Thank you to everyone who has been making an appeal for restraining fireworks in residential neighborhoods. Our neighborhood is subjected to a war-like barrage of booms and high pitched screams of bottle rockets on New Year’s Eve and July 4th. It generally starts by 5 p.m. and ends around 1 a.m. Our glass flexes and we feel the concussion as our dog trembles, cowers, pants, and salivates until it’s over. Last week, it started again in anticipation of July 4th.
I’ve done a lot to try to cope: I’ve paid for dog sedatives and vet visits, bought her a thunder coat, taken her to motels near the airport to get away from the noise, played the TV and radios loudly it, but we can’t overcome it. Enough already.
Residential fireworks have gone well beyond the sparklers and firecrackers most of us grew up with. Today’s pyrotechnics are huge, loud and dangerous. Those setting them off have no training or permits for such items. One street over, they shoot bottle rockets over the houses. Do we wait for a child to be injured or a fire started? As for us, we don’t socialize nor have friends over on these occasions. We’re busy trying to maintain order for five or six hours. The bombs start a week or more before and continue beyond the holidays. Young children, pets, elders and local residents are negatively affected by the extreme noise.
Please, City and Borough of Juneau Assembly, take a stand in everyone’s best interest. It’s not OK for a few fire-bugs to disturb everyone with loud, dangerous explosive devices. Here are some ideas:
• No fireworks in residential areas,
• CBJ to sponsor a public display for all in the valley to enjoy; 30-40 minutes, for a big, professional show set off by people trained to so safely. None allowed in the tracts.
• Enforce your decisions.
Most importantly, remember the rest of us who vote and support our community. We are all entitled to our safety, peace and quiet. Let’s compromise. It’s time to end the imposition and danger in our residential neighborhoods.
Joann Flora,
Juneau