Milwaukee is canceling its July 3 fireworks. Someone must step up. | Opinion
While I’ve never been a big fan of fireworks, I know how important they are to this city.
The lakefront fireworks on July 3 are a Milwaukee County staple. It’s a celebration and melting pot, bringing people from all parts of southeastern Wisconsin. The fireworks are just as much a part of a Milwaukee summer as Summerfest, Bastille Days, Juneteenth, and State Fair.
As a resident who cherishes the traditions of our city, I am deeply disappointed, and I know many of you were, too, when the Milwaukee County Parks Department announced last week that the skies over Milwaukee’s lakefront will remain joyless on July 3 due to a “lack of sponsorship.”
I must ask why the fireworks are being canceled again? The fireworks cost about $350,000, and an additional $20,000 for staffing and service costs related to the event.
Canceling Milwaukee fireworks will have negative economic impact
In the grand scheme, that amount of money isn't significant for a city of our size. Considering the fireworks draw over 100,000 people to the lakefront, it's also not substantial. What kind of economic impact does the cancellation have on businesses in the area? What about the coffee shops, grocery stores, and restaurants? What about the food truck vendors?
Don't ruin them for everyone else. Electric scooters are back in Milwaukee.
The residents of Milwaukee deserve to enjoy the vibrant spectacle of fireworks, especially considering how much the city and county have asked citizens to contribute to multiple tax increases and increased homeowners' assessments that may also raise property taxes. The annual lakefront show is part of our identity and our shared experiences, and it makes sense.
Milwaukee County residents deserve to enjoy the fireworks as compensation for being burdened with a city and county sales tax, a Milwaukee Public Schools referendum, and a baseball sales tax to support the Brewers, which have been implemented. And least we forget, we are still on the hook for taxes for the Fiserv arena.
Why can't a corporate donor return the favor in-kind?
As much as we support these major corporations, one of them should step up and return the favor in kind.
When factoring in the increasing inflation that has raised the cost of essential items such as food, gas, and childcare, it's evident why we need more free entertainment.
On Tuesday, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he was disappointed with the cancellation of the July 3 fireworks, but he encouraged residents to visit their local parks for fireworks.
I appreciate the effort that local parks like Jackson and Hart Parks put into their fireworks displays, but they don't compare to the scale and don't bring together as diverse a crowd as the lakefront. I understand that most tax money is designated for specific purposes, but I wish Milwaukee County had considered the impact of losing sponsors on the lakefront fireworks display.
Blame the media. Every angle of Trump's trial has been analyzed except the law.
We are uncertain about how money is spent and where it goes. Auditing the city and county for complete transparency would be a good idea. This could help us determine if extra money can be used for fireworks, road repairs, a summer jobs program for the youth, or other purposes.
During the mayoral debates, I learned that the city has not been fully audited for years. This means that an audit is overdue.
If no one steps up, taxpayers should remember this day
In the grand scheme, spending nearly $400,000 on 30 to 40 minutes of fireworks may not appear to be a wise use of funds when there are many other pressing needs. However, the fireworks symbolize more than just illuminating the sky – they bring us together and help create lasting memories.
You can’t put a price on that.
The history of the lakefront fireworks started with the Great Circus Parade in the early 1960s and were initially sponsored by Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co.
The brewery ended its fireworks sponsorship in 1980, and First Wisconsin Corp., a Milwaukee-based banking company, took over. The bank and its subsequent owners, including U.S. Bank, continued sponsorship until 2018. Since then, the fireworks have been in a precarious situation.
In 2019, the fireworks were almost canceled, but then, at the last minute, the Parks Department, Brewers, American Family Insurance, and T&M Partners came together to save the night.
Another alliance was formed in 2020 to continue the fireworks, but COVID-19 halted it, and neighborhoods throughout Milwaukee hosted their own fireworks shows. In my Midtown neighborhood, fireworks continued until 4 a.m.
In 2021, the fireworks were canceled when the county said it didn’t have the resources to put on the event or to do the cleanup.
And for the last two years, the fireworks returned. Last year, the sponsors included American Family, J&M Displays, The Milwaukee Parks Foundation, and T&M Partners.
There is still time for a partner or partners to come forward to cover the cost. Considering all the money taxpayers in this city and county have and will dish out to pay for other things through taxes and referendums, this should be a no-brainer for someone or a business to step up.
If no one comes forward, taxpayers should mark this date for the next time the city, county, or sports team seeks more money through a tax or referendum. In the meantime, I will be visiting Boomland soon. Does anyone need any M-80s or bottle rockets?
Reach James E. Causey at [email protected]; follow him on X@jecausey.
Editor's Note: This story was updated to make it clearer the July 3 fireworks were canceled.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee’s July 3 fireworks were canceled. A sponsor must step up