • Tracey June 28, 2019 (9:21 pm)

          As are human poop and toilet paper! Times that by billions!

    • Nolan June 28, 2019 (12:54 pm)

      We can focus on two problems at once.

  • Aki July 3, 2019 (4:05 pm)

    Fireworks are FUN! And people hate fun. 

  • Arbor Heights Resident - Loves Fun, But Not at Someone's Else's Expense July 4, 2019 (7:47 pm)

    For the folks who say this is just a little bit of fun that we should all just endure (despite the fire hazard), I wonder if you are aware that many people are war vets; I know that my neighbor (a Vietnam veteran) suffers from PTSD whenever he hears loud fireworks–particularly days and nights of this stuff.  I guess as long as some people have fun, it doesn’t matter that you are traumatizing war veterans, pets, wild animals, and people who have to work on Friday.  There are other places to safely enjoy professional fireworks, so please go there and stop endangering your neighbors, please.

• John Q Lincoln June 27, 2019 (7:54 pm)

  I loved fireworks as a kid and still do today.   Of course you have to be safe and supervise the little ones, but that’s no different than any other activity.  Yes, the dog hides under the bed for the night, but that’s a small price to pay for a night of celebrating our independence.  With all the junk going on in Seattle these days, this is a trivial issue and one I’m glad local LE ignores.

  • Gene June 28, 2019 (7:04 am)

    Are you serious?

    • Rumbles June 28, 2019 (9:55 pm)

      He seems pretty serious.   

• Kersti Muul June 27, 2019 (7:55 pm)

  Included in the animals terrified are hundreds of fledgling birds and nestlings.Startled they fly off, and into things killing or injuring them or often losing parents in the process. Nestlings may jump too soon as well. Birds at this age can’t feed themselves.I have complex PTSD and it’s a nightmare for me as well. It’s not whining, it’s reality. The cost is not commensurate with the ‘fun’

• DB Coop June 27, 2019 (8:01 pm)

  Why are law-abiding citizens not being protected from those that are breaking the law?Wow a city council member is finally getting it!!! I’ve been asking the same question for the past few election cycles. And not just about fireworks either.

• anonyme June 27, 2019 (8:13 pm)

  I guarantee that none of the bone-headed morons setting off explosives with glee and abandon have any notion of what the Declaration of Independence is all about.  The fact that you’ve been doing this since the ’80s is sadly and pathetically indicative of persistent, lifelong ignorance, stunted maturity, and a childish belief that you are above the law.  Not sure what length of residence in West Seattle has to do with anything unless you’re trying to prove that idiots lived here more than ten years ago – and still do.   Furthermore, those of us who HAVE lived here longer than 10 years (myself included) remember when police enforced fireworks violations – at least sporadically.  That is no longer true.

• buttercup June 27, 2019 (8:23 pm)

  I’ve lived here since 1990 and I’m tired of it two. A couple of hours on 1 night I can deal with, 3 or more weeks, No.  It’s obvious from some of the people out here according to their remarks that a selfishness permeates our West Seattle society. I wonder how many of these people that set the fire works in Seattle will bitch( sorry about the cuss word) about the police not doing something about laws broken by the homeless or bad drivers. Double standards STINK!!

  • B.W. June 27, 2019 (9:05 pm)

    I got $300 worth of fireworks. I can’t wait to fire them off! Not to worry, I won’t blow myself up, I got a 3 foot lighting stick. Happy 4th of July you grumps 

• Heather June 27, 2019 (9:00 pm)

  Here’s a thought, why not organize a protest at the Southwest Precinct on the 4th? Let’s fill the parking lot to show it’s more than 200 residents who want action. News crews may come out for an event like that and it would be a more patriotic way to spend the 4th than shooting off fireworks.

  • buttercup June 27, 2019 (9:17 pm)

    Interesting. 

  • Rumbles June 28, 2019 (9:50 pm)

    Have fun!

• KT June 27, 2019 (9:39 pm)

  “Still illegal in Seattle, but will enforcement, or lack of it, be any different this year?”  And the answer is…of course not.  

