Lawndale to Review Ordinance : Sparks Fly Over Exclusion of 2 Groups From Fireworks Sales

Sparks are flying in Lawndale as two leading civic organizations protest their exclusion from city-licensed fireworks sales that would raise money for their community service projects.

The Soroptimists and the Rotary Club were disqualified because they do not meet criteria set in November by the City Council. Ironically, the council adopted the requirements in an attempt to resolve a longstanding dispute over how groups are chosen to operate the lucrative fireworks stands.

After an emotional City Council hearing March 3, Mayor Sarann Kruse acknowledged that the city may have made its restrictions so “encumbering” that worthy groups are unintentionally excluded from fireworks sales, and the council informally agreed to review the ordinance.

Lawndale is one of four South Bay cities that allow civic groups to sell so-called “safe and sane” fireworks, which include sparklers, smoke snakes and noise makers.

Because groups can raise thousands of dollars by selling fireworks, many organizations each year apply for the six stands available in Lawndale.

Under the new rules, groups must be at least 2 years old, be nonprofit, have at least 50% of members living or working in Lawndale, have their principal meeting place in the city and a membership of at least 20.

Ten groups applied this year, but only six met all of the requirements: Girl Scout Troop 1314, Lawndale Little League, the House of Yahweh homeless project, the Lawndale District YMCA, Boy Scout Troop 97 and the Olympia Booster Club of Leuzinger High School.

The Soroptimists were eliminated because their meeting place is the Alondra Golf Club, in a county area just outside the city, according to a city staff report. The Rotary Club was ruled out because not enough members live or work in Lawndale.

The Soroptimists letter protests what club President Kathy Hutzler termed “a total disregard for fairness where the fireworks applications were concerned.” The club has decided to suspend about $3,000 for local civic projects and members may cut back on hours they volunteer in protest of the city’s handling of the applications, Hutzler said. She also said it was unfair to disqualify groups like Soroptimists that meet in the county because the county area is so closely associated with the city.

Rotary spokesman Larry Gallagher noted that Rotary and Soroptimists have provided many programs for Lawndale, and have produced winners in Lawndale’s Man and Woman of the Year contest in 11 of the past 15 years. Rotary does not plan to cut back its services, but members are upset over “inconsistencies” in the city’s regulations, he said.