A Facebook group has begun a drive to have the city reverse its decision to cancel July 4 fireworks.
With 122 members Friday morning, the page is realistic in its expectations:
The town's mayor decided not to have it this year due to costs. I am starting this page to see how many people are really affected by this and who really wants it this year.
This is just a Facebook Page. Nothing is guaranteed by this, but at least it may get your voice heard.
The annual fireworks display fell victim to a sour economy, and was cut from the budget by the Common Council. Between the cost of the display, and the cost for Police and city personnel, the city will save approximately $65,000 by canceling the July 4 display.
That's great that 122 people are going to kick in about $5,400 each so we can have fireworks.
ReplyDeleteI will welcome the absence of the "rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air."
ReplyDeleteLet's get the July 4th issue straight. The Mayor included the July 4th fireworks in his budget proposals for this year. It was the Common Council Democrats who removed it. Blame the right people please.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:46, you've got it backwards.
ReplyDelete122 people expect you to pony up $65,000 so they can have fireworks. Please get your checkbook out now.
I do not see the point of this facebook page- unless someone adds a paypal button so real donations can be taken nothing is getting done if this group is really serious about having fireworks. I see canceling fireworks and not blowing up 65K so to speak as the best money saver that this town has done in while. Some have suggested regional fireworks where multiple towns- such as Higganum and perhaps Cromwell come together and fundraise the cost- a much better option! It would be in poor taste to celebrate the birth of our nation with irresponsible spending of funds such as this in a recession. Think of all the out of work families who will depend on programs where this money could be put to better use, or better used to fix Middletown's infrastructure and benefit everyone well past the Fourth of July.Spending 65K on a luxury - a 1 hour block of entertainment - is sad when the economy is the way it is. Businesses won't hurt for lack of fireworks, in fact they may get more business that evening with people seeking alternative entertainment!
ReplyDeletePlant 65k worth of trees or buy 65K worth of books, or patch 65K worth of potholes, or teach school kids a 65K lesson in saving for a rainy day and the greater good of the community.
Stay home watch the musical "1776" and make some popcorn, after if you kid's want fireworks on a smaller scale - lite a $50 bill and let them watch it burn & then tell them that was part of this week's grocery money, because that's basically what the fireworks display if not canceled would be like on a larger scale if held this year.
When roads aren't plowed as often in the winter, programs are cut, lay offs happen and services lost, we will always have the memory of the fireworks of the previous summer and then can decide if it was really worth it.
Other towns, like Derby and Portland, can do the job for $11,000.
ReplyDeleteEither way there will be fireworks.. not having them publicly will just motivate people to go out and get their own fireworks and have unsafe displays in backyards. Its not very hard to get the kind of fireworks that go up in the air. The police get so busy with people complaining about the "legal fireworks" already, how will they enforce people trying to put on their own displays now?.
ReplyDeleteLast year when the budget was being finalized the Mayor had removed the fireworks...Common Council asked that it be put back in and it was. This year the Mayor put the fireworks in the budget...the Common Council then removed the line item. Just another move for the Council to get the town to blame the Mayor. We've always enjoyed the fireworks although I'd rather see the monies go to benefit another line item during these hard times.
ReplyDeleteIt is a scandal that among the prosperous members of the business community in a city the size of Middletown there are not any stand-up individuals who are willing to band together and chip in and prevent this tragic loss. Many businesses fly enormous American flags at this time of year and much lip-service is paid to how patriotic we all are when there are no costs attached to doing so. Businessmen often claim to be "leaders" among us (think of Ned Lamont) simply because they have amassed great personal wealth. Wealth, in and of itself, is a great blessing; however, the simple possession of great wealth should make us wary of the billionaire Ned Lamonts and the professional wrestling magnates because their interests are almost always in opposition to those of average voters like myself and my neighbors.
ReplyDeleteI'd be less skeptical of rich businessfolk as candidates generally and as societal “leaders” particularly if more wealthy businesspeople opened their deep pockets every once in a while and devoted some of their fabulous wealth (some candidates are planning to spend as much as $70,000,000 to get themselves elected to high office in CT during the current election cycle) to benefit someone other than themselves and their fellow plutocrats, and did something civic-minded to promote patriotism - like saving Middletown's traditional 4th of July fireworks celebration.
Please get your facts straight. Anonymous is correct.
ReplyDeleteThe Mayor included the July 4th fireworks. The
COMMON COUNCIL removed the July 4th Fireworks.
Considering all the other nonsensical garbage this Council spends the City's money on, $ 65,000 is a
drop in the bucket.
Spend the money and let's get on with solving some
of the bigger problems.
Fireworks are a waste of money; I am glad this has been removed from this year's budget. Whomever is responsible for this deserves kudos for fiscal responsibility. Neighboring towns should have fireworks displays alternate years--every town doesn't need to have fireworks each year.
ReplyDeleteJust curious--who is spending $70,000,000 dollars to get themselves elected to public office in Connecticut?
Mighty easy to spend someone else's money, isn't it, R. McKiernan?
ReplyDelete