Dear Friend --

My mom always said to give back more to your country than your country has given to you. Her words have always driven my love of country and my appreciation for our freedoms. Happy Fourth of July, Long Beach.

This year's Independence Day will have a special meaning for us all. A year ago, in response to spikes in COVID-19 cases, our beaches were closed and we asked our entire community to celebrate safely at home.

This year, we celebrate our community's strength, resilience and determination to overcome the pandemic and begin a strong recovery. This year we celebrate vaccinating the vast majority of residents, folks being able to see friends and family again, and the fact that our amazing firework show is back at the Long Beach Waterfront.

I invite everyone to join in on the celebration by either attending in person over at the waterfront in Downtown Long Beach or by watching virtually on LBTV3.com or on our city's YouTube page. More information about how to view the show can be found here.

As a reminder, all personal fireworks, even those deemed “Safe and Sane,” are illegal in the City of Long Beach. When fireworks are set off near communities and residential areas, they can trigger flashbacks for our veterans and neighbors experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. The noise also creates panic for many animals, and shelters fill with runaway pets every year. To report illegal fireworks activity, call the non-emergency number at (562) 435-6711 or submit a fireworks complaint at longbeach.gov/fireworks.

Thank you and Happy Fourth of July,

Mayor Robert Garcia