Culver City Council Backs Proposal for Statewide Curbs on Fireworks

The Culver City council has endorsed a proposed statewide ban on the sale and use of fireworks, over the objections of two councilmen who said the city should wait until voters decide Nov. 4 whether to continue permitting local fireworks sales.

By a 3-2 vote Monday the council supported a proposal before the League of California Cities to sponsor a state law restricting fireworks to public displays conducted by licensed professionals. The endorsement directs the city’s representative to the league’s Oct. 19-22 conference in Los Angeles to support the proposed state law.

Councilman Paul A. Jacobs, an opponent of fireworks and co-chairman of the campaign against Proposition K, the city fireworks measure, placed the endorsement proposal on the council agenda.

State law allows cities to adopt laws permiting the sale and use of so-called “safe and sane” fireworks that are approved by the state fire marshal. Firecrackers and other explosive fireworks are prohibited under state law.

Culver City is the only city on the Westside to permit the sale and use of fireworks. Proposition K, put on the ballot by the council last April, would allow the sale and use of fireworks to continue.

Along Factional Lines The endorsement of the statewide ban went along the council’s factional lines on the fireworks issue, with Jacobs, Mayor Paul A. Netzel and council member Jozelle Smith voting for it and council members Richard M. Alexander and Richard Brundo voting against it.

Jacobs, in a brief statement, said he thinks it is important that the city send a representative who will cast a vote in favor of the league proposal.

Alexander said that it was inappropriate to endorse the state-wide ban before city voters decide on Proposition K. He offered the council a motion to make no decision on the league proposal until after the election, but it was defeated.

Alexander said that while he believes the league’s resolution has merit, it would take away the city’s right to decide on its own laws regarding fireworks.

Brundo said he objected specifically to a section of the league’s proposal stating that the Fourth of July holiday “is often marred by the loss of life or serious injury and the destruction of property caused by the mishandling of fireworks.”