What's the deal with the fireworks?

[jkl2000]

I'd heard mentions of it before here, but I've never heard as much fireworks as I'm hearing tonight (2:00AM, by the way). Hundreds and hundreds of firecrackers and bottlerockets. And it's not even hot tonight! Does this just happen every Saturday, or is there some reason there's so much tonight? Where do they get them all? Where are they setting them off? Sounds like it's several blocks away. Do the police ever do anything about it? I know this isn'ta new topic, but I'm perplexed by this. Thanks.

I've really never heard so many firecrackers -- it sounds like a warehouse caught fire! I can only imagine what July 4th will be like.

[Beader]

There were a lot down my way too (the 160s).    I'm wondering where they get them.   I used to stock up on fireworks in the Carolinas when I went to FL for spring break, but I rather doubt that's where they're coming from.  Since they're now illegal in most states, where are they coming from?

[JCF]

I actually called the 34th precinct tonight (tried all night last night, actually, but no one ever answered the phone.)  This has gotten ridiculous - this is my third summer here, and there have always been some fireworks going off at odd hours the week around July 4th, but it's never been this early, this insistent, and this loud.  I live about a block away from Isham Park, and I think people are choosing that spot because there's no way for a cop car to go through the park.

To those neighbors who are also bothered by the noise:  PLEASE call the 34th precinct and complain.  The more of us that call, the faster the response is likely to be.

[Aodan]

Last night was the first time I actually SAW fireworks as opposed to just hearing them.  At least they were pretty and not terribly loud.  I prefer to see them rather than hear them, although I wish they weren't lighting them at all.

The problem with calling 311 is where I live - the acoustics are such that I can never really tell from what direction the sound is coming from because it just bounces off the cliff walls Im surrounded by.   

[esunny]

Well, I just called 311 2x within the last hour hoping to get this taken care of before bedtime. I'm on lower seaman and also think they seem to be coming from east of broadway but can't tell. Dog is freaking out. They put me thru to 911 both times and assured me it would be handled. WE MUST MASS CALL 311 FOR THIS! I have been here 7 years and this seems to be worse than usual. On the 4th guns get shot off of roofs and fireworks galore but usually not before. I'll be gone for the 4th but still! MASS CALL!

[bluecab]

I have lived here for four years (near 207/Seaman) and have never heard anything approaching the level and variety of fireworks noise as I have to date. Last night was particularly bad. When I first moved here I often thought of this neighborhood as a frontier outpost , and now it sounds like one!

I've called the 34th Precinct a few times and get this from whoever answers the phone:

Where is it happening now?
I know, we're trying.
We have four cars out there already.
Our cars are out there on other (more serious - my inference) calls.
We're understaffed.
Call/write to the Mayor. Ask him for more officers.

Last night I spoke to a young and rather new-sounding officer who said pretty much the same thing, but he practically pleaded for me to write to the Mayor for help. He also suggested that I ask the precinct Commander, Inspector Kehoe (no first name given) for more officers as well, and added that they had made 5 arrests the night before.

These fireworks offenders seem to be operating mostly in the streets rather than on the rooftops as I rarely see any displays. It all seems to be coming from South and East of me. What is also annoying is that it can set off the neighborhood dogs - and they are loud enough already. I have no idea why it's worse this year and unless there is serious police interest, it will be one long, hot, noisy summer. I don't even notice th car alarms any more.

I lived on the Upper East Side for many years and know for sure that if this kind of thing happened there, the perps would be caught immediately. The impression downtown must be that this neighborhood and its people are easily written off but nothing could be farther from the truth. The situation seems to be out of control as far as the police are concerned, which is scary. I wasn't afraid before, but now I am if I have to be out at night up here.

[Cletus Ray Ray]

Called 311.  This is ridiculous. 

[pphillipp]

This is unbearable, and yes, it is far worse than it has *ever* been in the past 5 years.

It WILL NOT STOP unless we take action.  I don't think calls to 311 are going to do it. 

