7-Listens 07.10.16

idea. rick cabrera explains in abc-7 listens. it’s been more than 50 years since you could set off fireworks within the el paso city limits. in dona ana county you couldn’t set off aerial fireworks on the 4th. but in el paso county … for the first time in 5 years you could shoot off fireworks. and this was the aftermath out in montana vista. from rachel … “a much as i enjoy seeing the fireworks i do not like seeing the mess that these lazy people left behind. “it isn’t fair t the people of the neighborhood nor the county. “i would recommend that we just do away with it all together. maybe people will learn if you take the party away.” rachel isn’t alone … ronald understands that locals have a right to set off fireworks to celebrate independence day but … “personally, i thin doing so is a manifestation of childish, ancient, dangerous play. “despit petions to ban such displays and sales of fireworks as dangerous, noisy and obnoxious, they continue unabated. “tha said, i would like to see a 10 to 40 percent tax or fee imposed on all fireworks sales to help pay for the abhorrent cost of cleanup of the trash, burnt fireworks, drink containers and soiled diapers the celebrants leave ‘behind.'” i asked county judge veronica escobar if they could impose a fee. she told me counties in texas can only do so with approval of the state legislature. she also told me there has only been one time in the last 10 years that the legislature gave el paso county the right to create or raise a fee. so that sounds like a longshot ronald. also escobar told me the legislature recently took away the right of cities to have their police check and ticket people entering the city limits with fireworks in their vehicles. so, using fines to discourage the use of fireworks doesn’t appear to be an option. let’s just hope everyone follows the lead of these teenagers. they set off some fireworks and then returned the next day to help clean up. nice job guys. rick cabrera. abc-7 listens. upper ridge axis is centered overhead and will be aligned