If you thought the City of Manteca’s aerial fireworks display was closer to being a dud than spectacular, you are not alone.
Elected Manteca leaders agree.
And if you were underwhelmed about the inroads law enforcement made the week of the Fourth of July when it comes to nabbing those firing off illegal fireworks, Mayor Gary Singh doesn’t disagree.
First the aerial fireworks display.
Not only was it late getting started, but instead of having one or two shells that didn’t explode in air roughly 10 times the usual amount didn’t.
The city made it clear to the vendor they won’t be using them again and are seeking a 33 percent discount.
That said, city staff is not holding its proverbial collective breath that they will be extended a discount.
Fire personnel inspecting and monitoring the work of the crew firing off the pyrotechnics were dismayed how the mortars were prepared for firing and how the actual show unfolded.
Part of the problem could be the fact the city has limited spending on the aerial fireworks to $30,000 in the past few years.
That is considerably lower than what other displays cost on the Fourth of July, the biggest day on the calendar for such shows.
Councilman Charlie Halford noted in the late 1970s when the community-based Fourth of July Committee worked with Pepsi Cola to produce commentative Manteca soda bottles that were sold to fund Independence Day celebration events, the group had spectacular aerial displays.
He also noted the paid more than the city currently does for its aerial display nearly a half century later.
The council, though, made it clear they couldn’t stomach burning through more city money to get a bigger display.
It was suggested that others ways of enhancing the show through additional funding be found such as hitting up the firms that profit off legal fireworks sales in Manteca.
Other cities, such as Los Banos, simply move their Fourth of the July celebrations to the prior weekend.
That way, they can secure lower prices and bigger displays.
Illegal fireworks
There was agreement that the days leading up to the Fourth of July were quieter than in 2023 when it came to illegal fireworks.
However once nightfall came on the Fourth of July, the general consensus was it was worse this year.
Manteca Police were able to issue 37 citations — the highest number ever — that will cost the recipients $1,000 a pop.
But that wasn’t enough for Mayor Gary Singh especially since the city doubled the number of drones used to record footage to confirm then locations from where illegal fireworks were being launched.
And as Manteca Police Sgt. Ian Osborn indicated, the department wasn’t satisfied either.
Part of the problem were officers — once drones captured video needed to build a solid case under the administrative law process — still made a visit to the address to gather additional information and to issue the citation on the spot.
That meant each verified offense tied up police officers for 20 to 30 minutes each time.
Osborn said it was done out of an abundance of caution to make perpetrators aware that they had been caught breaking the law.
However, such one-on-one contact after illegal fireworks launches have been recorded by drone footage isn’t needed under the administrative law process.
As long as there is a time stamp, the proper global positioning system data recorded verifying the location and the illegal fireworks caught on video by the drone police can follow up several days later with sending out the $1,000 citations.
By dropping off the in-person portion, it is believed a significantly higher number of citations can be issued.
That said, of the 37 citations issued this year 33 were on the Fourth of July,
That is double the 16 that were issued on the Fourth of July of 2023. Last year there were 30 citations issued overall.
There were also 16 fires started by legal and illegal fireworks.
One citizen was reported to have been severely injured when a firework exploded on or near his hand causing him to lose his thumb.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
