Recession Is The Grinch That's Stealing Independence Day Fireworks
Hoping to snap out of your recession-borne funk by kicking back and enjoying some fireworks July 4? If so, you'd better hope you don't live in one of the 40 locales that have canceled their fireworks celebrations due to budget concerns.
And since seemingly every municipality is struggling with budgets these days, you can probably expect countless more planned fireworks displays to fizzle out in the next couple weeks.
The Washington Post reports:
More than 40 communities across the country have already canceled their Fourth of July fireworks, conceding to a new reality: Shooting off a colorful array of explosives, an American birthright since 1777, is now a luxury that borders on wasteful. Unlike in Washington, where tens of thousands will fight for position on the Mall, these are places that represent what Independence Day means in most of America — a hillside covered with friends and neighbors, a few dozen fireworks set off by the volunteers from the fire department, a sweet, small-town sense of community on a warm summer night.
And yet the mayor in Lowell, Mass., laid off 48 employees and canceled fireworks earlier this month, reasoning that it saved employee No. 49. Some towns near Washington, from Herndon to Laurel, said sluggish fundraising could force them to scale back. Chesapeake Beach, Md., will shoot off fireworks on July 3 because it procured a discounted rate; organizers in Charlottesville warned that next year, fireworks might be canceled entirely.
The following sentence is hardly ever uttered, but here goes. The rest of the country should follow Tucson's lead. Fireworks failure is an excellent opportunity for private businesses to play the part of ultra-patriotic saviors by stepping in to save the day when government falters.
Where Money Is Tight, Fourth of July May Fizzle [Washington Post]
(Photo: rengel134)
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The fourth of July celebration where I live in Provo, UT is done by a local organization called "America's Freedom Festival." It's a non-profit that runs mostly off of donations and the ticket revenue from the "Stadium of Fire" that's held at Lavell Edwards Stadium (BYU's football stadium). The fireworks are always amazing, and the make sure that you can see them for miles. The last few years they've been broadcasting this show on the Armed Forces Network for the troops abroad. Although this year I'll be surprised if they do it since the headliner is (groan) the Jonas Brothers...
This is just horrible. I mean we do have other things in the US to worry about like the recession and the unemployment rate, but fireworks are one of the things that actually cheer people up. I mean really how many people don't like fireworks?
I'm as much a fan of fireworks as anyone, but yeah I can definitely understand why the celebrations are being cancelled or toned down.
Fireworks are great, but not at the cost of jobs.
Most people I know over the age of 12 find them to be boring. Amusing for the first 2 or 3, then you just want it to be over so you can see the finale and go home.
@petrieslastword: I find fireworks really pretty and interesting, but it's kind of aggravating if you have to fight for grass space on the Mall so I prefer to view it from a far.
If they're going to cancel the fireworks, at least repeal the laws that keep us from blowing our own faces off and burning down the neighbor's house.
@Jeremy82465: Agreed, you can get some decent fireworks at a decent cost around here, I'd rather set them off with friends and family on the property here than go to a big fireworks show.
@Scuba Steve: The community around here "teams up" and several cities pool their funds to get people together in on central location and have a bigger display, rather than each have their own smaller ones.
This might be a solution for this year... I mean, yeah, if it's directly between "we can shoot off this explosive, but we have to fire Pete" then yeah, save Pete's job. But if it's just general cost-cutting? Have -some- Fireworks. It's tradition, it makes people happy, and the fireworks guys have to eat too.
@gqcarrick: I love the fireworks, but hate the hassle of parking, finding a spot, and fighting traffic after it is over.
The day I lose my sense of awe and wonder at fireworks will be a sad day indeed.
If you ever get a chance - there is a pyrotechnics expo every four years in Gillette, Wyoming. Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like - a bunch of fireworks experts trying to outdo one another in small town Wyoming. I can not stress the awesomeitude of this event.
@Jeremy82465: @rpm773: Just smuggle them in from a state where it's legal. That's what we always did when I lived in Mass, get someone to drive up over the NH border and bring them back. :) Illegal fireworks are the best kind.
In general, fireworks displays in the over crowded NE USA pale in comparison to other, more explosive friendly locals... In fact, the evening of July 4th spectacle set off by the miscreants in my apartment complex who harvested 75% off fireworks from the soon closing stands, even beat some of the former NE USA town sponsored displays I attended...
Makes a lot more sense to cut fireworks than services or personnel.
They barred fireworks here in South Texas, not due to lack of money, but to lack of water. It's very, very dry here and any kind of open flame will induce a brushfire.
