Letters to the editor, Nov. 19, 2009

Don't bring fireworks to Barstow

I truly hope the mayor will give second thought to his letting fireworks be sold in Barstow. Again, we see the city blinded by the dollar sign at any expense to public safety. Maybe the mayor hasn’t stood at curbside with a family watching their home burn down from fireworks, or been in the emergency room as a child screams from the injuries inflicted by fireworks.

Come every July we see ample evidence of people violating the current laws on fireworks in the city, but that does not suggest in anyway we should make them legal. Times are tough for people and communities, and how terrible it is for people to look at the shady and illegal means to fill the void in their paycheck. Some resorting to the sex trade, others hook back up with old friends to help move drugs around the area, or even believing they can pull off the perfect robbery.

Some people who never saw themselves hosting a yard sale, now see money in all that “old stuff” and we have men and women who are out there working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. Well the city should not be so quick to jump into questionable means to boost the coffer.

It was interesting to note that TNT Fireworks even offered the fire department a chance to open their own booth, and put this money into their budget, maybe to pay the overtime in treating the injured and fires from their products. I didn’t see any mention made that TNT Fireworks would dash back into town to repair the damage done by their products. A number of years ago the city toughen up their guidelines to adult massage parlors so it discouraged any from setting up in the city, maybe if they proceed with fireworks selling they will weaken the massage parlors guidelines and more can enjoy the fireworks.

We don’t need to bring harm to our citizens and their property just to see more dollars, when some alternatives with study will do us better.

Ron Paddack, Barstow