Councilman Blasts Midnight Fireworks Show For Khloe Kardashian, James Harden Party
MARINA DEL REY (CBSLA.com) — A full-scale fireworks show that erupted around midnight off the coast of Marina del Rey, apparently as part of a birthday party thrown by Khloe Kardashian for her boyfriend, NBA star James Harden, was not permitted, a Los Angeles City Councilman said Wednesday.
The 26th birthday bash for Harden was aboard the Fantasea Yacht with a guest list that included Kim Kardashian, her husband Kanye West, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Kris Jenner and NBA players Trevor Ariza and Baron Davis, according to US Weekly.
"Our three dogs were definitely aroused and barking," resident Colin Gilbert said. "Personally I've had enough of the Kardashians. I think we should focus on better things in life."
The midnight fireworks display was more of an explosive wake-up call for thousands of people in and around Marina del Rey.
City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the incorporated areas of the marina, said he was outraged of the event.
"Distruptive celeb firework show that woke up thousands was NOT permitted by city or county," Bonin tweeted Wednesday morning. "Checking if US Coast Guard had a role. #stupidrude"
The Coast Guard says they received notification from Las Vegas-based Pirates Pyrotechnics, but that they were not provided a date or time. They are only required to make certain that the boat is safe for fireworks.
Bonin elaborated on his Facebook page.
"At midnight last night, an enormous fireworks show in Santa Monica Bay woke up thousands of people in Marina Del Rey, Venice, Playa del Rey and elsewhere. This ridiculous, rude, and loud celebrity birthday bash woke up school children, scared pets, and rousted thousands of people from a good night's sleep," Bonin wrote in his post. "The City of Los Angeles did NOT permit this event, and had absolutely nothing to do with it. Los Angeles County Beaches & Harbors, which overseas and operates the Marina, says they did not permit it either, and it was far enough into the bay to be outside their jurisdiction. We are checking to see if the US Coast Guard is responsible for allowing this, or if the event was unauthorized."
The Los Angeles County Fire Department says they are "working on a fireworks permit corrective action plan to ensure the processes for future outdoor fireworks displays consider time of day and appropriate community outreach."
The Kardashians have prompted policy changes in the past. In response to traffic problems and other issues caused by Kim Kardashian's 2011 Montecito wedding, the assembly passed a proposal increasing fines for local ordinance violations from $100 to as much as $5,000.
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