Following her May 27 ruling requiring the city of San Diego to follow state environmental laws when issuing permits for fireworks displays, Superior Court Judge Linda Quinn issued a stay of the order on June 3, giving July Fourth event organizers 90 more days to deal with the new regulations. The move was especially crucial for organizers of the fireworks display at La Jolla Cove, against whom a lawsuit had been filed by environmental lawyer Marco Gonzalez. Gonzalez and other environmentalists contend that fireworks are harmful to the area off of La Jolla’s coast, designated an “area of special biological significance” due to its high percentage of biological diversity. Organizers of the display at the Cove have said their show will go on, provided they can raise the money needed to put on the event — including about $1,500 now required for a permit from the San Diego Region Water Quality Control Board. The city and event coordinators have until Aug. 31 to decide how to meet the terms of Quinn’s original ruling. In her written ruling, she ordered the city to return to court on that date to discuss options for compliance.








