Published Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Fireworks in New York ahead
of Independence Day


By the A.M. Costa Rica staff and wire services

NYC has been inundated with illegal fireworks at all times of the day for weeks now, which has led city officials to start a specific task force to try to curtail the activity, reported the New York Public Radio, on Tuesday.

According to the  radio station report, Governor Andrew Cuomo launched a Fireworks Enforcement Detail to stop illegal fireworks from coming into the state, by referring to the recent activity as “Some nights in New York City feel like the Wild West."

Despite people grousing about the constant bombardment of pyrotechnics at all hours of the night, the city forges ahead with a modified plan for legal fireworks this week. Usually the annual Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks show tends to draw huge crowds, which because of the pandemic huge crowds are frowned upon, now the show will be five minutes of legal firework displays happening at undisclosed locations in all five boroughs at undisclosed times throughout the city all week.

Macy's writes that to support the social distancing efforts, "we have chosen to delight New Yorkers with unannounced displays across the five boroughs this year," which is not the way many New Yorkers would describe it.

Last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio noted that the locations and times of each display will not be revealed until shortly before they are set to begin.

And according to Macy's, to discourage crowds gathering, there will be "geographically targeted notifications issued by the City to residents in the vicinity of each display shortly before they commence."

Despite their mysterious and brief launch times, everything else about the individual fireworks displays will be in line with previous Macy's fireworks programs: "The displays will take place from high visibility waterways and land-based infrastructure. The shows are designed to reach heights of up to 1,000 feet or more, when launched from land-based infrastructure. Spectators in/and around these locations and many more with unobstructed views will be able to enjoy them."

As for how they chose the neighborhoods in particular, they add, "Final sites were chosen because they could safely accommodate the launch and firing of large-scale, commercial-grade pyrotechnics. These locations, whether land-based or from a waterway, adhered strictly to federal, state and local safety guidelines while also allowing the public ample viewing while practicing social distancing efforts."

The brief displays will begin sometime in the evening and go on in each borough throughout the week, culminating in a two-hour Fourth of July television special on Saturday, showing all five displays along with a tribute to health care workers and first responders, plus "something very special" at the Empire State Building.

While in Costa Rica, the U.S. Embassy has yet to comment on whether this year it will continue the tradition of fireworks at Avenida Escazú shopping center in San José. The shopping center reported that now there is a special event for weddings that will begin on Friday, July 3.

Last year the U.S. Independence Day celebration started on July 3rd, at the National Monument Park in San José, when U.S. Ambassador Sharon Day, paid tribute by placing a floral offering at the foot of the statue.

In the afternoon the U. S. Air Force band, Airmen of Note, gave a concert in the Civic Center for Peace in Desamparados District. The rhythm of jazz and the mix of international music by the 11 members of the group delighted the public.

Also, a year ago, the American Colony Committee hosted the Independence Day fireworks held at Avenida Escazú.


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What are your plans to celebrate the 4th of July? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com 


 
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