Jared Evan
With the NYPD morale at a low and the lingering threats of a July 4th police walk-out, residents have been complaining that after calling 3-1-1 police are not responding to calls to stop people from lighting off illegal fireworks all night long.
There have already been more than 1,700 fireworks-related complaints to the city’s noise complaint hotline through the first half of June. Usually, there are just a few dozen such complaints during that time period, with only 21 registered during this time in 2019, NBC reported, meanwhile the NY Post reported an even higher numbers of complains .and highlighted how owners of dogs are having a rough time.
“He is literally scared” says Bed-Stuy dog owner Tarran Hatton, who’s been soothing her jumpy Labrador mix, County, late into the night — sometimes until 6 a.m. “[He’s] shivering and pretty much melding his 100-pound body into whatever human he thinks can protect him. He’s not able to go to the bathroom.”, a dog owner told the NY Post.
Some people are actually temporarily fleeing the city
The post reported; “Granted, dogs are honestly the least of concern here. There are infants, seniors, vets with PTSD and those battling COVID-19 at home that require broader consideration,” says Hatton, a pastry chef who recently launched mini-doughnut business BlissBomb. Still, she and her dog are fleeing Brooklyn for a fireworks-free reprieve animal sanctuary in the Poconos.
Central Brooklyn and Upper Manhattan host the worst hot spots, but predawn explosions are everywhere, the Post reported.
The fireworks issue was largely eliminated when former mayor Giuliani cracked down on illegal fireworks in the 90’s. With the protests still going on in the city for weeks, a city on edge going thru the process of re-opening and wound up residents, who have been locked up in their homes for months over the pandemic, this is yet another growing concern in NYC. Hopefully, this will dissipate after July 4th.
In addition to the quality of life issues for residents and their pets, fireworks can also cause serious fires and injuries due to improper use. NYC for decades up into the 90’s was known for being a ‘war zone’ leading up to July 4th, cumulating with hundreds of injuries logged in and many fires on Independence Day.
Apparently the lack of enforcement is part of the police reform pushed in the City Council, NYPD are being told to stay out of it. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams wants the police to focus on the suppliers of the illegal fireworks over the ones using them , while Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams urged residents to approach the culprits themselves, rather than ring 311 or 911 and risk a police confrontation, according to the NY Post.
Social media has also captured hoodlums shooting fireworks at each other and the police as they drive by, doing nothing in a City that begrudgingly supports them. Footage is emerging on social media of young thugs aiming Roman Candles at each other, instead of in the air, posing dangers to themselves and innocent people.
The George Floyd protests have emboldened crime, from quality of life issues such as fireworks to more serious crimes, as NYC has seen a huge increase in shootings in May and June.
Gerritsen Beach resident Elissa Maldonado, told TJV: “ the fireworks are going on until 3 AM every night in Gerritsen Beach, we all called 3-11, no actions have been taken at all, on one hand it’s good to hear activity, like the City is coming back to life and the festiveness of July 4th, on the other hand, we all need our sleep and it’s terrifying my bulldog and my daughter’s cat”
There have been no reported major seizures of fireworks by the NYPD or FDNY and with lawmakers not encouraging police involvement, the friction between the NYPD and the far left City Council; it’s safe to speculate their reluctance to investigate the sources of the fireworks can be part of a police slowdown, which has been hinted at repeatedly on social media by police officers.
