When Thomas Jefferson and the Continental Congress emancipated the 13 colonies from Great Britain’s King George III in 1776 by signing the Declaration of Independence, founding father John Adams was already scheming celebration plans for the newly christened United States.
“It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more,” wrote Adams in a letter dated July 3, 1776 to his wife, Abigail.
Gilroy – the only city in Santa Clara County that allows the sales and use of fireworks of any kind and permits Gilroy residents to partake in a highly regulated program for “safe and sane” fireworks – will do its part to keep Adams’ vision alive and well with its public firework extravaganza from 9 to 10 p.m. July 4 at the Gilroy High School baseball field at 10th Street and Uvas Park Drive.
What worries Gilroy Fire Marshall Jackie Bretschneider, however, are fireworks set off by locals before and after the $10,000 City-funded event.
“There is so much illegal use going on,” Bretschneider said, referring to the 134 fireworks-related calls 911 dispatchers received June 30 to July 5, 2012. That number was slightly down from the previous year’s 148 calls; 94 of which were phoned in the actual day of July 4, according to documents provided by the Gilroy Fire Marshall’s Office.
Just one illegal firework zipping around and exploding in dry grassy areas of the Garlic Capital could lead to a devastating loss of life and property, said Fire Chief Alan Anderson.
“The fuel moisture level is running about a month-and-a-half earlier than normal,” said Anderson, who in technical terms was referring to the fact that during mid-July, Gilroy will be as dry as it is in the traditionally driest months of the year: September and October.
Still, some locals continue to ignore the combustibility of their surroundings, even in the face of informational flyers about the dangers of illegal fireworks. The flyers will be mailed to 18,000 addresses in Gilroy and were produced this year at a cost of $5,500 to the City.
“I think some people just use them as coasters,” Anderson quipped.
People circumventing state regulations by purchasing fireworks that contain actual explosive material such as Cherry Bombs, Bottle Rockets and Roman Candles – as opposed to sparklers, fountains and ground spinners – should know the City is cracking down, Bretschneider said.
“Use of these (fireworks without a State Fire Marshall approved Safe and Sane stamp) is a violation of State Law and Gilroy City Codes,” she said.
To earn the seal of approval, Safe and Sane fireworks don’t leave the ground or explode.
Having Safe and Sane fireworks doesn’t give residents carte blanche when it comes to where they can use them, however.
Fireworks aren’t allowed in any public areas, city parks, commercial parking lots or schools – people can’t bring their own personal Safe and Sane fireworks to the GHS event, either. In addition, the incandescent entertainment is banned from areas next to vast swathes of wildland – such as the Eagle Ridge subdivision and Hecker Pass west of Santa Teresa – according to documents provided by the City.
Homeowners who ignore the restrictions will have a $250 hole burned in their bank account by an administrative citation. Turning a blind eye to the citation doesn’t work either, explained Bretschneider, as the money will be recovered by tacking it onto the homeowner’s property tax bill. The misdemeanor citations involve criminal charges punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and/or six months in jail.
Making people aware of what is allowed is also an uphill battle, according to Bretschneider, who noted “the people that most need to read the flyer seem not to read it.”
In Gilroy, Safe and Sane fireworks can be bought from a network of 16 vendors across the city from July 1 until midnight July 4. The fireworks are only available to legal residents of Gilroy, Bretschneider noted. People can prove Gilroy residency by showing their driver’s license or another form of photo ID with a bill statement, for example.
“The only real fireworks are what you buy at the booth,” she added. “You may be asked to show proof of residence at the time of purchase.”
Vendors who ignore that stipulation may find their permit yanked and their booth closed down, according to Bretschneider.
Established in the 1980s, Gilroy’s firework vendor system allows 16 local nonprofits to set up around town and raise much-needed funds. In 2012, Gilroy’s Victory Outreach Church – which specializes in putting people on a path away from addiction – swelled its coffers by roughly $4,000, according to volunteer Jesse Jimenez.
