Hoping to ease the financial blow that fireworks would mean for the city, a group of volunteers fanned out yesterday to collect as much cash as they could so the show could go on.
City Councilor Ken Cockayne said that within 24 hours, they had more than $3,000 worth of pledges -- half the money needed to pay overtime for police officers to provide security.
Cockayne said he thought this morning that it was all going to work out.
Then the plug got pulled.
The city's 225th anniversary committee met and decided to cancel the fireworks, Cockayne said.
Mayor Art Ward said it wasn't about the money. It was about the manpower.
He said the city couldn't get enough police officers to make sure the public would be safe during a fireworks show taking place so close to homes and businesses.
Ward said Police Chief John DiVenere is writing an extensive memorandum today explaining exactly why it's not possible.
It's not clear whether the chief or the city has asked the police union what, if anything, it can do to help clear the way for the fireworks to go on. Nor is it clear why the city can't use private duty officers from other towns to cover the fireworks or the car show earlier on June 12 or ask St. Anthony's to rely on officers from other towns to patrol its carnival the same day.
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Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
16 comments:
Lets make sure this is remembered in November and for many years to come...Maybe we should start planning now for our 250th.
3:22 I bet you voted for Obama!!!
Steve,
Do your homework. The Chief or the Mayor never asked the union if the officers would cover. This is just an excuse from Arty. It was ALL about the money. Once again Arty is putting the blame on us even though he never asked us!
If Art "I am the Mayor" Ward isn't the main attraction, it ain't gonna happen.
I think the area is not safe for fireworks. I think it is too small. The lake or a big park is better. This is not the time to be thinking about it. This is the result of poor planning.
4:38 PM: That's some grudge you're carrying there "I am NOT the Mayor." It'd be nice if you could grow up and stop the ceaseless whining...but that ain't gonna happen either. Too bad!
lol, okay, so 8:13 clearly IS the mayor... he just can't resist slinging a little hash.
this is all artie the party's fault. he couldn't say no to the fireworks because that would piss people off and tarnish his image, but he also couldn't allocate funds for protective services to the fireworks show, either, because that would also piss people off in light of the budget stuff that was going on at the same time. poor artie the party was between a rock and a hard place, and instead of just calling it like it is and being honest with people (never gonna happen), he led a group of DEDICATED COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS (the lifeblood of this city) to get their hopes up and hearts set on a celebration that was never going to go off as planned. artie made promises he had no intention of keeping (business as usual, as artie's pat phrase is "I'll take care of it"), now, one of Bristol's most dedicated and energetic citizens, Tom Dickau, has stepped down from the bristol 225 committee, disgusted and disheartened. good job, art. way to lead us. you have a way of pushing good people out of this city. keep it up and you'll be a mayor of none.
Steve, I agree with 4:19. Can you please follow up with the union and see if they can help come up with a solution, and if they were asked to chip in for this event? Not that it will help now that Art's entrenched and will poo-poo any suggestions that come along (even suggestions that come bearing $3,000 in cash). Plus, its not in Art's benefit to give the unions any credit for anything. Unbelievable. Isn't it time to impeach this loser?
Maybe Stortz wasn't so bad after all.
LOL 8:45, I'm clearly not the mayor (you totally misunderstood my comment), but go ahead and make your typical baseless assumptions. After all, jumping to conclusions and "slinging hash" is about all the exercise you get! Sorry that the mayor cancelled the fireworks you poor, disgusted and disheartened baby! Buck up, 4th of July will be here soon. Maybe your mom can take you to Lake Compounce! LMAO!!
Screw the cops they dont need any overtime. THESE GREEDY SHITS SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF T6HEM SELVES.
WARD IS NOT A LEADER HE IS A COWARD. BLAME OTHERS, ITS WARD'S MOTIVE.
McCauley:
Is't it time for you to call for a Vote of No Confidence of this Mayor?
Would seem to be appropriate, and I am sure Zoppo will back you.
The chief is a two face LIAR . Hes THE PROBLEM .
C'mon Kevin, speak up, speak out!
Chief of Police knowledge of anything is questionable afterall just got married for the 5th time - I think the guys judgement is way off base. He should retire and spare the taxpayers.
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