• Zippy June 27, 2019 (10:59 pm)

  The double standard of “legal on one side of Roxbury, and illegal on the other” makes this all very awkward. I have bought fireworks in the White Center bowling alley parking lot many times. I live in Seattle.  The idea that it is illegal, yet unenforced makes it feel like jay walking or exceeding the speed limit by 5 MPH. I understand the arguments against  them, I try to be a courteous and generous neighbor since next door they have animals. There are a lot of reasons that I now consider myself a recovering fireworks addict- I won’t be lighting up the sky this 4th- but like any addict, you miss it. Damn, they were fun.  And interesting!  A dorky, once a year hobby for the weird teenaged boy in all of us.  All the passionate hand wringing and strident self righteous sounding, astonishment that people would stoop to such base entertainments of their cro-magnon ancestors might just drive some people to actually do it. Sadly it’s probably the same impulse that got the crazy man elected president as well. If you all really want to do something, why don’t you picket the fireworks stands in White Center? Oh, because live people might have different viewpoints.  You can always pour yourself another Kombucha and complain on Facebook

  • Wha?! June 28, 2019 (7:55 pm)

    Thank you! This made me laugh out loud! A perfect comment to break up the monotony.

• KBear June 27, 2019 (11:02 pm)

  “Real” West Seattlite, I’ve been here longer than 20 years, though I’m not sure what that has to do with my right to be free from your annoying, dangerous, and illegal activities. If it truly were one night a year I probably could accept it. But it’s never just one night. It’s the whole week leading up to July 4, and the following week. It’s New Year’s Eve, and then again on New Year’s Day. After every touchdown, basket, goal, and home run. At the end of every Seahawks and Sounders game—even when they lose. St. Patrick’s Day. Cinco de Mayo. Arbor Day. And then every single night until the arsenal is depleted. Knock it off already. 

• Bradley June 28, 2019 (1:03 am)

  I’ve called 911 on our rude neighbors lighting off GIANT, rafter-rattling fireworks EVERY YEAR for over a decade here in Arbor Heights and SPD has never shown up, even when they do it days before the 4th. One time SPD did drive by in a patrol cruiser and they just waved at the drunken yahoos lighting them off in the middle of the street. Most of the time I call 911 is when they’re lighting them off after 2am. This year, I will NOT be calling 911 and will use my gas-powered weed eater at 8am on the morning of the 5th, instead.

• anonyme June 28, 2019 (6:54 am)

  Heather has an excellent suggestion.  Would anyone show up?

  • Woof June 28, 2019 (7:55 am)

    I agree with Heather’s idea.  Protest at the Precinct. Sign me and our long suffering dog up!

  • Heather June 28, 2019 (4:42 pm)

    I’ll look into permits and start a thread in the forum for updates. If anyone has experience with this stuff and wants to help, please jump in there. (It may be a while before the thread is active. I’m traveling home today and only have cell access.)

    • Heather June 29, 2019 (12:10 pm)

      I can’t seem to log in to the forum, but I did find that permits need to be submitted 90-days in advance unless the event is a spontaneous protest in response to emergent news. Much as I hate that our current laws aren’t enforced, it is hardly emergent news.  I’ll set a calendar reminder to kick the process off for a demonstration next year if this year is as bad as they have been in the past. Since there are some in WS who think caring about veterans, pets, the environment, and sleep is annoying, maybe we should embrace that as a superpower and annoy the city into action. I plan to contact the following people to ask about their plans to prevent illegal fireworks this year and beyond.SW Seattle Crime Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Danner: 206-256-6820Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan: 206-684-4000, jenny.durkan@seattle.gov, @MayorJenny, @OfficeofMayorSeattle Police Chief Carmen Best: 206-684-5577, @SeattlePDCurrent candidates running for city council: http://web6.seattle.gov/ethics/elections/campaigns.aspx?cycle=2019Finally, I’ll encourage Lisa Herbold to keep the pressure on: 206-684-8803, Lisa.Herbold@seattle.cov.

  • Spork June 28, 2019 (7:30 pm)

    So lets be clear here: you are going to protest a misdemeanor annoyance that frankly almost impossible to enforce consistently? Can we also get a march scheduled for pet owners turning all parks into off leash areas?  How about a sit in about overtime parking? Homeless camps with their problem and destroyed lives? Crickets… There are literal concentration camps with children at the border…the ice caps are melting…our democracy is corrupt and failing… but God help us all  that Fluffy, your labradoodle spends a couple days hiding under the coffee table. 

    • KBear June 28, 2019 (9:11 pm)

      Hey Spork, I don’t know about you, but I’m capable of being concerned about more than one thing at a time. Fireworks are dangerous, illegal, and on-topic —unlike your post. 

      • Rumbles June 28, 2019 (9:58 pm)

        Interesting.  

• flimflam June 28, 2019 (7:01 am)

  “fireworks still illegal – but don’t expect enforcement or, at minimum, for the rude people setting them off to clean up their mess(es)”

• kim June 28, 2019 (7:43 am)

  Re: Heather’s suggestion…count this family in.  

