Macy's may bring Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza back to the East River
Macy's is considering a return of its famed Fourth of
July fireworks to the East River — a move that would thrill Brooklyn and Queens
residents who lost their view of the display for four straight years, the Daily
News has learned.
Bending to outer-borough pressure, Macy’s execs and top
people in its fireworks operations have agreed to meet soon with pols to
discuss moving the dazzling show off the Hudson River for the first time since
2009.
“Macy’s has expressed willingness to move to the East
River,” said a source involved with the talks.
“Macy’s has been receptive to sitting down and discussing
solutions,” the source said. “We’re optimistic that soon there will be good
news.”
Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and state Sen. Daniel
Squadron (D-Brooklyn Heights) have been in talks by phone for months with
Macy’s about a possible venue change for the iconic Independence Day
celebration.
The sit-down will be local elected officials’ first
face-to-face discussion about the fireworks with Macy’s execs.
“The fireworks,” said de Blasio, “belong” in the East
River. “Outer-borough New Yorkers deserve to be part of the city’s Fourth of
July celebration too.”
After three decades on the East River, the patriotic show
shifted in 2009 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage
up the waterway that would eventually bear his name. The westward move was a
boon to New Jersey residents and businesses and residents on Manhattan’s far
West Side.
A return to the East River “would allow millions of New
Yorkers to join the celebration and provide communities and businesses with the
economic spark they need,” Squadron said.
Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz is invited to
the coming confab, where pols will present a petition that now has 3,100
signatures urging the show be shifted to its former locale.
Macy’s fireworks display, America’s largest, made its
magic this year with 40,000 shells launched from four barges on a
picture-perfect night.
Macy’s has not determined what the fireworks’ next
location will be, a spokesman said. “As we have consistently stated, Macy’s
fireworks will take place in and around all accessible New York City waterways
and will not be a permanent fixture at any one location,” said Orlando Veras.
City Councilman Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn Heights) hopes
Macy’s realizes that they need to come back to the East River.
"They couldn't come back soon enough — and we will
welcome them with open arms," said Levin, who plans to attend the meeting.
"I'm from New Jersey. I've got nothing but love for
New Jersey," he said, "but the fact of the matter is there is nothing
quite as spectacular as Fourth of July fireworks over New York Harbor."
Comments
Post a Comment