In a businesslike written report made available to the public via his social network channel, City Prosecutor Haubert states on his office's letterhead: :

Dated: June 25, 2020

(1) The City Prosecutor’s Fireworks Complaint public portal ("Public Portal") went live around 6:00 pm on Monday, June 22, 2020. As of 8:00 am on June 25, 2020, the Public Portal has received 145 complaints. Of these, 11 complaints included some photographic or video evidence. All of these complaints were received Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. [June 22, 23 and 24] .

(2) The City Prosecutor’s Office is using its investigators to follow up on complaints. Every complaint with a phone number received a return phone call the same day or the morning after the complaint was registered. The follow up call was used to confirm the information in the complaint and determine if there are more details that could assist police and prosecutors in enforcement.

(3) As of 5:00 pm on June 24, 2020, the City Prosecutor's Office has sent letters to 45 individuals who have been identified as owners or tenants of property where illegal fireworks are being discharged. More letters are being sent out today. The locations were determined based on reports provided by LBPD, complaints from the Public Portal, and video/photographic evidence. The letters notify the recipients that the discharge of illegal fireworks constitutes a public nuisance and that prosecution under Cal. Penal Code section 373a (with up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine) may commence if the public nuisance persists.

(4) Based on the information that we have received, all of these locations have been places where "dangerous fireworks" (illegal throughout California) have been discharged. So far, all complaints have focused on dangerous fireworks, not “safe and sane” fireworks, which are illegal in Long Beach, but permitted by some cities.

(5) For complaints regarding the illegal sale of fireworks, the City Prosecutor’s Office is forwarding the information to the Long Beach Police Department for further investigation

(6) Based on information provided from the Public Portal and LBPD, the City Prosecutor’s Office has determined there are multiple cases that could result in prosecution against specific individuals who were seen or photographed while possessing or discharging dangerous fireworks. Follow up is in process to identify the individuals.

(7) The Public Portal received 3 complaints that were determined to be hoaxes and 65 complaints that contained insufficient information from which to take enforcement action (for example, statements such as, "Location of Fireworks Activity: All over Long Beach"). Complaints without specific information will be kept on file, but no further action is possible from the City Prosecutor’s Office.

(8) Since its launch, the Public Portal has been put on the City’s Go Long Beach App and we are continually updating the site. THANK YOU to the members of the public and LBPD who have assisted us in improving the Portal.

(9) The City Prosecutor's Office will continue to process complaints and investigate the discharge of dangerous fireworks over the next week and will provide another update before July 4, 2020.

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City Prosecutor Haubert announced and implemented these measures on June 22, independently of a June 23 City Council item (agendized by Councilman Al Austin, joined by Councilmembers Zendejas, Richardson and Andrews) containing a series of directives and measures for implementation/development by the city management (reported by LBREPORT.com here.) .

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City Prosecutor Haubert's June 22-announced initiates came one day before a June 23 City Council agenda item (previewed days ago by LBREPORT.com here) scheduled by Councilman Al Austin, joined by Councilmembers Mary Zendejas, Rex Richardson and Vice Mayor Dee Andrews that proposes actions on multiple fronts: (June 23 agenda item text).

• 1)Request City Attorney to draft an ordinance that would include a person who owns, rents, leases or otherwise has possession of a premises as a responsible party for the illegal use, discharge, possession, storage or sale of fireworks on the premises;

• 2) Request City Attorney and City Manager to report back to the City Council with options for increasing the penalties for anyone cited or arrested for fireworks violations;

• 3) Request City Attorney and City Manager to report back to the City Council on the feasibility of including an administrative citation process for illegal fireworks use, to allow for additional enforcement capability in Long Beach;

• 4) Request City Manager to assess the feasibility of establishing an online portal or GoLongBeach app feature for residents to submit video evidence of fireworks violations for referral to the City Prosecutor

• 5) Request the City Manager to assess the feasibility of using OpenData or crowdsourcing to create a publicly accessible heat map of incidents of illegal fireworks and explosives in Long Beach.

• 6) Request the City Manager to assess the feasibility of establishing a fireworks hotline for residents to report illegal fireworks and explosives.

• 7) Request the City Manager to provide an update on public education efforts this year that all fireworks are illegal in Long Beach.

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The June 23 agenda item comes amid escalating detonations of explosives and mortar launched pyrotechnics (contraband statewide) shaking multiple neighborhoods (from NLB through Wrigley into Central LB). Impacted residents have begun sharing information and communicating the extent of the problem via "Long Beach Against Illegal Fireworks Facebook page.

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