In a move that’s drawing mixed opinions from residents, the Petaluma City Council voted to allow nonprofit organizations a fifth day of fireworks sales. Some agreed that if it’s good for the nonprofits, it should be allowed. Others said they preferred the council didn’t make that choice. Here were some of the comments.

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“Fireworks sales and use should be banned. Stop putting profit ahead of public safety.”

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“The city does nothing for nonprofits but create hurdles. Safe and sane fireworks are harmless, just noisy. The city should crack down on the illegal fireworks and get out of micro-managing the nonprofits.”

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“No. Fireworks sales by nonprofits were supposed to be phased out by now according to a city council ruling from maybe five years ago. Did they forget about this? Obviously they did.”

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“I love fireworks but the ones you buy at the stands are a rip-off. I would like to see the nonprofits find other means of fundraising and shut down the stands.”

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“Although I don’t buy fireworks and remain concerned about the litter and fire danger, I think this is reasonable.”

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“The city council should completely outlaw the sale and use of fireworks. Not only are fireworks a potential fire and safety hazard, we have neighbors who set their fireworks before and after the Fourth of July holiday, which is very annoying, and the noise disturbs and frightens our pets. Surely the nonprofits could find other means of fundraising.”

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“Fireworks start fires and hurt people. People should go watch them at the fairgrounds.”

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“Street fireworks have been a beloved holiday tradition in our family for generations. Why should we be deprived of this because of a few irresponsible people?”

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“Fireworks are going to come into our city anyway so we might as well allow our nonprofits to earn some money that goes right back to the community. I’d rather have safe and sane, and not the other kind.”

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“Either John Adams or Thomas Jefferson said the birth of the nation should be remembered with fireworks, and who are we to disagree?”

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“The city council just moved us a giant step backwards. Kudos to Mayor Glass and Councilmember Barrett for voting no.”

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“Every year we dread the Fourth of July holiday because our neighborhood becomes a war zone. The crazies who live close by set off highly illegal fireworks. I’ve given up calling the police about this, because with all the other fireworks going off — and the smoke that blankets the area — the police can never find the real perpetrators. I’d love to take our dogs away from this, because it drives them crazy and the younger one just shakes for hours. But with so many bottle rockets flying about, we’re afraid one might catch our deck or shed on fire. It’s disgusting!”

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“We should work with these nonprofits to develop alternative fundraising — there must be something better than fireworks. If we aren’t going to ban them, what can we do to ensure that the full cost of the fireworks is reimbursed to the public? It’s fine for that the nonprofits want to sell a product, but when that product directly results in damage the taxpayers end up covering, those benefiting from the fireworks sale should absorb –the costs.”