On the city of Kent’s website, the City Council page says “…members of the Council are dedicated to protecting the interests of their constituents.” Really? An entire year has passed since the last Fourth of July and nothing has been done regarding fireworks in the city.
We have lived in Kent in the same house for 29 years. Last year was the worst July 4 we have ever experienced. In the days leading up to, and following the Fourth of July, we were inundated with explosions. On July 4 we called 911 three times and were put on hold. Our neighbors were drunk and setting off illegal mortars without using the tube.
When the police were finally able to respond, it was not until after 11 p.m. and by then several nearby cars were damaged. The people were still setting off mortars, but the officers did not give them a citation. Many of us were scared and the surrounding noise was horrendous and continual. Our neighborhood was littered with firework debris. Our pets were terrified. I can only imagine how other animals (inside and out), the elderly, small children and our veterans were feeling.
Last August I spent half an hour talking with Capt. Kyle Ohashi of the Kent Fire Department about fireworks. He told me about the increased call volume, (three-fold on the July 4 over an ordinary day), 150 brush and tree fires, 12 or 13 major structural fires in past years that were caused by aerial fireworks, and a child that was seriously burned when a firework went off in the child’s face.
Now our city officials have planned a crackdown on people setting off illegal fireworks. By that time, hasn’t the proverbial horse left the barn? At the June 9 City Council Public Safely Meeting, David McDougall was exactly right. It is unreasonable to expect the Kent Police to fix the problem. How can they be expected to catch people in the act? In order to issue a citation, an officer has to actually see a person setting off an illegal firework. Once a police cruiser is seen people scatter, and no one claims ownership of the explosives. Sure, those fireworks can be confiscated, but afterwards, another person steps forward with more.
Evidently, the members of the council not on the Public Safety Committee, do not feel they have any responsibility to address this issue. Last year I sent letters to every council member and the mayor. Other than Jim Berrios, the chairman of the committee, only Dennis Higgins responded, saying I needed to take it up with the Public Safety Committee.
At the June 9 Public Safely meeting, Councilman Berrios said, “I’d hate to think that someday we will talk about eliminating fireworks on the Fourth of July.” Mr. Berrios, we are talking about it, but the Kent City Council is not!
I wish we could go back to the days of a couple pretty firework fountains, a Whistling Pete and some sparklers. Unfortunately, the availability of fireworks from Indian reservations, and peoples’ lack of respect for others, and for safety, have changed that. The Fourth of July is not about grown men exploding things. You can make new traditions for your family, which can include one of 20 public firework shows in King County, including one right here in Kent.
Twenty out of 34 cities in King County now ban fireworks. It is time we joined the majority.
Kent City Council members, get up some gumption and lead for goodness sake!
– Carrie Stark
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