Behind a Salinas ballot measure that seeks to restore the sale of “safe and sane” fireworks are thousands of dollars in contributions from fireworks companies.
In just one year, Citizens for a Safer Fourth of July received $83,021 from TNT Fireworks and Big Bear Fireworks Inc. Nearly $43,000 of that accumulated in just three months.
But it would be more accurate to say the coalition is fueled by professional consultants and fireworks companies, not citizens and nonprofits.
“We are working smarter, not harder,” says former Salinas City Council member Sergio Sanchez. “We are using professional consultants to help with the process and they have delivered results.”
And they have. In mid-December, more than 13,000 signatures were collected—more than enough to qualify for a ballot measure. The price to pay for those petitioners consultants? $27,076.
But the ballot campaign may be dropped if City Council votes to adopt an ordinance regulating the possession, use and sale of “safe and sane” fireworks, instead of the ban it currently has.
A report will be presented to City Council on Feb. 9 to make a decision on this.
“We are hoping we don’t have to go to the ballot since we gathered the signatures, we hope we can adopt the ordinance,” says Sanchez.
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