Fireworks Complaints Skyrocket in NYC

New Yorkers have gotten used to the sounds of loud explosions each night for the past couple of weeks, as many across the city have been setting off fireworks throughout the night and into the early morning hours. New data shows just how different this year’s fireworks season is compared to previous years – and just how frustrated many in the city are.

According to data collected by Gothamist, the number of complaints made against fireworks in New York City has skyrocketed to over 6,300 in just the first three weeks of June. That’s a difference of over 230 times the number of complaints made during the same time a year ago, with 27 or less made in each of the previous years dating back to 2015.

On Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city government acknowledged plans to crack down on the distribution of fireworks across the city. One of the methods that will be used are undercover police officers in and around neighborhoods across the five boroughs. This comes after many New Yorkers camped outside of the mayor’s residence of Gracie Mansion in Manhattan Monday night honking their horns to protest the city’s inaction against fireworks up to that point.

Some see the COVID-19 lockdowns and the general social unrest as reasons for why the use of fireworks has been so high this year. Others say the city may purposely be letting people violate the law in order to increase foot patrol in neighborhoods that have recently been heavily protested by Black Lives Matter activists.