Neighborhood petition asks Charlottesville to enforce fireworks ban after summer shootings

Residents from neighborhoods that include Fifeville told the Charlottesville City Council on Aug. 4 that illegal fireworks and related disorder have grown worse around July 4 and are creating safety and property risks. Louis Desabree, who said he began a petition with neighbors, told council the neighborhood formed the petition after a recent shooting and widespread illegal fireworks. He read the petition’s central request and asked the city to “uphold and enforce the city's existing prohibition on fireworks as codified in city code chapter 12, article 3, section 12‑32.” Desabree told council residents want “additional police patrols on and around the July 4 [period], active ticketing of offenders and confiscation of illegal fireworks, ongoing community outreach and a post‑holiday enforcement report.” Another resident also described repeated fireworks‑related damage to housing and vehicles; she asked the city for assistance in resolving the problem. Public comments at the meeting also included strongly worded personal testimony about recent gunfire in a neighborhood. John Green, who said he lives in the area and runs a nonprofit food program, described arriving at a site after a July incident and expressed frustration about repeated shootings. Green told the council that he and others have intervened to protect property and young people; during his remarks he said, “If my grandkids had went out there, believe me, lord, this is my witness. Y'all wouldn't have to worry about the Charlottesville police find. The man in my family would've find them, and then we would eliminate them.” Mayor Juan Diego Wade and staff accepted copies of the petition and asked that it be provided to the clerk. Council did not adopt an immediate enforcement plan at the meeting; city staff did not present a formal response on new patrol allocations during the Aug. 4 session. During public comment the petition cited the city code prohibition on possession, sale, discharge or use of fireworks within city limits (cited as “city code chapter 12, article 3, section 12‑32” in remarks) and requested a written follow‑up on enforcement actions after the holiday period. Speakers asked for clearer communication from leadership and consistent enforcement to reduce noise, fire risk and threats to personal safety in densely populated neighborhoods. The council acknowledged receipt of the petition and asked for copies; staff indicated the petition would be reviewed and the speakers’ concerns considered in follow up.