Posted on 07/02/2011 1:33:20 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
The Fourth of July sky will be a little darker this year as lean economic times force cities across the Bay Area to snuff out a favorite all-American tradition: fireworks shows.
In past years, the East Bay shoreline was ablaze with exploding, booming, multicolored pyrotechnics on Independence Day. But this year only Berkeley and San Pablo will light up their waterfronts with fireworks.
The others are too far in the red for the red, white and blue. Livermore and Hercules dropped their fireworks and parades this year. Oakland and San Leandro canceled their fireworks a year or two ago. Other cities, such as Foster City, have either scaled down their shows or started charging visitors to see them.
"It's another chunk out of the pie of happiness," said Livermore Mayor Marshall Kamena. "Our Fourth of July party epitomized what 1776 was all about. And now there's just sadness."
A typical 20-minute fireworks show costs between $15,000 and $20,000, but some, such as San Francisco's, can top $100,000, said Jeff Thomas, producer for Pyro Spectaculars by Souza, which puts on 90 percent of the Bay Area's fireworks displays. Staff costs can add at least another $30,000.
"It's hard to justify fireworks when you're laying off 100 people," said Oakland spokeswoman Karen Boyd. "The police OT, the cost of the fireworks - it adds up."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I guess I shouldn’t have sent that link to the Beach Boys/My 409? We will have $30,000 worth of fireworks here on Humboldt Bay but the overall odds are 60% that they will only be visible to Mars or maybe the space station due to our evening fog. The funds were donated by businesses and individuals
Socialists would never think of asking businesses to sponsor the fireworks. Happens in a lot of places in rural America.
These fireworks are brought to you by Joe’s Burgers on 5th street, Andy’s used car lot and Herman’s bait shop. Enjoy.
Or the volunteer fire department can hold a barbecue for $10 a plate to pay for it, followed by a band and dance - $5 admission, $2 for a beer. Some communities do that and thousands of people show up.
Without businesses, the stupid socialists would be farting in caves and fingerpainting.
Maybe they should reconsider supporting millions of ILLEGAL ALIENS.
An activist lawyer tried to get them banned because stringent environmental impact reports hadn't been required by the city. A judge declined to issue a restraining order.
Our 20 min community fireworks shows are paid for by donations. I'm not sure about what they do downtown.
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