The San Diego City Council has a new president and it’s Councilmember Joe LaCava who represents District 1 – which includes the north side of Mission Bay. LaCava, who has a history of community activism, wants to put a stop to the nightly fireworks that SeaWorld shoots off. He told Voice of San Diego:
“Fireworks, night after night, is something that has to end. It’s one thing to do Fourth of July or start of the summer season shows, but 150 nights a year is just way beyond.”
LaCava also told the Voice that laser or light shows via drone could be a viable substitute. And actually, five years ago, SeaWorld did just that — it held a light show using 500 drones.
In addition LaCava pledged to work with the city’s legal team after the first of the year to see how the city could limit fireworks under its 50-year lease agreement with SeaWorld which sunsets in 2048.
Voice reporter MacKenzie Elmer expanded on the whole issue.
SeaWorld San Diego hosts nightly fireworks shows during the summer months as well as during major holidays. The marine theme park faced criticism over its shows in the past, but a spate of bird deaths in Mission Bay following consecutive days of pyrotechnics last Fourth of July reignited calls from bird activists to end the noise. … Two prominent environmental groups put SeaWorld on notice that they intend to file a lawsuit over pollution fireworks shows cause in Mission Bay. Patrick McDonough, an attorney for San Diego Coastkeeper, said he hasn’t heard “a peep” from the company. “SeaWorld tested out (drone shows) in the past,” McDonough said.
SeaWorld replaced some fireworks shows with drone and laser shows between 2017 and 2020, reads Coastkeeper’s complaint letter to SeaWorld. But the nightly fireworks displays in summertime returned. Fireworks are the second problem San Diego’s had with SeaWorld in recent months. In December, the company settled a lawsuit brought by the city over an alleged $12.2 million in back rent, late fees and interest. SeaWorld San Diego didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The push by the community to end SeaWorld’s fireworks has been going on for over a decade. Now, hopefully, the most powerful person on the City Council can make it happen.
I personally enjoy the fireworks and think they are a positive feature of living near the bay. Would be disappointed to lose them.
Hopefully LaCava shifts his focus to some of the many problems that are a daily nuisance to residents in his district, or at least gives them the same attention.
If you’re a local then your neighbors and their pets will deeply appreciate a halt to the nightly explosions that sound like there’s an invasion at the waterfront, even if you don’t. How about reading up on all the toxins released into the air and water, and how small animals get freaked out by the blasts. Help your community don’t just think of yourself.
It should stop as well as the July 4 ones if the state is truly wanting to be “green”. Otherwise it’s hypocrisy.
It just cracks me up. Push everyone into an EV, bike lane, and mass transit, but it’s ok for the city (let alone the state) to blow up fireworks up and down and then tell sea world they shouldn’t.
My only “fear” about stopping the Sea World fireworks is that it would just inspire that much more local, illegal fireworks throughout the neighborhoods. Those are much worse from a noise & pet perspective.
I appreciate the effort by Joe Lacava! I think a reasonable compromise can be made here!
Don’t forget that the biggest booms do NOT even look good. They are simple flashes with a big bang and no visual effects. But they are by far the LOUDEST of the fireworks. And completely unnecessary.
The only thing is, they did stop, for two years. What happened? Airbnb, VRBO, etc. owners were up in arms, why? Because on their listings it says, “Amazing view for SeaWorld fireworks” and they were sued for lost revenue. So, it is a loose, loose situation for them either way; they are yelled at if they do them and they’re yelled at them if they don’t. Also the amount of permitting is a mess to do a type of drone show in that flight path, you don’t think someone not going to try and point a laser at a drone to get it to crash into the water? Laser pointers can take down any drone just by heating up its wiring, causing it to malfunction.
Airbnb listings, Ten pages of Airbnb listing that specifically cite, “SeaWorld Fireworks view”
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2057123
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1305889197670768795
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/940664802154325532
“Lost revenue”??? I’d love to see some Airbnb owner take SeaWorld to court for that totally intangible, ethereal value. Never happen! SeaWorld just used it as an excuse to keep doing what they’ve been doing.
Or are you saying an Airbnb host or owner was taken to court by a displeased guest. Let’s see details on that one, please. They don’t have a contract with SeaWorld; they also promised gorgeous sunsets — and what if there was a storm with none? Could they sue … someone? The PB Town Council? The city?
I’d definitely like to see back Sea World Drone shows, they’re fun and also tells a story.
It’s good for their brand, good for environment, not lawsuits, no noises, everyone happy and smilley!!!