Aw no more colored pollution? For shame. I would rather my state not raise property taxes (like they just did) and cancel fireworks. But I bet we'll still have them this year.
They canceled ours too, but the giant megaplexhugeosity church is still putting one on.
I wish I lived outside of town. I love shooting off fireworks at home, but it's not allowed; with my luck, I'd get caught. Instead I just go in the backyard and watch other people sneak them.
People running cities like to keep the money rather than spend it on services. Nothing new here.
@gqcarrick: I freaking hate them, due to the juvenile delinquents down the block who set them off (illegally) for a two week period around Fourth of July, startling the entire neighborhood awake every half an hour for two freaking weeks. If I could get my hands around their necks I would throttle them and then shove those fireworks in unholy places.
The cancelled the one here in Tucson, but then public outrage ensued, and the fireworks are back on. Now the city is looking for other creative ways to make up the money they'd have saved. I guess they can install yet another traffic camera to dole out tickets; Tucson is starting to mirror Phoenix with all the damn traffic cameras.
@gqcarrick: I like fireworks, but if it means that someone gets to keep their job, I'm okay with just throwing random stuff into a backyard firepit to get my pyro-fix.
Our fireworks have been sponsored by local radio stations for years. Honestly I'm a bit surprised more municipalities haven't already gone to corporate-sponsored fireworks shows.
(Me, I like to watch the ones on the National Mall on TV, but mostly because it's not that often you get to see the 1812 Overture with real canons.)
That story is sad.
I guess I'll just do my own little display of fountain and spinning fireworks in my yard--oh, wait, the nanny-state says I can't.
Apparently I can have a gun, but not a ground flower, because that's *dangerous*.
I drive a HUGE distance to go to the ones in Warren PA (about 5 hours.) - It's a small town, and they're put on by the Jaycees, but I've never seen a small town with a better display.
Last year my city canceled the fireworks. on July 2. With a small footnote in a section of the dying newspaper.
A lot of very angry people showed up and got nothing. As well as the tourists. not a smart move.
@Donathius: If everyone in the first twenty rows is given a free cherry bomb and a lighter, it could be worthwhile...
@morlo: Probably due to citizens who keep demanding more services while whining like twelve-year-old girls grounded from seeing The Jonas Brothers when the subject of paying for said services comes up.
The fireworks display in our town (Colorado Springs) has been canceled due to budget restraints.
Just a few days ago, it was announced in the newspaper that the Air Force Academy and Fort Carson (both active military bases) will be open to the public and will be having fireworks displays.
[www.gazette.com]
So, that's the good news.
The "best" news (to me) is, coupled with the story above, that city councils around the country are finally figuring out that there isn't an endless stream of cash and that hard decisions have to be made.
Flowers in the medians strips (another budget cut) and fireworks are lovely, but taxes can only go so high before they become oppressive, especially right now, when everyone is already cutting back and the unemployment rate is over 9%.
Funny, the Conference of Mayors was just held here in Providence. They had what must have been a 15-minute fireworks display on Monday night in Roger Williams Park. Shook my house and caused my cats to implode. Pretty though, I filmed it from my deck.
Was it just me who read "Chesapeake Beach, Md." as "Cheapskate Beach"?
Anyway, totally agree. Local fireworks businesses could get a lot of free publicity by stepping in for something like this.
our fireworks were NEVER paid for by the town, but by the 4th of July planning commission. maybe the town contributed some money, but the bulk of the moneys came from private donations. alas, the economy killed off the private donations last year...
Elyria (pop.~70k) cancelled for the first time I can ever remember. The cities advice, go to nearby Lorain (pop.~80k)and see their show. I'm sure Lorain, just as poor as us, would be thrilled to see the turnout for their show suddenly double.
Municipal Synchronized Glo-Worms and Sparklers.
That is all.
Thanks for using on of my images
@Landru: Touché. I guess you've finally stopped my endless string of arsons. Because a FOUNTAIN is so *dangerous*!
I used fireworks for YEARS as a child. No fires. Now maybe you are an incompetent spastic or something, I don't know, but if you are careful, fires don't just happen.
It's this sort of hand-wringing, whinging, please-somebody-think-of-the-children-ing that has turned our society into such an easily manipulated cowering mob of crybabies.
Oh, and could you turn down the music? We're trying to sleep over here.
Me and my friends normally just buy up a ton (metric) of fireworks from our local explosives purveyor and have our own, bodily harm inducing fun! Though it is a bit sad to see a tradition like this go by the wayside.