It is very easy to develop a cynical attitude towards local politics. Most of our local leaders here in the Valley are honorable people. Now politics tends to excite some and bore others. I have been watching and reporting on the political scene here for almost 2 decades. And last night, the whole Coachella Valley saw a shining example of courage and political cowardice.
Back in the fall, I interviewed political candidates who were running for Cathedral City Council. All of the candidates said they wanted to end the practice of non-profits selling fireworks in the desert for July 4th. That included the 2 winning candidates, Shelly Kaplan and Mark Carnevale.
In the ensuing months since November, Mr. Kaplan kept his promise and pushed the issue. He was aided in the effort by local citizens who were not only concerned about a potential public safety threat but also the problem pets face with fireworks.
In the other corner was the fireworks company, the non-profits involved, the Desert Sun editorial board and former councilman Chuck Vasquez. A divergent group to be sure. The editorial the Desert Sun wrote was ludicrous. It basically failed to address the common sense issue of fire prevention and the facts that these fireworks pop up all over the Valley after being sold in Cathedral City. A simple call to Palm Springs Fire Chief Blake Goetz asking his opinion would have been enlightening. Also, for some reason the Desert Sun seems to think that fireworks have a special meaning to veterans. No proof of that is offered and while unlike the Desert Sun,I do not purport to speak for veterans, I have never heard one say, "The only thing that got me through Danang or Kandahar was the the thought of getting home to light a sparkler on Cathedral Canyon Drive."
Also not to be mean but Mr. Vasquez has lost any credibility as far as public matters are concerned for his plea agreement regarding misuse of city funds. He agreed to resign his seat on the council. If you read local press coverage on the fireworks story, there was no mention of that despite it occurring only 8 months ago.Yet he appears to still have influence among his former council members Greg Pettis, Stan Henry and John Aguilar.
So last night when Mr. Kaplan kept his word and proposed doing away with the fireworks, I was not surprised when no one would second his motion. What did surprise me is that Mr. Carnevale stated that he had changed his tune after doing research. Seriously? He has owned a business in Cathedral City since before the city was incorporated. How much "research" was necessary to figure allowing the sale of fireworks in a desert was not a good thing?
In an overt act of political cowardice 4 members of the Cathedral City Council shirked their public duty last night. One member, Shelly Kaplan did not. And for that, I thank him.
Steve Kelly can be heard on 1450 KPTR Daily from 4 to 6pm Pacific Daylight time.
