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| New York City Announces Crackdown on Illegal Fireworks | New York City Announces Crackdown on Illegal Fireworks |
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| Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that New York was launching a crackdown on the illegal use and distribution of fireworks, after complaints about a nightly cacophony flooded the city’s help and emergency telephone lines. | Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Tuesday that New York was launching a crackdown on the illegal use and distribution of fireworks, after complaints about a nightly cacophony flooded the city’s help and emergency telephone lines. |
| The effort will center on using law-enforcement agencies to disrupt the supply of fireworks to the city, including sting operations “to go and get these illegal fireworks at the base,” Mr. de Blasio said at a news briefing. | The effort will center on using law-enforcement agencies to disrupt the supply of fireworks to the city, including sting operations “to go and get these illegal fireworks at the base,” Mr. de Blasio said at a news briefing. |
| “We’re going to go at it hard now and address it immediately,” he said. | “We’re going to go at it hard now and address it immediately,” he said. |
| New York City residents have reported booms and crackles in skyrocketing numbers in recent days. The city received more than 12,500 calls to its 911 system for illegal fireworks this month, according to the police. That is roughly 12 times the number of comparable calls received by the city in the first six months of 2019, the police said. | New York City residents have reported booms and crackles in skyrocketing numbers in recent days. The city received more than 12,500 calls to its 911 system for illegal fireworks this month, according to the police. That is roughly 12 times the number of comparable calls received by the city in the first six months of 2019, the police said. |
| In Brooklyn, where many of the fireworks are being heard, more than 4,500 complaints of fireworks have come in to the city’s 311 system in June, the police said. That is more than 80 times the number of 311 calls received by the city in the first six months of 2019. | In Brooklyn, where many of the fireworks are being heard, more than 4,500 complaints of fireworks have come in to the city’s 311 system in June, the police said. That is more than 80 times the number of 311 calls received by the city in the first six months of 2019. |
| The surge came at a time when New York City was already on edge both from the coronavirus pandemic and weeks of protests against systemic racism and police brutality. | The surge came at a time when New York City was already on edge both from the coronavirus pandemic and weeks of protests against systemic racism and police brutality. |
| After the mayor’s announcement, some residents voiced concerns on Twitter that the city would be using the police to address the fireworks, at a time of widespread reassessment of the role of policing. | After the mayor’s announcement, some residents voiced concerns on Twitter that the city would be using the police to address the fireworks, at a time of widespread reassessment of the role of policing. |
| Mr. de Blasio sought to allay those concerns, saying that the task force, which includes 10 police officers, 12 fire marshals and 20 investigators from the city sheriff’s office, would target “the big fish.” | Mr. de Blasio sought to allay those concerns, saying that the task force, which includes 10 police officers, 12 fire marshals and 20 investigators from the city sheriff’s office, would target “the big fish.” |
| “We’re going to start from the biggest operations, not focused on the kid on the corner,” Mr. de Blasio said. “We’re focused on the people that are really profiting and really distributing a lot of fireworks.” | “We’re going to start from the biggest operations, not focused on the kid on the corner,” Mr. de Blasio said. “We’re focused on the people that are really profiting and really distributing a lot of fireworks.” |
| Investigators will examine the sale of fireworks inside the city as well as in surrounding states, focusing on those who are supplying and profiting from fireworks sales. Asked if the city would also crack down on people setting off illegal fireworks, Mr. de Blasio said the “more profound issue” was cutting off the supply. | Investigators will examine the sale of fireworks inside the city as well as in surrounding states, focusing on those who are supplying and profiting from fireworks sales. Asked if the city would also crack down on people setting off illegal fireworks, Mr. de Blasio said the “more profound issue” was cutting off the supply. |
