NEGATIVE IMPACTS

Since the launching of our hard-copy petition drive in mid-January, many citizens have asked why we are doing this. So we have compiled a list of the NEGATIVE IMPACTS of the personal use of consumer fireworks:

• Twenty-seven (27) fireworks-related FIRES between 2006 and 2011.
• FIRE DAMAGE ($120,000) to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe wooden railroad trestle and tracks in southwest Bellingham in July, 2011.
• DISTURBING THE PEACE with random, war-like barrages of loud, "frequent, repetitive or continuous" noises.
• TERRORIZING sufferers of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and both domestic and wild animals.
• LITTERING our streets, yards, sidewalks, roofs and gutters with trash from spent fireworks.
• POLLUTING the air we breathe, the water we drink and the water in our streams and lakes.
• Increasing risk of WILD FIRES in our wooded-areas as well as HOUSE and other STRUCTURE FIRES. 

Hence, our efforts to get PROPOSITION NO. 1 on the November General Election Ballot.  This proposition seeks to limit fireworks within the City of Bellingham to professionally-staged public fireworks display!  If you vote within Bellingham, we would appreciate your endorsement of our hard-copy petition to put PROPOSITION NO. 1 before the voters in November.   Later . . .