• Tracey June 28, 2019 (7:57 am)

  Maybe we could donate money to the SFD to buy all the fireworks in White Center.   Show up with a great big fire truck and say ” How much for the whole lot”.  Barring that, I will happily show up on the 4th at the Delridge precinct for some civil disobedience.  I can be there from 10am-1pm.  Of course, heading to a BBQ afterwards where we WON’T be celebrating with fireworks to petrify all pets and wildlife.  Any joiners?  See you there.

• anonyme June 28, 2019 (8:47 am)

  I’m in for the protest.  We need a date and time.  Maybe this weekend would be good, rather than the actual day of?  Like Sunday noon?

  • uncle loco June 28, 2019 (5:24 pm)

    I’ll be the guy in the Home Depot parking lot eating popcorn.

• Irv Glong June 28, 2019 (10:20 am)

      Wa-state : Too much startle-noise for you older folks       — those of you who actually did go to Vietnam:    For a much  quieter 4th,  go back to the Yakima Firing Range,       or   maybe go sleep  in the middle of  Fort Lewis;              even the Chiliwack  Firing Range will be more peaceful.             I can’t stand it — every year this guy goes to B.C.

  • datamuse June 28, 2019 (4:13 pm)

    A friend of mine who was in Afghanistan leaves town every year for the same reason. Kinda funny to me that so many people’s idea of celebrating independence involves making their neighborhood sound like a war zone.

• Chuck Jacobs June 28, 2019 (2:54 pm)

  “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America.—I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

  John Adams to Abigail Adams, July 3, 1776

• anonyme June 28, 2019 (3:35 pm)

  So Chuck, are you suggesting that we also start fires, ring bells and shoot off guns all over West Seattle?  Mr. Adams also suggests “solemn Acts of devotion to God Almighty”.  Will you be doing that?  Have you happened to notice that things have changed a little in the last 243 years?  I wonder how the fire department would react if everyone in West Seattle started a giant bonfire in their yard…oh wait, isn’t that illegal, too?  Goodness me, I wonder why?  Same with a bunch of drunks shooting off muskets all over the streets and sidewalks.  What a wonderful picture you portray!  And btw, a letter from a dude to his wife has nothing to do with the Constitution, or decent, modern behavior.  But thanks for the historical reference; if more people spent the Fourth reading some history instead of setting off bombs we’d all be much better off.  That’s exactly the kind of ‘illumination’ we need.

• Wha?! June 28, 2019 (7:39 pm)

  I wish there was this much passion about rounding up the people doing illegal drugs on our streets. It’s amazing to me that we can get people all up in arms over some fireworks and yet people doing needles in their arms gets very little response. What a bunch of crazies are in this city.

• um June 28, 2019 (8:40 pm)

  I mean, try to keep it in perspective: this article is about illegal fireworks.  What the hell did you expect the comment section to be about?  There are other articles about other things–including drugs and other crimes–that garner more attention (i.e., more comments) than this one.  So A) no, people doing needles does NOT get very little response and B) to paraphrase Nolan who posted earlier, it’s okay to have a problem with more than one thing at a time.  Might come as news to you, but it’s okay to have a problem with hard drugs and also the criminal acts of lighting fireworks in Seattle.  Many of us can focus on more than one thing at a time! 

• Tracey June 28, 2019 (9:33 pm)

  So, back to topic…anyone interested in protesting the SW precinct or not?  

• Rumbles June 28, 2019 (10:03 pm)

  One good thing, when fireworks comments are a hot topic it means the Blue Angels are only about a month off!  Yay!

• Here since 52’ June 29, 2019 (1:22 am)

  Protesting fireworks on a day we all should be celebrating? Wow, west Seattle really has gotten snobby. I’m all for people having fun if they are safe and clean up their mess. All this energy into protesting fireworks, we should all be protesting somewhere against the pharmaceutical companies and how our government treats us. I for one thing will be having my kids and grandchildren over and we will be having a safe and fun 4th of July celebration. What’s happened here? We used to have parades and fireworks all the time on the 4th. It’s a shame. Uppity, rude is the new norm in Seattle I guess.

  • Rumbles June 29, 2019 (7:03 am)

    Well said.  

  • Tracey June 29, 2019 (7:13 am)

    I can’t believe we are having a conversation about why people should be able to do something that is illegal.  They were declared illegal for a reason, several probably, that some people seem to think they are allowed to ignore to honor their country. 