| “In a lot of cases, you can’t intervene if someone shoots off a firework and they’re gone,” he said. “It’s not a good use of police time and energy.” | “In a lot of cases, you can’t intervene if someone shoots off a firework and they’re gone,” he said. “It’s not a good use of police time and energy.” |
| The city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who has participated in several recent protests and is a strong proponent of police reform, applauded the decision to focus on the fireworks supply chain. | |
| But Mr. Williams said he would need to see how the enforcement played out on the ground. He added that he was disappointed the city did not make an effort to support clergy and community groups who were addressing the people setting off the fireworks. | |
| “This fireworks thing is a great moment to show how we can chart a new future for law enforcement,” Mr. Williams said. | |
| The city’s plan came as videos and images of fireworks have been shared widely on social media, with people even firing them at each other in some cases. The fireworks have also been reported in other cities nationwide, including Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore. | |
| For some, setting off fireworks has been a form of catharsis in the pandemic, and a means of defying and protesting against what they see as a flawed criminal justice system. | For some, setting off fireworks has been a form of catharsis in the pandemic, and a means of defying and protesting against what they see as a flawed criminal justice system. |
| But for others, the fireworks have been a nuisance, spreading fear and anxiety among a population already stressed out by the coronavirus and quarantine. | But for others, the fireworks have been a nuisance, spreading fear and anxiety among a population already stressed out by the coronavirus and quarantine. |
| Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who represents parts of Brooklyn, has been pressing the city to do more to end the illegal fireworks. On Monday night, Mr. Deutsch joined a number of people honking their car horns outside Gracie Mansion in protest to try to get Mr. de Blasio to strengthen the city’s response to illegal fireworks. | Councilman Chaim Deutsch, who represents parts of Brooklyn, has been pressing the city to do more to end the illegal fireworks. On Monday night, Mr. Deutsch joined a number of people honking their car horns outside Gracie Mansion in protest to try to get Mr. de Blasio to strengthen the city’s response to illegal fireworks. |
| “We need to send a message that we need to end these chaotic fireworks that’s been happening across the city,” Mr. Deutsch said in a video posted to Twitter early Tuesday morning. “If we can’t sleep, you can’t sleep.” | “We need to send a message that we need to end these chaotic fireworks that’s been happening across the city,” Mr. Deutsch said in a video posted to Twitter early Tuesday morning. “If we can’t sleep, you can’t sleep.” |
| Mr. Deutsch has also circulated a petition urging Mayor de Blasio to do more to control illegal fireworks. He said that as of Monday afternoon, the petition had gathered more than 10,000 signatures. | Mr. Deutsch has also circulated a petition urging Mayor de Blasio to do more to control illegal fireworks. He said that as of Monday afternoon, the petition had gathered more than 10,000 signatures. |
| Fireworks are illegal to buy, sell or ignite in New York, but they are an entrenched tradition of the city’s streets, especially in working-class neighborhoods. They are generally sold from duffel bags or car trunks and set off in the days before July 4. | Fireworks are illegal to buy, sell or ignite in New York, but they are an entrenched tradition of the city’s streets, especially in working-class neighborhoods. They are generally sold from duffel bags or car trunks and set off in the days before July 4. |
| But this year, the unauthorized displays began at least a month earlier than usual, as other warm-weather get-togethers were halted by social-distancing rules. | But this year, the unauthorized displays began at least a month earlier than usual, as other warm-weather get-togethers were halted by social-distancing rules. |
| At the news conference on Tuesday, Mr. de Blasio also said that the city would not stage the traditional Macy’s fireworks show on the Fourth of July. Instead, there will be a series of smaller shows held across all five boroughs from June 29 through July 1. | |
| Each show will be unannounced and will last about five minutes, Mr. de Blasio said, in an effort to keep people from gathering in large groups to watch. | |
| “People will be able to see different pieces at different points,” he said. “It is going to be something that’s very special to the city — very special, very moving, but also very safe.” | “People will be able to see different pieces at different points,” he said. “It is going to be something that’s very special to the city — very special, very moving, but also very safe.” |