Good Morning.
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Today we have another installment of Your lead, where we are answer readers’ questions on how the pandemic is changing daily life in California. Christine, a reader in Livermore, asked: What is the problem with fireworks that go off every night?
Marie Tae McDermott answered:
The booms and whistles that start at dusk and continue into the night have been a night fixture in my Los Angeles neighborhood since Memorial Day. When I let my dog go out to do his business every afternoon, the explosions, bursts and bubbles send him in a hurry. In my local Nextdoor feed, neighbors complain about the toll caused by the constant barrage of booms: pets cower under beds and the suffering of loved ones with post-traumatic stress disorder.
While it’s unclear if the problem is worse this year than last year, what is certain is that more people, perhaps suffering from frayed nerves or cabin fever, are filing complaints across the state. The Los Angeles Police Department said complaints about illegal fireworks rose 170 percent this month compared to the same period last year. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office also reported that it received more complaints than usual.
My colleagues in New York City reported the increase in the illegal use of fireworks there, where the number of complaints increased from 21 in 2019 to more than 1,700 so far this year. Conspiracy theories have emerged to try to explain the increase, but experts say fireworks are more likely to release millions of people who are bored and frustrated after months of taking refuge in place. Stops have also caused less overall noise pollution, so cacophonous booms may be more pronounced. Others say the widespread cancellation of fireworks displays has caused the black market to flood with professional-level inventory.
This year, Californians’ frustration with illegal fireworks comes amid rapidly escalating Covid-19 cases and a robust fire season.
Shane Brown, the Fresno Fire Department public information officer, told me he sees aerial fireworks being fired every afternoon from his balcony in downtown Fresno. During his shifts driving a fire truck, he said he has responded to dozens of fires in recent weeks that he says were likely caused by fireworks.
“We are anticipating an incredibly busy Fourth of July here,” said Brown. The 80 firefighters on duty each day are already exhausted, adding pressure to what he describes as an unusually busy season. His department’s total response to fire has increased 60 percent since last year, he said.
State-approved fireworks are legal in some parts of California. The State Fire Marshal considers certain types “safe and healthy” and some cities allow the sale for specific periods of time. However, if it is projected from the ground or creates an explosion, it is most likely illegal, he said.
At Nextdoor, some of my neighbors said that, although frustrated by the night noise, they would not call the police due to national allegations of police brutality and did not want to subject others to potentially unfair treatment. Others say that summer fireworks are traditionally a time when communities come together around the glow of sparklers, and that this year is no different.
However, illegal fireworks, such as M-80s, which pack powerful explosives and pose a risk to the safety of users and passers-by, have been the focus of recent crackdowns.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced a campaign last week to curb the sale of illegal fireworks online. “The nightly attack of illegal fireworks that we are experiencing must stop,” it said in a statement.
Citizen’s advice on the illegal sale of fireworks, which is often sold on social media, can sometimes lead to successful stings. Police in Irwindale recently seized 2,000 pounds of fireworks after someone alerted police to search for a home.
Brown urged people to think about their community before using fireworks this year. A spark from a single firework can ignite a pile of leaves that could send embers to the roof of someone’s home.
“This is a small sacrifice for a year to avoid celebration,” he said. “To avoid what could be a catastrophic loss of life or even a simple loss of property.”
This is what you should know more today
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Now, a quick update on the coronavirus pandemic: Noting what his last chance to reach residents was likely before the July 4 holiday, California Governor Gavin Newsom implored residents on Thursday to refrain from meeting with people outside their home, no matter how large. temptation, and that they wear masks.
“The evidence is simply overwhelming,” he said in a video news conference. “The masks keep Californians healthy.”
Newsom unveiled a new public awareness campaign on the importance of wearing masks, and has already mandated people to wear them in most indoor and some outdoor public settings.
On Wednesday, he announced that he would establish teams to work with local authorities. The governor again emphasized that $ 2.5 billion in pandemic aid will be reserved for counties that do their part.
However, he said, “it requires a certain level of personal responsibility.”
[[[[Read more about the restrictions. The | View a map of coronavirus cases by county in California.]
If you missed it, read about why experts believe California’s “luck may have run out” as the cases have exploded. [LosNewYorkTimes[TheNewYorkTimes[LosNewYorkTimes[TheNewYorkTimes]
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Covid-19’s testability has once again become a concern. Could pooled testing be a solution? [The New York Times]
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Than What will California schools look like in the future? Here are some ideas. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
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After her son was killed by police in Walnut Creek, a mother lends her voice to a bill that would help create programs to send trained mental health teams to respond to nonviolent emergencies. [CalMatters]
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Los Angeles Unified School District chief of police force resigned Wednesday after the school board voted to cut $ 25 million from her department’s budget. [LAist]
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USC announced that it will move to online classes for the fall semester. They had previously planned to hold classes both in person and online. [Los Angeles Times]
And finally …
We will be leaving for the July 4th holiday on Monday. Enjoy it and stay safe. And to make you smile, read about the life of Carl Reiner.
California Today kicks off at 6:30 am Pacific time on weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: [email protected]. Did you get this email forwarded to you? Sign up for California Today here and read each edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at UC Berkeley, and has reported across the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield, and Los Angeles, but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley.
