← All Posts

Opposing Alhambra's Proposed Fireworks Ban

By Julian Lopez • July 3, 2025 • Updated July 9, 2025

This image shows the front entrance of a modern building with a distinctive white lattice facade. A bronze or dark-colored circular emblem or seal is mounted on the upper part of the building’s front wall. In front of the building, there is a paved pathway leading to glass doors, likely the main entrance. To the left, a statue of a seated person sits on a stone or concrete bench, facing towards the building. On the right side, there are landscaped garden beds with various plants, bushes, and small trees, including two tall palm trees leaning outward from either side of the entrance. A black trash can is positioned near the bench. The overall scene suggests a formal or government building, possibly a municipal or civic institution, with a clean, well-maintained exterior.
The front of Alhambra City Hall.
The image shows the entrance to a council or courtroom room. The doorway is framed with wood, and there are double doors, one of which is open. Above the entrance, large metallic letters spell out 'COUNCIL ROOM.' To the left of the doorway, there is a bulletin board with several notices and papers pinned, along with a small black sign indicating the maximum occupancy of 134 people. On the right side, there is a large, empty bulletin board and a sign indicating policies about pacemakers. Inside the room, there are several rows of chairs, with a few people seated, facing a raised platform at the front where there are three chairs behind a desk or bench, and a wall clock showing the time as approximately 10:10. The room appears to be professional, formal, and used for official meetings or hearings.
The entrance to the Alhambra City Council Room.
This image depicts a small audience seated in a room with wooden-paneled walls, likely awaiting a presentation or event. Four individuals are visible in the foreground, each seated separately and reading documents or papers. From left to right: the first person is a woman with short red hair, wearing a gray hoodie over a green patterned shirt, looking down at her papers and placing her bag on her lap. The second person is a man with a beard, dressed in a dark hoodie, sitting comfortably and looking slightly upward, holding a piece of paper in his hands. The third individual is an older man with glasses, a white mustache, dressed in a suit, smiling and holding a booklet or pamphlet. The fourth person is a bald man with a beard, wearing a light blue shirt over a black t-shirt, holding documents and looking directly at the camera with a serious expression. In the background, several cameras are mounted on tripods pointing toward the front of the room, and a door is open leading to a room where three young men are standing and talking, partially visible through the doorway. Some seating is mostly empty, and a few other individuals are scattered around, including a person in a baseball cap on the far right, who appears to be engaged with a smartphone. The ceiling has a round light fixture illuminating the room. The overall atmosphere seems to be one of preparation or anticipation for an event or meeting.
We showed up early to show our support!
A close-up image of a dark, possibly black, textile surface with a rectangular sticker attached. The sticker features a small American flag icon on the upper left corner. To the right of the flag, in bold red capital letters, are the words 'SAVE SAFE FIREWORKS.' The overall context suggests a message promoting safety regarding fireworks, likely attached to a piece of luggage, clothing, or protective gear.
A member of another organization was handing out these stickers.
A courtroom or official meeting room with several people seated in the audience facing a raised dais. On the dais, there are five individuals seated behind a long wooden table, some looking at documents or notes. The background features a dark, speckled wall with a large clock showing 6:05, and a digital time display reading '6:05' in red. Overhead lighting fixtures illuminate the room, and the ceiling has a textured, curved design. The audience appears attentive, with some taking notes or listening carefully. The setting suggests a formal hearing or official proceeding.
The members of the City Council during the meeting.
The image shows a large group of people attending a formal event or conference in a room with wooden paneled walls. Some of the attendees are seated in rows, facing forward, while others are standing near the back or along the sides of the room. There are a few cameras on tripods set up, suggesting that the event is being recorded or live-streamed. People are engaged in conversations or listening attentively. Several individuals are wearing name tags, and one person near the front is wearing a shirt with the words “Save Our Fireworks” printed on it. The room is well-lit with a bright ceiling light, and some attendees are holding notebooks or papers, indicating that this is a professional or community gathering.
The room was crowded with people who wanted to voice their opposition!
A courtroom scene showing a male lawyer or witness standing at a wooden podium or witness stand, with his back to the camera. In front of him, several seated individuals are visible, indicating an audience or courtroom participants. At the front of the room, two women seated at a large bench are visible, each with a nameplate and various papers in front of them. The woman on the left has long dark hair and is wearing a blue top, while the woman on the right has curly brown hair and is wearing glasses and a blue suit with a U.S. flag pin. The background features a textured wall with a large clock showing 2:34, and a digital clock displaying the same time in bright pink. The scene appears to be a formal legal proceeding or hearing.
Brother Jeff while he gave his speech to the Alhambra City Council.
The image shows a room with wood-paneled walls where a group of people are participating in a public comment session. In the foreground, three individuals are standing in front of the audience, looking towards the camera. They are adults, dressed in business casual attire, and appear attentive. Behind them, mounted on the wall, is a large television screen displaying a live feed of the ongoing public comment. The screen shows a man with glasses and a bald head, dressed in a suit with a patterned tie, speaking into a microphone. Behind him, a group of young people, some wearing blue shirts, are listening. The screen also displays a date, April 14, 2025, and the text 'Public Comment' along with a logo and a small digital clock. The overall scene suggests a formal community meeting or school board session.
Brother Jeff was also on TV!
The image shows a crowded indoor scene inside a building, specifically in a room labeled 'Council Room' on the wooden-paneled wall. The room appears to be a public or government space with framed black-and-white portraits hanging on the wall. A diverse group of people, including adults and children, are gathered, some engaged in conversation, others waiting or observing. Several individuals are wearing police uniforms, indicating the presence of law enforcement officials. The right side of the image features a large window with a view of the exterior, allowing natural light to illuminate the room. The overall atmosphere suggests a busy event or gathering, with people interacting and possibly participating in a community or organizational activity.
The scene outside the council room after statements were given.

