CITY TO CRACK DOWN ON THOSE
SELLING ILLEGAL FIREWORKS
TIMESLEDGER |18 QNS.COM | JULY 3-JULY 9, 2020
Illegal fireworks illuminate
the sky over the
Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood
of the Brooklyn
borough of New York City, New
York, U.S., June 19, 2020.
REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
BY EMILY DAVENPORT
The city is going to
crack down on the increased
use of illegal
fireworks throughout
the five boroughs,
Mayor Bill de Blasio
announced last week.
During his daily
briefing, de Blasio
noted that the use of
illegal fireworks is not
just an issue of quality
of life or a noise problem
— it is also an issue
of public safety.
According to de
Blasio, the city needs
to get to the root of
the situation and cut
off the supply of illegal
fireworks that are
being sold in the city,
so the city is starting
a multi-agency task
force to crack down on
illegal fireworks sales.
The task force will
consist of 10 officers
from NYPD Intelligence
Bureau, 12
FDNY Fire Marshals
and 20 members of
the Sheriff’s Bureau
of Criminal Investigation,
and they will
focus their efforts on
suppliers, distributors
and possessors of large
quantities of illegal
fireworks by conducting
investigations and
sting operations within
and outside of New
York City to disrupt
supply chains.
“Illegal fireworks
are both dangerous
and a public nuisance,”
said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“We’re cracking
down on this activity
at the source to ensure
the safety of all New
Yorkers and the ability
of our neighbors to get
some sleep.”
The FDNY will
also launch a public
safety campaign, including
public service
announcements and
social media, to illustrate
the dangers
of illegal fireworks.
“Fireworks are illegal
in New York City for
a reason: they are extremely
dangerous and
can cause fires and serious
injuries,” said
Fire Commissioner
Daniel A. Nigro.
“Our Fire Marshals
will work closely with
their fellow law enforcement
agencies to
address this growing
problem that is impacting
New Yorkers
in communities across
our city.” Mayor de Blasio
also stated that the
annual Macy’s Fourth
of July fireworks show
will take a different
form this year. In an
effort to reduce public
gatherings amid the
coronavirus pandemic,
there will be separate
fireworks shows
in each borough.
Reach reporter Emily
Davenport by e-mail
at edavenport@qns.
com or by phone at (718)
260-2567.
/QNS.COM
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