Normally I let Ella and Siggy out in the backyard by themselves to do their morning absolutions. This morning I had to escort them, in my bathrobe, picking up pieces of exploded fireworks, so they would not eat them.
Thanks.
Susan continued the job later. Our street (10th) is littered with debris from the fireworks. My neighbor said she would clean it up. Later, she watched her kids explode more ordnance. Then it rained, making it much harder to clean up.
Later Ella was out in the back yard during a quiet time. Unfortunately, someone chose to denotate some more noisemakers. Susan found Ella hiding in the side corner of the yard, all fried because of the fireworks.
Thanks.
I spoke to Rose Ferlita and told her as a candidate for County Commission, I would like to see Hilsborough County enact the same laws that Pinellas County did holding people accountable to the state law.
She related to me about the story couple in South Tampa who tried to get the County Commission to stop the illegal use of fireworks. There was a tie vote until one of the male commissioners ( I think Hagan) related a sob story about how he lost or nearly lost some of his eyesight due ot a firework, raising everyone's hopes he would support the ban. Nope. he voted against it.
Why? Well I looked at his campaign funding. He had money from the fireworks special interests. As do many of the Commissioners.
So. Let's make this a campaign issue. Call or email or write each of the County Commision candidates and tell them you support restricting the sale of fireworks to be consistent with state law, like Pinellas County did. After you contact them, publish their responses in the comments section.
Rose Ferlita supports the restrictions. We discussed that at a minimum what could be required is the fireworks purchasers have to show their occupational license.
So what does Kevin say? Chloe Coney? Mark Sharpe? and all the others?
I imagine all the dog owners or rescue groups would support such restrictions. Let's create a movement. Light a fuse!
So what
I hate to gripe about fireworks, but the truth of the matter is that they are dangerous, illegal and generally speaking the folks that use them are totally disrespectful of their neighbors and their neighborhood. And from what I have seen, many of the people that have these fireworks free-for-alls are generally lower income families who, I would guess, receive governmental assistance to pay their rents and to put food on the table. How are they able to go and spend HUNDREDS of dollars on fireworks???
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of governmental abuse. Have you ever been in line at the grocery store behind someone paying for their groceries with Food Stamps and talking on their cell phones at the same time? What's up with that? It's like seeing a Mercedes parked in the projects.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago we called TPD because the fireworks were still going off around 3am and we had to get up and go to work the same day - enough ! right ???? well the female officer who came out said we should be more understanding - it was a holiday after all ........
ReplyDeleteTo the 1st anonymous you ask how are they able to spend "HUNDREDS of dollars on fireworks???" Easy, people like you and me who WORK for a living!
ReplyDeleteum, i get aggravated when I see someone all blinged out or getting cartons of cigs using food stamps, but a cell phone might be the only phone some people have/can get if their credit is bad for whatever reason. you can also get pre-paid minutes that are cheap.
ReplyDeletevery different than someone with super expensive rims and customized hooptie or other crazy expensive accoutrements.
I would fully support any measure that would eliminate the crazy loopholes and uphold the spirit of the law disallowing the sale of these things. I've heard those things going off all weekend, not just the holiday.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of expensive rims, the weekly lead article was on the world of expensive rims. In the article a woman was interviewed who was buying $2000 rims for her 1993 car and was purchasing via rent to own meaning she would actually pay $4000 for the rims. She stated she is a single parent with 2 kids and a foster child working two jobs. Where is the sanity????
ReplyDeleteI hear fireworks all year long, what's up with that? Although sometimes I wonder if it's actually gunshots I'm hearing.
ReplyDeleterent to own tires and rims are just nuts.
ReplyDeletelet's just focus on getting rid of the fireworks...shoot we are sitting in huge historic tinder box with idiots playing with explosives. The bling bling fools will lose out in due time by thier own hands. Of course 90% will never figure out how that occurred and blame in on " the man".
ReplyDeleteYes, they are a 4th of July tradition and I do remember how much fun they were (still are) but I also remember having to hush up at a decent hour and cleaning up every last bit of our mess which was usually just right on our own sidewalk. Not all fireworks are illegal, right? We have never really purchased anything but what publix or walmart sells.
ReplyDeleteToday, I found a giant bottlerocket hanging from my roof.
ReplyDeleteReal MotherFu@king safe.
It must have come from someone in the neighborhood.
Now I am pissed. We need to organize.
My Fu@king house could have burnt down.
Sorry about the language but this is too Da#n much.
This has to stop NOW.
It used to be that the 4th of July tradition in Florida was essentially sparklers and smoke bombs. The other part of the tradition was that if anyone wanted the illegal stuff, they had to drive to Georgia.
ReplyDeleteI move that we change the 4th of July celbration to the 15th of July. At least by that date, the government checks will have alreay been wasted and most won't be able to buy them. Can I get a second?
ReplyDeleteI will second and third.
ReplyDeleteI am doing some CSI trajectory positioning to determine which redneck tried to burn my house down.
The crap in your yard is a legit beef. Any idiot being able put on a pyrotechnic show a legit beef as well. The other comments have been largely racist.
ReplyDeleteHooray for the 4th and fireworks but I feel much safer when they are under the control of the fire department or local officials.
Where I grew up, illegal fireworks would get your ass arrested and if you were a minor land you in Juvie for the night.
My dog spent two days cowered inside.
And btw, I spent the 4th in Carollwood around lots of non-poor, barbie doll pink people who could afford their own food, cars and homes behaving like idiots
"The other comments have been largely racist . . " but not incorrect!
ReplyDeleteWghere I grew up we had gtons of fireworks. I used to shoot off 2 inchers in the front yard with my big sister. At nite my dad and the neighbor man had contests to see who could shoot off the biggest and loudest fireworks. We loved it. We helped light them and the next day we got to help clean up the mess. No one was ever hurt and everyone had a great time. No, we weren't on food stamps and we haven't bleached our skin. We just had a lot of fun celebrating the 4th. BUT, it ws only one 24-hour period. It was over before 9 or 10 PM and we picked up the whole mess. Personally I think the issue is the lack of consideration.
ReplyDelete