Vendors who decide to opt out are replaced by a lottery system, explained Bretschneider.
The Gilroy Elks Lodge – which joined the vendor list in 2012 – is the newest nonprofit to join the list of 16.
The volunteer-staffed vendors include groups such as the Gilroy Police Officers Association; Victory Outreach Gilroy; and the El Camino Club to name a few, and split the cost of the City’s Public Safety Fireworks Mitigation Fee between them.
The fee is based on extra costs incurred by having the Gilroy Police and Fire departments respond to fireworks-related calls and conducting inspections of the booths. On May 20, 2013, City Council approved this year’s fee of $26,374. At almost $1,650 for each organization, 2013’s fee represents a jump of more than $2,000 from last year’s fee, $24,084.
Whatever the cost, getting on the vendor list can make a world of difference to a nonprofit’s bottom line.
Each nonprofit gets to keep 30 percent of sales, after the fireworks distributor takes its 70 percent cut. Even after that, most booths make a significant profit from their four-day fireworks sales stint.
That includes the Stick and Move Gym, located at Church Street and Welburn Avenue. Owner and boxing guru Rick Mello has been on the fireworks vendor list since 1992 and he’s thankful for the roughly $4,000 in profit the gym has in the kitty by the time the four-day firework sale is over each year.
“The fireworks money pays rent, telephone and helps fighters pay their dues and licenses,” Mello said. “Not that it goes very far, but it helps.”
In his 68 years – yes, 68 years – of being involved in the noble art of pugilism, Rick Mello has been a boxer, trainer, promoter and manager. He helped shape the nascent boxing career of world champion Robert Guerrero in his boxing program at the old Gilroy Community Center on Sixth and Railroad street in the early 90s.
“I gave him the name ‘The Ghost,’” Mello said.
Focusing on providing an outlet for youths and adults who might sometimes need a nudge in the right direction is at the core of what he does.
“If they’re in the gym, they’re not breaking into your house,” he quipped.
The importance of the festive four-day cash cow for local nonprofits doesn’t stop at midnight July 4, however. The commitment shown by the nonprofit vendors who turn up every year goes a long way in the eyes of grant-giving philanthropics such as the Gilroy Foundation, according to Mayor Don Gage.
“Organizations that do it (sell fireworks) can say, ‘We’re not asking for money, we’re going out and working for it,’” Gage explained.
Vendors and locations for Safe and Sane fireworks from July 1 to midnight July 4
• Apostolic Assembly Church, 7150 Camino Arroyo near the Super Walmart
• Christian School Parents Club, 8220 Monterey St., near Little John’s Jewelry
• City of Gilroy Adaptive Recreation Program, 780 First St., near Nob Hill Foods
• El Camino Club, 971 First St., in the vacant lot near Safeway and the car wash
• Gavilan College RAM Football Boosters, 1210 First St., near the Hecker Pass Plaza – Ace Hardware
• Gilroy Hispanic Chamber, 8850 San Ysidro Ave. near Home Depot
• Gilroy HS Cheerleaders, 7940 Monterey St., near the EZ Clean Car Wash
• Gilroy HS Quarterback Club, 401 E. 10th St., near O’Henry’s Donuts
• Gilroy Little League, 691 First St., near the 7-Eleven
• Gilroy Police Officers Association, 8400 Church St. near the Quick Stop
• Gilroy Pop Warner Football, 190 Welburn Ave. near Meineke Auto Repair
• Gilroy Youth Football Cheerleaders, 80 10th St., near 7-Eleven on 10th Street
• South County Baseball, 8017 Wayland Lane near Ninja Sushi on First Street
• Gilroy Elks, 210 10th St., in front of Smart and Final
• Stick and Move Boxing, 1425 First St., in the vacant lot near First Street and Kelton Drive
• Victory Outreach Gilroy, 435 First St., near Del Sol Market
