Letters
Redfox resigns
To the Editor:
I would like to thank the residents of Downey for supporting my efforts on the Downey Rose Float for the past 22 years. It has been a pleasure and an honor to create floats for the wonderful community in which I grew up. Over the years, countless Downey residents have made me feel so appreciated for my work and, to all of you, I offer my sincere thanks.
It is with regret that I announce my retirement from the Downey Rose Float Association due to personal conflicts within the organization. A small handful of "leaders" within the organization have made the past few years unbearable, and I have finally decided that I cannot continue to volunteer my time in this negative environment.
I will undoubtedly miss working with the fine community and organization members who have made me feel so good throughout the years. They are the people who matter, after all.
-Jason Redfox,
Downey
Fireworks
To the Editor:
I have had the opportunity to attend all three fireworks meetings and have read the most recent letters to the editor in regards to the sale of Safe n Sane Fireworks. There is a group of concerned citizens that have painted a very ugly picture of the 17 civic groups that fundraise by selling fireworks. We have been portrayed as uncaring, money hungry individuals who care nothing about the safety of the citizens of Downey and only care about raising money by burning down our neighbors. I am here to set the record straight, most of the members of these organizations live in Downey and are deeply concerned about the cities well being. If for one moment we believed that stopping the sale of Safe n Sane fireworks would get rid of the damage caused by illegal fireworks, we would whole heartedly support any measure stopping their sale. However this is not the case. In comparison to city's that have banned fireworks the dollar loss for all fireworks 1999 to 2001 in Whittier (Banned Fireworks) $47,259; in Cerritos (Banned Fireworks) $9,300; and Downey (allows Fireworks) $3,000; the damage was less in the city that allowed them. For the year 2001 in LA County within the 27 cities that have banned fireworks the total damage was $357,653 or 61 percent of the total county. As you can see banning Safe n Sane fireworks is not the answer, the best way to protect our safety is to educate the public, increase fines, and strictly enforce the sale and use of illegal fireworks. The people of Downey can best protect themselves by helping our police and fire departments. In regards to the 17 civic groups, these people are volunteers who have no personal gain in what they do, and the monies raised by the sale of Safe n Sane fireworks goes back into our communities. For those that say these groups should find alternate funding, it is much more difficult to do. I served the Junior Chamber of Commerce as local, and state president, as well as national vice president working with hundreds of chapters around the country. Good fundraising projects have always been hard to find and develop. I commend the City Council on their wisdom to place this measure on the ballot, please take the time to investigate all sides and most of all please vote.
-Edwin Huber,
Downey
End Letters