Rules Make Fundraising Tougher for Firefighters

By Teresa Rochester

Nov. 12 -- The death of more than 300 firefighters in the collapse of the World Trade Center's Twin Towers on Sept. 11 was a personal loss for Santa Monica firefighters, some of whom have marched with their East Coast brothers in New York City's Saint Patrick's Day Parade.

Santa Monica firefighters quickly began organizing fundraisers - including a barbecue, a concert, T-shirt sales and donations - raising in excess of $20,000 to date.

"It's what we do for one another," said Fireman Mike Ayala. "It's a brotherhood and sisterhood … You live with these people 24 hours a day. It's like a family. They're far away, but you feel their pain."

But when Firefighters Association Local 1109 hit the popular Third Street Promenade to sell shirts and collect donations, their efforts were stymied by the City's Street Performer Law.

"It was agony saying no to him (Ayala) but we had to do it," said Kathleen Rawson, Executive Director of the Bayside District Corporation, which oversees downtown and the Promenade.

The ordinance, which is revisited and revised each year, stipulates that individuals cannot sell items that have a value except from a City-approved and leased cart. Street performers, such as musicians, can sell items related to their performance, such as a compact disc of their music.

"In terms of the way the law is written there are no exceptions," said Rawson. "It's pretty cut and dry."

Ayala said he and other firefighters were a little upset when their request to sell the $15 T-shirts and collect donations was turned down. They credited Rawson with letting them set up shop at the Promenade's information and police kiosk on a Saturday two weeks ago.

"They were fair enough with me at the time," Ayala said. "At the time it kind of upset me because I thought we had a [relationship] with the City, but there are rules."

The following Friday three firefighters set up their table and T-shirts behind the low fence around the recently closed-down Teasers restaurant on the Promenade, with the blessing of the eatery's owners Tony Palermo and Dan Ringwood.

Firefighters have about 500 T-shirts left. They can be purchased at any of the City's fire stations. Proceeds will go to the Fire Department New York's Widows and Children fund.