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July 4th Fireworks Could Maybe Come Back To East River
By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 3, 2011
Modified Jul 3, 2011
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jul 3, 2011
Modified Jul 3, 2011
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Photograph by elharley on Flickr
Tomorrow's Macy's July 4th Fireworks Spectacular will be held on the Hudson River for the third year in a row, which has upset Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan residents with East River views/access. But know this: Macy's tried to move the fireworks to the New York Harbor—this year's display will celebrate the Statue of Liberty's 125th birthday—but NYC officials doused that idea.
The NY Times reports, "City officials rejected that plan, saying that Lower Manhattan could not handle the throngs of spectators who would be drawn downtown... The department-store chain’s dashed hopes for a monumental backdrop for the display shows just how tricky it can be to navigate the logistical and political shoals of the city and its various, demanding precincts." Additionally, Macy's tried to get the National Parks Service to agree to let Beyonce perform at the base of Lady Liberty, but the NPS didn't want any commercial use associated with the symbolic statue: "Beyoncé will still sing a couple of songs for NBC’s national broadcast of the fireworks. But that performance, which was scheduled to be taped on Friday night, was relegated to a barge tied up about 100 yards from the eastern edge of Liberty Island, the Statue of Liberty’s home."
Another issue is safety. One reason given why Hudson River was more optimal than the East River—the feelings of NYC residents who prefer the fireworks there aside—is that it's wider. Macy's spokesman Orlando Veras told the Times, "We also have to think about a viewing location that is easily accessible." And he told the Daily News, "Macy's fireworks will continue to take place in and around all of New York City's waterways, as it has for the past 35 years, and will not be a permanent fixture in any one location."
So, keep the dream alive, Marty Markowitz! And if you want to catch the fireworks tomorrow, here's where to go.
Tagged
east river
fireworks
hudson river
july 4
july 4 fireworks
macy's
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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