Tucson's Fourth of July fireworks display show has been saved

Location of fireworks display: Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave
City: Tucson
State: Arizona
Date: 4th July
Show contact: 520-791-4101
Event website: http://www.tucsonconventioncenter.org/.
Fireworks display company :

Details:Tucson's Fourth of July fireworks show has been saved, thanks to some generous Tucson businesses, local tribes and anonymous donors. Even though the controversy over not celebrating the nation's birthday in the city was short-lived, we hope Tucson leaders are feeling sufficiently burned.The way City Hall announced that the annual fireworks display atop "A" Mountain was being cancelled was an embarrassment. It showed that city leaders are apparently out of touch and don't know how to ask for help when they need it.The Star's Rob O'Dell reported Thursday that city officials said they couldn't afford the $34,000 to put on the show, which has taken place every year since 1984.Instead of starkly announcing that it didn't have the money and the show was off, the city should reached out to the community for help.It didn't, but by Thursday afternoon, Tucson Electric Power Co., the Arizona Builders Alliance, Cox Communications, the Tohono O'odham Nation and the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, among others, pitched in to make sure the show will go on.We applaud these organizations and other anonymous donors for keeping this holiday tradition alive.From the start, we didn't give the city's pleas of poverty much credence. Certainly, the city is going through a budget crunch due to the struggling economy, but this was more a case of misplaced priorities.As they announced the fireworks cancellation, city officials also told O'Dell that they would continue to support other community events with more than $300,000 in contributions. Those events include festivals open to everyone but that specifically recognize African-American, Mexican-American or Native American communities.We believe the city should sponsor July Fourth fireworks because it is an event that is quintessentially American — no hyphen needed. It's probably the most inclusive annual event the city funds, so eliminating it simply didn't make sense.O'Dell reported that only Councilwoman Karin Uhlich spoke strongly against canceling the fireworks. "It's a significant tradition," Uhlich said. "We need to find a way to host this celebration."We agree, and we're glad others did, too.When one considers the size of the city budget, $34,000 is a pittance. This week the City Council tentatively approved a $1.3 billion budget for fiscal 2010. The city would have to stage 382 fireworks shows — more than one a day — to spend the equivalent of 1 percent of its budget.The 2010 budget also includes a handful of tax hikes that City Manager Mike Letcher and council members said are necessary to preserve programs people want.If city leaders are so concerned about giving the people what they want, they sure went about it the wrong way. People want fireworks.The pyrotechnics display draws thousands and thousands of families to the Downtown area and the roads around "A" Mountain. A couple of years ago, we saw cars lining South Mission Road and West Starr Pass Boulevard as we made our way to a family gathering to watch the fireworks.One hour after the show, cars were still bumper to bumper all over the West Side as families headed home.The fireworks surely generate good sales-tax revenues as families buy food and drinks to pass the time before and after the show.For $34,000, we believe the city gets a lot of bang for its buck.Then there's the issue of civic pride. It seems Tucson is too willing to surrender its regional leadership.If Tucson hadn't put on a show, Marana would have been the only local municipality to host a display. No doubt, many Tucsonans would have made the drive to the Northwest Side. They may have wondered why Marana was able to put on a show — and why Tucson could not.An annual fireworks show is something Tucson's leaders should point to with pride. It gives Tucsonans another reason to love their city and make them glad they live here instead of in outlying communities.Sometimes is seems as if Tucson wants to make itself less attractive to new residents and existing ones.This episode proved one thing. Even in bad economic times, Tucson should be willing to light many bright, loud, colorful candles on our nation's birthday.