  • datamuse June 29, 2019 (7:15 am)

    I think part of the problem is that people don’t clean up their mess, I mean look at that photo. We can argue all day about pets or drug needles or whatever, but I don’t think anyone can claim that trash from fireworks is great for the environment, you know? And I think a lot of folks would be more understanding if it really was for just one day, but it’s not. Up above I mentioned a friend of mine who really struggles with this time of year because the noise reminds him of being shot at in a combat zone. That would probably be easier for him to manage if it WAS just for a few hours on one day, but it’s not–it’s several days, up to a week. And he’s not the only one..I mean, people can do what they want, obviously, legality or otherwise notwithstanding. But I’ve been seeing this argument play out for most of the 20 years I’ve lived in West Seattle, so it’s not exactly new. I suspect a lot of people can enjoy a parade and watching the fireworks over Lake Union and still get annoyed with explosions at 12:30 in the morning next to their house, especially when the 4th is on a weeknight. But when a proposal to hey, maybe, you know, tone it down a bit is met with responses like some of those up above, I don’t think it’s uppity or rude to get annoyed about it..If you’re one of those they’re annoyed with, you can either change what you’re doing or accept that some number of your neighbors probably think you’re being a jerk. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

• anonyme June 29, 2019 (8:28 am)

  I find it telling that almost without fail, every person who comments in favor of fireworks tries to divert the discussion to another topic.  Not once, not ever, have I read a comment that provided an argument as to why fireworks are either harmless or beneficial (probably because no such argument exists).   Nor have I read a rational argument as to why proponents are exempt from the law.  What is so important about fireworks that the law must be suspended?   If tradition, then there are plenty of All-American, time-honored traditions that do not involve incendiary explosives.   One more thing: I don’t think we should be suggesting that fireworks would be OK if it were just one day.  That one day is what the law was designed to prevent.  Coddling criminals never works, which is precisely why this problem has gone out of control.

  • datamuse July 3, 2019 (7:21 am)

    TBH it also kinda weirds me out that being opposed to fireworks must automatically mean that one is opposed to celebrating freedom and independence, as if there were no other way to celebrate. Some of y’all lack imagination.

• me June 29, 2019 (12:18 pm)

  That letter didn’t make any sense. If they are getting so many calls that they can’t respond to life threatening situations then wouldn’t it be better to enforce firework laws? That would reduce the amount of calls for sure and it shows that there is a need for it beyond being a nuisance or putting trash everywhere.Also it says “one day” someone might get hurt? How out of touch with reality is that? No one has ever been injured by fireworks on the fourth? No property damage has ever occurred? Just sounds like a weird brush off letter from somebody who doesn’t care and doesn’t want to do anything.

• Natinstl June 30, 2019 (6:04 pm)

  When I was 15 I was sitting in my grandparents backyard on the 4th  and a neighbors firework shot over the fence and landed on my leg. Even though we acted quick to get it off me, I was still badly burned on my upper leg. I spent the 4th in ER. Since then I completely understand why people don’t like them. There’s plenty of other ways to have fun on the 4th.

• anonyme July 1, 2019 (7:29 am)

  Disappointing that once the conversation turned to actually taking action via a protest at SW precinct, the comments went quiet.   I have health/mobility issues but will try to be at the precinct at noon on the 4th.  I hope some (many!) of you will join me.

• Tracey July 2, 2019 (9:45 am)

  I agree Anonyme.  Very disappointing.  I called the SW non emergency line about fireworks in my neighborhood last night.  When I asked if they were going to do something about it, they said “that depends, is there smoke or anyone injured?”.  When I got angry, about lack of response to illegal activity, they implied they might be sending a car to the scene.

• nf July 4, 2019 (1:23 pm)

  I write this as my dog is quivering in terror next to me. People used to set of fireworks on one day, which was manageable. It’s 1 pm. It’s
  going to go on for hours, and people have been setting off fireworks in my
  neighborhood for days. It will probably continue through the weekend.

  Councilmember Herbold’s newsletter of July 3rd mentions her request to the mayor to consider doing something similar to what Bellevue is doing to gather
  facts about the use of illegal fireworks so they can better plan enforcement
  actions. As she said, we should be doing the same in Seattle. I’ve watched
  patrol cars pass by the park where people are setting off visible and loud
  fireworks and firecrackers. No sirens or evidence of any hurry as if they’re
  going to another more serious incident. SPD clearly does not count this as
  important. Why do we pass laws that we have no intention of, or ability or
  willingness to, enforce? Was this one just one official placating some irate
  constituent? What a waste. Not enforcing the law just means it’s getting worse each
  year.

• WSNeighbor July 4, 2019 (10:37 pm)

  If the city will not enforce, maybe time for a law suit by residents to encourage the city to take action? Allowing the fire hazard and threat to property and people in violation of the law is ridiculous.

Sorry, comment time is over.