2023–2024 San Francisco Civil Grand Jury
Report identifies the out-of-control illegal fireworks problem in
the city.
SAN
FRANCISCO, May 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Frustrated
citizens and unsafe fireworks deployments are the result of little
to no coordination amongst departments, a lack of official metrics
defined or tracked to scope the problem, limited public education
and community engagement, and inconsistent messaging to the public
about how to report firework activity, a new Civil Grand Jury
report found.
Fireworks are illegal in San Francisco, yet they continue to be a
problem. City departments must work together.
"All private fireworks are illegal in
San Francisco, yet they continue
to be a constant problem throughout the year, especially on
July 4th," said Bart Fisher, Committee Chairperson. "It's
important to get city departments working together towards
solutions."
Fireworks are dangerous, causing many permanent
scars; lost limbs, fingers and toes; diminished and full hearing
loss and partial and full loss of sight in one or both eyes. They
can even be deadly, as San
Francisco learned this past New Year's Eve when one of its
own residents was killed on Treasure
Island. Fireworks also traumatize pets, children, autistic
residents, dementia patients, veterans and others with PTSD, as
well as wildlife. They pollute the environment, start fires and
cause property and content loss. They also are increasingly being
used as weapons in large gatherings and protests.
The Jury report estimates that:
- Approximately 100,000 San
Francisco households, or one in four, have a pet frightened
by fireworks
- Over 3,500 San Francisco
children under the age of 5 are likely frightened or bothered by
fireworks
- An estimated 10,000 San
Francisco residents with some form of autism may be affected
by fireworks
- An estimated 12,500 San
Francisco residents have some level of dementia and can be
agitated by fireworks
- In any given year, an estimated 2,500 San Francisco combat veterans and 37,700
San Francisco adults suffering
from PTSD may be triggered by the explosions from fireworks
Illegal fireworks affect our entire community:
family members, neighbors, friends and co-workers suffer to varying
degrees from annoyance, medically meaningful upset to bodily
injury. Physical structures set afire and harm to local flora and
fauna cannot be dismissed as minor and transient problems limited
to the 4th of July.
To read the full report which includes the jury's
recommendations, please visit
https://www.sf.gov/resource/2024/civil-grand-jury-reports-2023-2024.
About the San Francisco Civil Grand Jury
The Superior Court selects 19 San Franciscans to
serve year-long terms as Civil Grand Jurors. The Jury has the
authority to investigate City and County government by reviewing
documents and interviewing public officials and private
individuals. At the end of its inquiries, the Jury issues reports
of its findings and recommendations. Agencies identified in the
report must respond to these findings and recommendations within
either 60 or 90 days, and the Board of Supervisors conducts a
public hearing on each Civil Grand Jury report after those
responses are submitted. For more information, visit the San
Francisco Civil Grand Jury website:
https://civilgrandjury.sfgov.org.
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SOURCE San Francisco Civil Grand Jury