After months of work to prepare a draft ordinance for formal public comment regarding consumer fireworks use in the City and Borough of Juneau, our Assembly decided to table the issue until April. With the holidays coming up, there will be extensive use of fireworks.
The Assembly has chosen to not do anything to protect residents from excessive fireworks bombardment. Instead, they fell back on the noise ordinance which, in regards to consumer fireworks use, has proven to be ineffective and unenforceable for the past five years.
I urge anyone who is experiencing excessive consumer fireworks to call the Juneau Police Department and file a noise complaint. If you know the person, address or area where they are being set off, give that information to JPD. Since this type of complaint is low on the JDP’s priority list, ask if they will respond. If not, ask that they log the complaint anyway.
If JPD can’t respond, all that is left for relief, thanks to the Assembly, is neighbor-to-neighbor confrontation to protect ourselves, pets and homes. Remember this inaction by the mayor and Assembly when you vote!
Karen Capp,
Juneau