Beachcombing – July 3

Our Beachcombing column last time announced the cancellation of the annual Big Bang on the Bay July 3 event that has been raising money for local charities since 2011. Here are a few comments that followed via Nextdoor.

Brian M: The Coastal Commission needs to be investigated! Even our idiot governor thinks the Big Bang should go forward. And why are people in places like San Diego who are on the Coastal Commission making decisions for our area? But the Coastal Commission is quiet when it comes to the Tijuana River polluting the Pacific. South of the 8 Freeway smells like a porta potty.

The California Coastal Commission was established in 1972 to run oversight in Coastal Development and coastal access. Why are they involved with regulating 4th of July fireworks? If it was against their California Coastal Act of 1976, why haven’t they enforced going back to then? It’s just another California State overreach to control the taxpayers. This is right from their website. Nothing about fireworks.

They work in partnership with local governments to protect shoreline public access and recreation, terrestrial and marine habitats, views of the coast and scenic coastal areas, agricultural lands, and more, by regulating proposed development along the coast and in nearby areas.

Kathleen Booth: $$ goes to charities. What is the problem?

Anthony Davanti: They claim it’s bad for the environment. Planes are bad. We are not ever going to stop that.

Stevie Nellor: Since they announced this a few days ago, I’ve been wondering how this affects the Queen Mary fireworks? Seems they’d have to do the same with the QM or it would look like the CCC is singling out John Morris. I take particular umbrage with this announcement since it’s the celebration of our country’s 250th birthday! Why now? Why not next year?

Seems there might be more at work than the environmental impact concerns. Last year the excuse was that John Morris didn’t submit his permit request on time. This year the drone regulations are so stringent that it’s a near impossibility for him to convert the Big Bang on the Bay to a drone show. Seems like regulations & regulators are making a concerted effort to keep Americans from celebrating our biggest American birthday, yet. But there is no enforcement against those illegal fireworks from south of our border that are going off every night of the year! The old environmental excuse kind of loses credibility .

Dian Palmquist: What about all the emissions from refineries, trucks to and from the port, pollutants from industrial production that are daily polluting the city? The residential area along the 710 is known as Asthma Alley. If you didn’t have lung issues before you moved here, you will now.

Drew P: The Coastal Commission is also blocking the Palisades Fire victims from rebuilding their homes on PCH where those homes have been for generations. They had no problem before with septic tanks that were metal, now they’re plastic and won’t seep into the ocean.

Marcus W: But they gave the green light for 40 firework shows in San Diego. Sounds fishy to me!

In comments surrounding Big Bang on the Bay, Governor Gavin Newsom did not take a direct policy stance on the event itself but publicly distanced himself from its cancellation. His office stated, “This is NOT a decision the governor made… [we are] looking into this matter on behalf of the people of Long Beach.” This response suggests concern and engagement, while reinforcing that the decision rested with the California Coastal Commission, not the governor.

This aligns with local perceptions that state leadership was not actively opposing the event, but rather responding after the fact to public reaction and controversy over the cancellation.

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