Dear Editor,
The 70 residents of Gilroy who convinced the city to allow
fireworks this fire season have their priorities backwards.
We are striving for a cleaner environment, and the air is
already hazy
&
amp;#8194;from more than 1,200 fires in the state. Parents
cannot plead for fireworks fundraising in the name of their
students, when so many kids are suffering from the smoke that
covers our summer skies.
Fireworks at what cost? Check out the air quality
Dear Editor,
The 70 residents of Gilroy who convinced the city to allow fireworks this fire season have their priorities backwards.
We are striving for a cleaner environment, and the air is already hazy from more than 1,200 fires in the state. Parents cannot plead for fireworks fundraising in the name of their students, when so many kids are suffering from the smoke that covers our summer skies.
The community must ask itself the following question: what is more important for children, fundraising or health and safety?
Cristina Tuckness, Gilroy
Light up the sky – it’s great – just be careful
Dear Editor,
Every year at the same time the fireworks stands come out for our community to do one of the things we do best celebrate the Fourth of July as a community. The Fourth of July is great here – the sky lit up with beautiful colors, children laughing and playing – why should we stop?
The fires were started by a freak streak of nature. No one set out to start these blazes, it just happened. But we can’t stop living. We cancelled one event this year due to fire, let’s not take another one away. 
I have lived here most of my life, give or take a few years, and since the ’70s there has not been a summer gone by that we all haven’t worried about the hillsides going up in flames. So that worry will always be here!
Let’s enjoy our Independence Day and light up the sky with fireworks – just be more careful about your surroundings
April Chacon, Gilroy.
Fickle Council ought to clean up fireworks mess
Dear Editor,
On Tuesday as I read the Dispatch, it sounded like the City Council was going to ban fireworks. But no, it turned around quickly. I am VERY disappointed in Councilman Bob Dillon who for years has preached banning the fireworks. How quickly that all changed. And, did they take into consideration the cleanup of the mess left behind after people shoot off their safe and sane fireworks?
Just have them all come to the high school and down 10th Street on July 5 and see what our neighborhood has to deal with the day after. It’s a total war zone with the spent fireworks everywhere.
The city crews and the school district people then have to spend time cleaning up the mess of the safe and sane fireworks.
Good going City Council. Too bad it’s not an election year. I would sure change my mind about several of you. And, that is an open invitation for ALL of you, except Councilman Peter Arellano, to come over to the high school and see the mess left behind.
I would love to see the Dispatch showing the Council picking up the mess.
Susan M. Baker, Gilroy
