By Daily Press staff
Because of its enormous popularity in the past, a fireworks event will not take place today in Santa Monica.
But there are plenty of displays going on in neighboring communities that should be visible from Santa Monica. (See page 5).
The city canceled its fireworks 12 years ago because the crowds became too unruly. Hundreds of thousands would pack the beaches, drink all day and linger around the city waiting for the fireworks. Police and fire personnel couldn’t handle the load so the city put an end to the festivities.
The city did, however, try a different approach to the celebration. Called “Dawn’s Early Light,” the fireworks were held at 5 a.m. But that celebration was stopped when the coastal fog didn’t cooperate and no one could see the show.
Despite that there are no parades or fireworks, hundreds of thousands are still expected to come to Santa Monica today. And local law enforcement officials say they are ready for anything.
Santa Monica police will be out in full force, with concentrated patrols downtown and on the beaches. deployment and, should a significant event occur, we are prepared,” said SMPD Lt. P.J. Guido.
Officers will be on foot, horses, all terrain vehicles and in patrol cars. Saturation patrols looking for drunk drivers will be conducted at various locations throughout the city all weekend, Guido said.
SMPD expects to respond to hundreds of calls that range from public drunkenness to assaults to lost children. And officers will be briefed throughout the day as developments occur, Guido said.
“We will have maximum “We will have maximum deployment and, should a significant event occur, we are prepared.” — — LT. P.J. GUIDO Santa Monica Police Department
Despite that alcohol is not allowed on the beaches and fireworks are illegal in Santa Monica, police expect to find many violators. People caught will be cited and their alcohol or fireworks will be confiscated.
Los Angeles County Lifeguards also will be at maximum staff, said Capt. Garth Canning.
LA County will call up its 650 on-call lifeguards to work, as well as its 160 full-time lifeguards to monitor the beaches and oceans. There will be late night patrols and a dive team will be available at all times.
“We have more lifeguards than any other day,” Canning said. “It’s the biggest weekend for us.”
Parking lots in Santa Monica will close at sunset, except for the lot on the Santa Monica Pier and the one just to the north at the beach.
What’s happening today: Malibu has three firework displays, all of which can be seen from the Santa Monica Bay.
The fireworks, entirely funded by private individuals, will be held at Broad Beach near Zuma, Malibu’s Surfrider Beach and the beach near Duke’s restaurant. All of the shows will kick off at about 9 p.m.
Marina Del Rey also will have fireworks, which begin at 9 p.m.
Fireworks will explode from a barge anchored in the main channel of Marina Harbor. Pre-recorded patriotic music will be played through loud speakers set up in
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2003. Read the original PDF.