Blasted trash follows the Fourth
Despite warnings of fines, neighborhoods ignite own festivities
Judging by the air reverberating Sunday night, and the trash left over Monday morning, nothing appears to get in the way of some Schenectadians blowing stuff up.
Despite the stern warnings from officials and pleas from neighborhood leaders, fireworks fans had a blast over Fourth of July weekend, where the gradual pop-pop-pop of small devices gave way to commercial-grade displays that dominated the skyline over the weekend.
Explosions blossomed over the city’s Hamilton Hill and Mont Pleasant neighborhoods on Sunday night as residents took to the streets in jubilation in bloc party-type events.
Among the epicenters of action was the 400 block of Hulett Street, where not even the city police department’s
mobile pole camera could stave off illegal displays.
Neighbors engaged in cleanup efforts Monday morning, sweeping debris to the curbs and packing it into garbage bags. Others used leaf-blowers to blow the wrappers and packaging into large piles.
Several brightly colored boxes with names like “Red Devil” and “Bone Crusher” remained on the street, with the warnings describing each as devices that “shoots flaming balls.”
One Hulett Street resident, who declined to give her name, said she and her neighbors detonated fireworks for their children, and the celebrations brought the block together every year.
The city, she said, should hold an officially sanctioned event comparable to those in other localities including Albany, Scotia and additional localities in the Capital Region.
“I think the city should do more stuff because it might bring the community together,” she said.
The resident said she didn’t condone unsafe practices, and agreed residents should not be “popping off 480s at 4 a.m. popping people out of sleep.”
“There needs to be mandatory cleanup and safety,” she said. “But then again, this is the hood.”
Asked by a reporter where they got the fireworks, a half-dozen residents laughed at the question.
Officials and State Police have previously lamented that neighboring states like Pennsylvania allow sales of larger fireworks and actively market to New Yorkers, where commercial displays by ordinary civilians are illegal as well as devices like Roman candles and bottle rockets. (Albany and Schenectady County also ban the sale of smaller sparkler-type devices, while others, including Warren and Saratoga, allow them).
While fireworks aficionados were delighted, others lamented the city’s inability to quash the illegal activity, citing the impact on pets and overall inconvenience and noise.
“Some of us with (posttraumatic stress disorder) are hiding under the covers with our anxiety riddled dogs,” wrote a city resident on social media.
Anyone caught setting off a “public display of fireworks” without a permit faces a fine of up to $250.
City Hall was closed on Monday, and Schenectady police were unable to provide the number of complaints, confiscations or citations issued because analysts had the day off.
The displays did not lead to any fires.
“As best as I know, we did not respond to any fireworks-related calls and no structure fires,” said Assistant Fire Department Chief Don Mareno.
What also didn’t materialize this year was a proposal by City Council Majority Leader John Polimeni to order signs and disseminate them to disapproving residents to send a message to their neighbors that fireworks would not be appreciated in their neighborhoods.
The city typically picks up trash on Wednesday mornings, and it’s unclear if the city will arrange a special cleanup effort to allow for the excess debris.
Mayor Gary Mccarthy and Commissioner of General Services Paul Lafond didn’t respond to messages on Monday.