Macy's 4th Of July Fireworks To Return To East River This Year
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Macy's 4th of July fireworks show will return to the East River this year.
The annual display will be set off from the Brooklyn Bridge and barges on the East River, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Monday.
As public advocate, de Blasio would join other Brooklyn leaders each year asking Macy's and then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg to bring the fireworks back to the East River.
Now that he's in charge, it's happening.
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"We're grateful to Macy's for lighting our skyline every 4th of July and I'm thrilled that after years of working with Macy's and my colleagues to make this a reality," said de Blasio. "Now even more New Yorkers will get to take part in this extraordinary celebration, against the backdrop of the Brooklyn Bridge, the harbor and our skyline."
"Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are a one-of-a-kind spectacle that will once again inspire audiences nationwide as we illuminate the shores of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn with stunning effects, color and sound," said Amy Kule, Executive Producer of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. "We are thrilled to be working with our partners in the City of New York to have the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge as our canvas and stunning backdrop for this year's bigger-than-life display."
The dazzling display was moved to the Hudson River in 2009 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's voyage up the river.
"I think it's about time we bring it back over here," said Jessica, who works on the Brooklyn waterfront. "It'll bring more people over here, it'll bring more business over here since after Hurricane Sandy a lot of these stores closed."
"I'm so ecstatic to hear that they're coming back to Brooklyn where they belong every year," one Brooklyn resident said.
People on Manhattan's west side told CBS 2's Elise Finch that they were disappointed by the change.
"Most of Brooklyn is private all the way down to the water, so it's difficult to see from over there," Upper West Side resident, Bob Holl said.
New Jersey residents were often said to have the best view of the show. That will also be changing this year.
"We've been spoiled. We've been able to sit on our balconies and watch the fireworks from here so it's definitely disappointing, but it is what it is," Hoboken resident Kacy Leonard said.
Macy's organizers said that over the past 50 years they have launched fireworks from the Hudson River 25 times and that this year will mark the 25th time that they have launched from the East River. Organizers said that they plan to continue alternating rivers in the future.
"Regardless of which way it goes people are going to complain," Jauncito Gomez said.
The fireworks will be launched from the Brooklyn Bridge to give more people a great view in spite of the location change.
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