SAN CLEMENTE : Council Reinstates Fireworks Show

A local restaurant owner has volunteered to take on the responsibility of raising the $30,000 needed to hold the city’s annual Fourth of July fireworks show, which the City Council canceled last month.

Rick Anderson, owner of the Tropicana Grill, persuaded the council this week to reinstate the annual show by promising that he would raise the money needed to pay for the fireworks--estimated at $8,000--and for extra police and fire personnel needed for security.

“If I don’t do it, it’s not going to get done,” Anderson said. “I don’t think the community had enough time to react, and someone had to step forward and say: ‘I’m going to do it.’ I think the rest of the community will follow in support. I’m actually gambling about $30,000 that they will.”

Anderson, 37, has begun a campaign he has titled “The Show Must Go On,” which will include the placement of 100 firecracker-shaped cans for contributions in businesses throughout the city.

Anderson was responsible for organizing a ticker-tape parade held in the city last year to welcome home soldiers who fought in the Persian Gulf War. He is president of the Pier Bowl Merchants Assn. and several other local civic organizations.

“Rick did a fabulous job of putting together the parade for the Marines last year,” said Councilman Scott Diehl. “If anyone in this town can pull this together, I think he can.”

Councilman Thomas Lorch abstained from the council’s vote to reinstate the fireworks program. He said he felt the annual event should be city-sponsored and not tied to any business.

“It’s still my feeling that I’d like to see this thing have more of a city focus with major sponsors involved,” Lorch said. “I think the city needs to have the lead as a sponsor.”

Mayor Joseph Anderson disagreed with Lorch and said that there would be no fireworks show this year if not for Anderson’s efforts, since the council was not willing to fund it.

“He is clearly willing to take the lead in this and he’s the only person who has stepped forward,” the mayor said. “Given the budgetary constraints we have this year, it’s not in the cards for the city to spend this kind of money on the show.”

The restaurant owner, a 19-year resident of the city, said he hated to see such a popular event canceled.

“It’s a 40-year tradition, and once something dies, it’s almost impossible to resurrect it,” Anderson said. “I just can’t imagine San Clemente without fireworks on the Fourth of July.”