A LOT YOU WHO LISTENED TO FIREWORKS … BOTH LEGAL AND ILLEGAL … GOING OFF IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALBUQUERQUE OVER THE WEEKEND. IT MIGHT HELP IF THE CITY HAD AT LEAST A VOLUNTARY BAN ON FIREWORKS. THERE’S ONE IN PLACE FOR BERNALILO COUNTY. BUT ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR KEN SANCHEZ TELLS US THE CITY ENCOURAGES RESIDENTS TO BUY ONLY LEGAL FIREWORKS … AND TRIES TO PENALIZE THOSE THAT USE ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
SANCHEZ SAYS A BAN HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR LOCAL LAWMAKERS AT THE LEGISLATURE IN THE PAST. HE SAYS IT SEEMS TO NEVER GO ANY PLACE. BUT HE SAYS CITY LAWMAKERS NEED TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER A FIREWORKS BAN, ESPECIALLY SINCE CONDITIONS ARE OFTEN DRY AND DANGEROUS OVER THE JULY 4TH HOLIDAY.
SANCHEZ SAYS THE CITY HAS A RESOLUTION IN PLACE GIVING THE FIRE CHIEF THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE A BAN. BUT HE SAYS THE CITY MOSTLY RELIES ON THE GOOD JUDGEMENT OF RESIDENTS … AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TICKETING THOSE CAUGHT USING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS.