As such, I am wondering:  IF I write a form letter to the mayor and the 34th Precinct regarding fireworks and noise in general, how many members of this board would be willing to receive it via e-mail, print it out, sign it, and send it?  I fully understand that "form letters" are not as persuasive as individually written letters, but am also realistic, and know that most people simply aren't going to do it.  In my opinion, getting a stack of letters, even form letters, is better than a bunch of calls to 311 which will simply vanish in the ether.

As one person said at the community meeting last week:  we pay the same taxes up here as every other person in the city, yet we are simply - to be blunt - written off; we do NOT get the same services, for the same tax dollars, as other residents of this city.  No one cares what happens in Inwood, because no one makes a stink about it.  Is it time for a stink?

[wantingtexas]

Last night they were shooting fireworks at windows by 215th Street and Seaman Avenue. 

Maybe they are just so happy to be in America they feel the need to celebrate our Independence earlier then the rest of us.  Could that be it?

Also, once again the park was horrible. Garbage everywhere and this past Sunday there was a bonus.  Bongo music was in the air until well after 9PM.

I couldn't attend any of the recent community meetings/Mayor's meeting.  Did any of this behavior come up?

wantingtexas

[Cletus Ray Ray]

When I called 311, that's when the fireworks were going off full blast.  311 patched through to 911.  Seems 911 already knew about it because they asked for the minimal info.  The fireworks stopped like less than 5 minutes after my call.

Keep it up folks!

[esunny]

So glad it wasn't just me that called. I'm up for anything we can do to change this situation.

On my morning run in the park it was a land mine of cake trays, coolers, bags and bags of trash up against trees. I feel so bad for the morning parks crews.

[Bx67333]

Loud, July 4th type fireworks were actually being set off from the ROOF of my building last night, after 11.  Fortunately -- presumably 911 was called -- this didn't last very long.

[jkl2000]

I'll definitely call 311 at least once tonight when (not if) it starts up. And I will follow up with a personal letter if asked to do so.  I once got really good results with a letter to the Dept, of Transportation about a dangerous corner in Astoria, and it gave me some hope that things like this can be addressed. It seemed to me like the key to my letter working was to mention that if something wasn't done about it, someone will surely be injured. This puts it on the record that they were warned, and if they don't act and someone *is* injured, your letter becomes potential ammo that can be used against them in a lawsuit.

The weird thing is how non-stop it is, and the sheer number of firecrackers, etc. Sounds like thousands of firecrackers.

[JCF]

Dana,

Where do you live that people were setting fireworks off on the roof???  (This isn't a stalker question - I'm not looking for the exact address, but the general vicinity... is it a rental/co-op building, west/east of Bway, etc.?)  If that's happening, the police should be called ASAP and the landlord notified.... evictions are in order if anyone happens to be a resident!

I called the 34th precinct a couple of times last night, and a few minutes after my second call, everything quieted down almost completely.

As to 311, calling that number at night is just about useless.  Half the time, no one picks up, or if they do, they ask if the situation is occurring right now; if you answer yes, then they patch you through to 911.  Of course, sometimes you can call 911 for a noise complaint and they send you off to 311.  Just depends on the person.  I've found that a direct call to the precinct is the best approach.  At least they know the area, so you don't have to explain where everything is.

The other night, when fireworks were going off until 2am and I couldn't reach either 311 or the precinct, I called 911.  Here's an edited, partial transcript of the conversation:

ME:  "I'm calling from Inwood, in Upper Manhattan."

DISPATCHER:  "What borough is that?"

Oy.  Call the precinct.

[mm847]

Hey everyone,
So what do you guys think about going to the meeting at the 34th precinct on Wed?  (See postings in "crime in wahi").
The fireworks have been insane, I agree, the garbage everywhere in the park is gross--we could meet up before hand, write down a specific list of complaints, times, locations, etc., elect a spokesperson, and let them know this is not ok with us.
The name my friend in the police dept. gave me was also Kehoe, so it looks like he's the guy to speak to.
I would also be willing to print out a form letter and sign it.
MM