There’s a chance we may get a fireworks display over Lake Union after all (see Fireworks Canceled). After One Reel announced that a sponsor would have to come up with a cool half million to get the fireworks back on track, KIRO’s Dave Ross and famed chef Tom Douglas kicked off a pledge drive with $5,000. Microsoft and Starbucks have offered to match donations of $125,000 each, and dozens of businesses have stepped up to the challenge.
As of this writing, MyNorthWest.com has the total at $182,200 pledged, leaving just $67,800 to go to trigger the Microsoft and Starbuck’s matching pledges. Hitting that point after only a day makes the whole thing seem pretty likely.
Hey, remember that time we pissed off a bunch of readers by talking about how we think you shouldn’t buy lottery tickets? Well, we’re going to do it again.
While it will no doubt alienate a good chunk of our audience, we have to say we’re ambivalent. It’s great to see so many businesses pledging towards a community event, but we’ve always felt that that spending that much money smacks a bit of lighting a cigar with a $100 bill. Imagine if that $500,000 were spent on building better schools. Imagine if all the manufacturing and shipping resources of producing those fireworks weren’t focused on blowing things up.
Is it patriotic to send that much money to China to produce our fireworks and gun powder in their factories?
Now, to be fair, it’s not an either-or situation. If those businesses weren’t donating towards this, it’s unlikely they would be spending the money on education or healthcare or food for the hungry instead. So, if it’s just money that’s diverted from their corporate coffers, I guess we can’t complain, but still.
Sorry to be the spoilsport again.
I said the same thing earlier today — good for you for speaking up too!
Okay, fireworks are cool, but $500,000 for five minutes of exploding light? I can think of an infinite number of better ways to spend that money. Sad that we can raise money that fast for something silly like fireworks and not for really important things.
Yes, I agree with your assessment. I certainly can’t say I mind fireworks. They’re pretty, and the kid in me likes watching them on the 4th. But if I had a choice to donate money to fireworks or to schools, or low income assistance organizations, or heck, even SIFF, I’d choose one of those over fireworks every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
I hope that all of these businesses and private citizens who are donating consider donating to a charitable organization in the same amounts they donated to the fireworks.
Thank you for saying this! This was my first thought on hearing that businesses were trying to raise the money for fireworks – if we can come up with half a million dollars in a day for some noisy lights, why can’t we feed Nickelsville, provide basic medical needs, maintain our city parks, or dozens of other worthwhile projects? I realize fireworks are fun and all, but they are such a sad waste of money that could go towards better things.
I wonder how many people in Seattle would rather the money go towards a good cause? Think we could start a petition or something to keep the fireworks canceled?
Don’t we still have another set of fireworks on Elliot Bay on the 4th?
Disagree.
Seattle’s school budget for 2010 is $550 million, or 1000 times the cost of this fireworks show. $500,000 ain’t gonna make a big dent in the issues facing our schools. $500,000 can, however, create community bonds, fond memories for families and an infusion of cash into Wallingford businesses.
Also, I like to watch stuff blow up.
I see both sides. Yes, there are better ways to spend $500,000, but no, people wouldn’t be giving to those other causes — they want fireworks and that’s what’ll get Seattleites to cough up half a million dollars in two days. And it’s not just blowing up Chinese goods — it really is one of the last true community events we have left. I’m glad there’ll be something going on this July 4. Now, whether the thing needs to cost so much, I don’t know. How much do Kirkland’s cost? We could do something on a smaller scale…
Disagree. Two fireworks shows are unnecessary, but one show is needed and I love how the community is coming together for this. It is less about the fireworks being impressive and more about having something to celebrate around.
The world would be a very boring place if we only spent money on necessary things.
Also keep in mind that this presumably would save July 4th, 2010 but doesn’t solve the longer-term issue of finding a recurring annual sponsor. I’d consider ponying up for one year, but I’d not be too keen on an annual patriotism tax to keep the explosions going.
And while I understand/sympathize with where Chase is coming from re: backing out of the sponsorship arrangement, I think a PR smear against Chase is still called for, “you mean, you hate America?!” (;]).
Benjamin and Josh summed up my feelings.
I forgot – Wallyhood – thanks for sharing your feelings and opening the discussion!
