Environmental Group Fumes Over Parade Ban

As parade officials tell it, the problem simply comes down to this: an environmental group flouted the rules by handing out fliers two years running at the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade.

So the parade board got tough, voting Tuesday night to bar the Bolsa Chica Land Trust from marching in this year’s Independence Day salute.

Land Trust leaders are reacting with amazement and anger, suggesting the suspension may have less to do with fliers than with politics. They contend pro-development members of the board influenced the decision, a notion the board chairman disputes.

The environmental group has waged a continuing battle against Koll Real Estate Group’s plans to build 3,300 homes on and around the ecologically sensitive Bolsa Chica wetlands. Koll is one of the parade’s sponsors, contributing $3,000.

The alleged misdeed, say Land Trust leaders, amounted to two supporters handing out bright pink bookmarks last year urging the saving of wetlands and carrying the motto, “Wetlands mean fish . . . birds . . . clean water . . . life!” The two ceased the activity when a parade official told them such distribution was forbidden, said Debbie Cook, a Huntington Beach attorney who represents the Land Trust.

“It’s bogus. It’s a ruse. . . . A bookmark about wetlands?” said Cook. “I assure you, we’re going to fight this. . . . They’ve raised pettiness to a new level.”

Organizers bridle at the notion that politics--or Koll’s sponsorship--had anything to do with the board’s unanimous vote to prohibit the Land Trust from marching.

“Definitely not. Couldn’t be further from the truth,” said board Chairman Pam Julien. “It’s a danger consideration. It’s dangerous to hand out things on the parade route.”

The rule against distributing fliers, candy or anything else is explained in parade literature, organizers said. The prohibition was established to address the fear that children seeking handouts will be pulled into the parade and injured.

Land Trust members have violated the rules twice, once in 1994, when they were warned by parade officials, and again in 1995, officials said.

But Cook said she is unaware of any flier problem in 1994. That year, she said, Land Trust supporters showed up with small flags on sticks reading “Save It, Don’t Pave It,” but stored them when a parade official objected, she said. And a year later, she said, the group’s entry won an award.

Dubious Land Trust members say they plan to appeal the ruling to city leaders.

“It’s rather strange,” said President Nancy Donaven. “We were given a prize last year--and this year, they’re telling us we can’t be in it?”