On April 14, 2025 the City of Alhambra voted on whether or not to discuss a ban on fireworks at their next meeting. This was an existential threat to our council as our Fourth of July Firework booth is our main yearly fundraiser. Without it we would not be able to host as many events or donate to as many charitable causes as we currently do. Thus we decided to oppose it with our full force.

Before the meeting began, member knights of this council showed up and joined the crowd made up of of other organizations (American Legion, Little League,  Alhambra High, and more). Over 100 people showed up in protest! However, only one person per organization could give a speech. As such we selected the most suitable person for the job, our insurance agent Brother JeffreyT Storey.

Below is a transcript of Brother Jeff's speech to the City Council:

Good evening. I'm Jeff Storey, a member of the Knights of Columbus, a charitable organization founded in 1882 in New Haven, Connecticut. Our chapter here in Alhambra was established in 1923, and we have been selling fireworks for as long as anyone in the council can remember. This is our main source of revenue, which allows us to support many charitable works. We run programs like Feed the Family and offer youth scholarships; in fact, we have given away hundreds of youth scholarships over the years. Back in 1776, when John Adams had just finished signing the Declaration of Independence, he sent a letter to his wife recommending that Americans celebrate that momentous occasion with parades, parties, and illuminations—that is, fireworks. By 1777, fireworks displays had become a part of the tradition. I have been selling fireworks for the Alhambra Knights of Columbus for 38 years. I forgot to mention that I am a resident of Emory Park. Because we are right next to El Sereno, we often hear a lot of illegal fireworks, which is what many people often think of when they think of fireworks. However, California Safe and Sane Fireworks are exactly that—safe and sane. Most importantly, these fireworks raise significant amounts of money for great causes. I have witnessed this firsthand for many years. I would urge you all to please consider not changing the current arrangement for fireworks sales here in Alhambra. Like the speakers before me, I am happy to provide much more detail, including research I and others have done regarding the safety and risks involved, to ensure that we continue supporting safe and sane fireworks. Please consider keeping our current fireworks arrangement in Alhambra, as it raises much-needed funds for good causes. Thank you, and good evening.