How much does it cost to bring the Blue Angels to Seattle every summer? If you ask me, *that’s* the money that should be redirected to the fireworks display…
While I agree that 500k seems excessive, and I would certainly be curious to see a breakdown of where all that money goes, I’m quite sure that far from all of it is going to Chinese fireworks manufacturers. It will pay for all the police support at the event, and permits to the city to use the space, it will pay for porta-potties and event staff and equipment rental, and probably lots of other things. Lots of these things will mean money back in the hands of Seattle citizens, or the Seattle government, and that’s a good thing, right? And as people above have pointed out, there are lots of accessory benefits like all the local business that will get a boost that day, and the chance to have a big community event that brings lots of us together.
I live close enough to Gasworks to be in the blocked off area. Yeah, it can be a hassle, with all the crowds and limited access. But it’s become a tradition to have friends over for a low-key party, then walk down to see the show. Probably my favorite part is when it’s all over, walking with this huge crowd of people up the middle of the street on a warm summer evening. I’d be a little sad if it didn’t happen.
To me, that’s the same argument as the one that takes art, music and gym out of the schools. Or slashes the budget for public art. There’s always something “more important” to spend money on.
THANK YOU Chuck. Amen
Agree with Chuck.
It’s surprising to me that more people don’t recognize the hypocrisy in their argument.
some people could ruin a BJ
@Emily — now that’s a great idea! And I don’t even think I want to know how much pollution the Blue Angels create during SeaFair.
I agree that we could do a hell of a lot with 1/2 million bucks — more important things than fireworks. However, we don’t know how much money these same businesses give to charitable organizations. We don’t know how many of their employees work the food banks or donate directly to them. Maybe if we could add it all up, it would be more than 1/2 mil. I’d like to think so anyway. (I did find an article from 2006 showing Microsoft’ & employees contributed 2.5 billion from ’83 to 06: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2006/sep06/09-21CharitableDonationsPR.mspx)
For purely selfish reasons, I’m glad it looks like we’ll have our fireworks after all. I live just a few blocks away & July 4th is my partner’s birthday. The whole city shows up and puts on a show for her every year! 😉
chris
I guess I see art, music and gym as more edifying than a fireworks display, partly because they are interactive (involve the children in the activity, rather than set them as passive observers).
Agree it’s subjective, though. Frank, I think the word “hypocrisy” is too strong here. Reasonable people can come to different conclusions.
@Carolyn: no, the Elliott Bay fireworks were canceled after 2008. Ivar’s, the sponsor, said they were expanding their partnership with Northwest Harvest food banks, instead. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008981644_webivars03.html
How about both having fireworks and raising money to buy the festering pit and put in a community center that augments public operations like schools, parks, with art and music . . . let’s get some vision. Large businesses and corporations fund lots of things and need to be presented with a proposal to act. Who owns that lot and how challenging and fun would it be to make something new happen?
As a relatively new resident of Wallingford, I’m still pretty ambivalent about the event. But one point that I can make is that the fireworks used for large displays are almost always not imported from China. Rather they are typically manufactured by small local businesses. This is because, well, they are explosives, and most transport companies (ships or trucks) don’t take kindly to large containers full of those high-powered explosives on their vehicles over long distances.
So rest assured that the fireworks on this display will likely be not only made in the USA, but also (potentially) someone in the NW. it’s all the smaller ones people shoot off themselves that are imports…
Again, a very small point.
While I agree somewhat with posters who think it is crazy that we can raise so much money in such a short time for fireworks and not for more ‘important’ issues, I still support what’s being done with this. That money is going to go to pay people who are going to be a part of creating this celebration – from the people working the crowd on the ground during it to the people making the fireworks to the people handling the display itself. That supports jobs, mostly (I hope) locally. Any money spent toward supporting workers right now is a good enough charity to me. As for the event itself, it brings the neighborhood together. We get to meet new people, reconnect with neighbors and have a since of a community accomplishment in making this happen together. That sense of community helps keep our neighborhood a brighter, friendlier and safer place to live.
I’ve read somewhere a while ago that its a local company who does the 4th. The same people who do the space needle on new years I think? If that WERE the case, would this justify it anymore that someone local is benefiting and not just China?
@Stacy: My thoughts exactly.
@joe mamma: LOL
The Seattle Times reported yesterday (or was it this am?) that the fireworks themselves cost about $150K, and I believe they are purchased in China. But it’s local folks who actually do the work of setting them up & shooting them off.
These fireworks are not made in China – perhaps one of the few things that isn’t.
And they last longer than 5 minutes.
And they’re fun.