Today, we sued Bexar county for disaster relief for our operators and non-profits. Here’s the press release.
RELEASE DATE: December 17, 2008
FIREWORKS SELLERS SUE BEXAR COUNTY FOR DISASTER RELIEF
SUIT REQUESTS AID FOR THE GROUPS, NON-PROFITS AND FAMILIES THAT FUNDRAISE THROUGH FIREWORKS
Alamo Fireworks Inc. has filed a lawsuit against Bexar County on behalf of the nearly 1,500 churches, individuals, non-profits and families that rely upon fireworks sales for their fundraising and livelihood. The suit asks for a judgment for disaster aid in an amount over $400,000, which is the amount fireworks sales generate for the Bexar community each New Year’s holiday. Alamo Fireworks is not asking for any aid for its for-profit business.
On December 10th, County Judge Nelson Wolff declared Bexar County a “disaster area” under Texas Code Ch 418.108. This law that was intended for government to cope with sudden events such as floods or terrorist attacks but has recently been applied to dry conditions. This disaster only targets fireworks and no other flammable products were banned or restricted.
“We owe it to these groups and families to get them some help,” said Michael Girdley, President of Alamo Fireworks, Inc. “The county has a legal and moral obligation under the law to aid disaster victims. As county leaders embraced people from Houston and Louisiana during the recent storms, they should help the people that actually live here.”
Fireworks vendors are still willing to work with county officials to develop plans that mimic those that have successfully managed extremely dry conditions and fireworks sales in higher fire danger states like California and New Mexico. Alamo plans to pursue litigation against all counties that refuse to help these disaster victims.
Alamo Fireworks Inc., is a family owned and operated business based in San Antonio, Texas. The company partners with numerous civic and non-profit groups each season, raising funds for their particular cause.
www.alamofireworks.com / ph 210-667-1106
This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm and is filed under Legal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
December 17th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
WE’RE GONNA GO TO ALAMO, AND WE’RE GOING TO LIGHT OFF SOME ROCKETS, AND SOME CAKES, AND SOME FOUNTAINS, AND SOME ROMAN CANDLES, AND IT’S GOING TO BE AWESOME, BEEEEEEYYYYYAAAAHHHHHHHH
DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN DEAN
December 19th, 2008 at 3:29 am
I don’t understand, why you are suing Bexar County? The taxpayers of Bexar County did not cause the drought, so it’s not their fault. Fires are a real concern during this drought, I have been around grass fires before and helped fight one of them, the fire travels very fast in these conditions. It’s scary how much damage fire can cause!
I do hope it rains soon, we really need it. I would not mind shooting off some fireworks myself, I really enjoy doing that. The sad fact is, however, it is too dry to do it safely. I don’t want to see people lose their homes and property due to fires.
A lawsuit won’t stop the drought.
Darren
December 19th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Darren,
The point is that the county is mishandling this situation. Rather than use plans that have worked here (and in even drier states like CA), they are doing total prohibition. We can reduce items (like CA) or reduce the places fireworks are sold and shot (Safe Areas like last summer).
We just want them to take responsibility for this bad decision and come back to try to work with us. Of course, it’s a political issue now and Wolff hates fireworks like he did when he proposed anti-fireworks legislation in the State House two decades ago.
December 21st, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Maybe we should remove Wolff. If there was something I liked about San Antonio was the fireworks you could buy here, but now im starting to see a trend by first designated shooting zones and now banning the sales. Makes me want to move back to CA at least I can light up some of the safe and sane fireworks. Keep it up Alamo fireworks, ever since I moved I purchase from your stores and I want to keep doing that, so I could put a smile on my kids faces.
December 22nd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
San Antonio has been known for its festivities for years and years before Wolff was in office. You take that away and we would just be another small town. This is what set us apart from other counties and why we are growing. I can tell you this that you will have allot of pissed off people in San Antonio epically the Hispanic Community. More than what you have with people concerned with fires. People will be making homemade bombs and firing there guns in the air. You better come up with a better plan than a total banning of firework sales in Bexar County. I know allot of people will remember this when you up for re-election Wolff.
December 23rd, 2008 at 11:31 am
With all this wet weather we have been having is it enough to lift the ban we have
December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 am
So can someone explain why my tax dollars are required as the remedy? Does this mean that when the overtime and property damage is assessed after a season like 2007, the county and city can come back to fireworks distributors for restitution?
I love to use fireworks, but until we have some weather that can support it safely… sales and use of fireworks should be banned. Sorry if it impacts your profit margin. That’s business…
December 29th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
John, good question and thanks for asking.
We agree there should be a ban, the issue is what that ban should look like. We had a ban on shooting fireworks outside of the safe zones this past July (when it was just as dry) and it worked wonderfully.
The county folks have refused to even hear our proposals. They’ve not only cost everyone their enjoyment of the new year’s with personal fireworks, they’ve reduced the sales taxes they collect on fireworks by about $300,000.
Unfortunately, when the county is unreasonable, we have to take measures to help the community groups and families that earn their way by fireworks sales. Wolff and the gang need to stand up to that. Disasters under 418 are meant to be serious and he should treat them that way.
December 30th, 2008 at 4:00 am
GOOD GOING WOLFF…NOW THEY HAVE MORE SALES AND BONUSES TO TAKE ADVANTGAGE OF YOU BANNED THE FIREWORKS..ALAMO JUST LOST A LOT OF MONEY FROM OUR FAMILY ALONE…GOOD LUCK ON RE-ELECTION
January 25th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
So how did the lawsuit go?