Good morning.
(This article is part of the California Today newsletter. Sign up here to get it delivered to your inbox.)
Today we are have another installment of Your Lead, where we answer readers’ questions about how the pandemic is changing daily life in California. Christine, a reader in Livermore, asked: What’s the deal with the fireworks that are going off every night?
Marie Tae McDermott answered:
The booms and hisses that start at sundown and go well into the night have been a nightly fixture of my Los Angeles neighborhood since Memorial Day. When I let my dog outside to do his business every evening, the bangs, pops and fizzles send him scurrying back. On my local Nextdoor feed, neighbors complain about the toll caused by the constant barrage of booms: pets cowering under beds and the suffering of loved ones with post-traumatic stress disorder.
While it’s unclear if the problem is worse this year than last, what’s certain is that more people, perhaps suffering from frayed nerves or cabin fever, are filing complaints across the state. The Los Angeles Police Department said that complaints about illegal fireworks are up 170 percent this month compared to the same time period last year. The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has also reported receiving more complaints than usual.
My colleagues in New York City reported on the uptick in illegal firework use there, where the number of complaints increased from 21 in 2019 to over 1,700 so far this year. Conspiracy theories have surfaced to try to explain the increase, but experts say it’s more likely that fireworks provide a release for millions of people who are bored and frustrated after months of sheltering in place. Shutdowns have also led to less noise pollution overall, so cacophonous booms may be more pronounced. Others say widespread cancellation of fireworks displays have caused the black market to be flooded with professional-grade inventory.
This year, Californians’ frustration over illegal fireworks arrive in the midst of rapidly rising Covid-19 cases and a robust fire season.
Shane Brown, the public information officer for the Fresno Fire Department, told me he sees aerial fireworks shooting off every evening from his balcony in downtown Fresno. During his shifts driving a fire engine, he said he has responded to dozens of fires in the last few weeks that he says were likely caused by fireworks.
“We are anticipating an incredibly busy Fourth of July here,” said Mr. Brown. The 80 firefighters on duty each day are already stretched thin, adding pressure to what he describes as an unusually busy season. The total fire response for his department has been up 60 percent from last year, he said.
State-approved fireworks are legal in some parts of California. The State Fire Marshal deems certain types “safe and sane” and some cities permit sales during specific time periods. If it projects off the ground or creates an explosion, however, it is most likely illegal, he said.
On Nextdoor, some of my neighbors said that while they were frustrated over the nightly noise, they would not call the police due to nationwide accusations of police brutality and they did not want to subject others to potentially unfair treatment. Others say that summer fireworks are traditionally a time when communities come together around the glow of sparklers, and that this year is no different.
However, illegal fireworks, like M-80s, which pack powerful explosives and pose a safety risk to users and bystanders, have been the focus of recent crackdowns.
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer announced a campaign last week to curb the sale of illegal fireworks online. “The nightly onslaught of illegal fireworks we’re experiencing needs to stop,” he said in a statement.
Tips from citizens about the illegal sale of fireworks, which are often sold on social media, can sometimes lead to successful stings. Police in Irwindale recently seized 2,000 pounds of fireworks after someone tipped off police to search a home.
Mr. Brown urged people to think about their community before using fireworks this year. A spark from a single firework can ignite a pile of leaves that could send embers to the roof of someone’s home.
“This is a small sacrifice for one year to bypass the celebration,” he said. “To prevent what could be a catastrophic loss of life or even just a simple loss of property.”
Here’s what else to know today
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Now, a quick update on the coronavirus pandemic: Noting what was probably his last chance to reach residents before the July 4 holiday, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California on Thursday implored residents to refrain from gathering with people outside their household — no matter how great the temptation — and to wear masks.
“The evidence is simply overwhelming,” he said in a video news conference. “Masks keep Californians healthy.”
Mr. Newsom unveiled a new public awareness campaign about the importance of wearing masks, having already ordered people to wear them in most indoor — and some outdoor — public settings.
On Wednesday, he announced that he was establishing teams to work with local authorities. The governor again emphasized that $2.5 billion in pandemic aid will be reserved for counties that do their share of enforcement.
Nevertheless, he said, “it requires some level of personal responsibility.”
[Read more about the restrictions. | See a map of coronavirus cases by county in California.]
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Here’s another view of how California’s early success battling the pandemic has turned to crisis. [The Wall Street Journal]
If you missed it, read about why experts believe California’s “luck may have run out,” as case counts have exploded. [The New York Times]
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Covid-19 testing capacity has once again become a concern. Could pooled testing be a solution? [The New York Times]
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What will California schools look like in the future? Here are some ideas. [The San Francisco Chronicle]
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After her son was killed by police in Walnut Creek, a mother is lending her voice to a bill that would help create programs to dispatch trained mental health teams to respond to nonviolent emergencies. [CalMatters]
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The chief of the L.A. Unified School District police force resigned on Wednesday after the school board voted to cut $25 million from his department’s budget. [LAist]
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USC announced it will move to online classes for the fall semester. They had previously planned on conducting classes both in-person and online. [Los Angeles Times]
And Finally …
We’ll be off for the Fourth of July holiday on Monday. Enjoy it and be safe. And to make you smile, read about the life of Carl Reiner.
California Today goes live at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com. Were you forwarded this email? Sign up for California Today here and read every edition online here.
Jill Cowan grew up in Orange County, went to school at U.C. Berkeley and has reported all over the state, including the Bay Area, Bakersfield and Los Angeles — but she always wants to see more. Follow along here or on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and graduated from U.C. Berkeley.
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Are Fireworks Legal in California? Here's What to Know - The New York Times
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