Seaside’s City Council asked for input from residents regarding the future course of our Independence Day celebration. I personally hate fireworks, but I understand that not everyone will agree with me, so I wrote and offered a compromise.

The 18-25 minutes of city fireworks are much less of an issue than the ongoing illegal fireworks that go mostly unchecked around town. I would like to suggest that the city still support the chamber’s professional fireworks display, but also take a firm stand, and exercise a zero tolerance program regarding personal fireworks.

Several of our neighboring cities have successfully done it! It takes advanced advertising, signs at the entry points into town, high fines for violators and perhaps bringing in supplementary police forces during that time, as we’ve done in the past.

Those who view the fireworks as important will still get the show they’re used to, but those who don’t appreciate them would only need to endure a short show, and not days and days (sometimes extending into months) of torture.

Please take a few moments to write and offer your opinions! Email publiccomment@cityofseaside.us.

SARA O’MALLEY
Seaside