To the editor:
Once the Fourth of July has come and gone, the fireworks are over.
Or are they?
Ever since Provident Bank Park opened for Rockland County Baseball fans, we have had fourth of July celebrations with every game. While I can understand the excitement of having this new field in the county and the ability to see the Rockland Boulders play, I am not as happy about the fireworks display that accompanies each game. Living in New City I am amazed at how clear and loud the displays are, considering they are set off in Pomona.
They are so loud that they initially prompted me to call the police as it set all the neighborhood dogs barking and I thought it was gunshots. My friends in the Pomona area have said it is even more horrendous for them. I do not understand why, surrounded by a residential community they are allowed to have these nightly "events" and they are not held for special occasions only.
They happen after 10 p.m., and besides waking some of us up and upsetting the residents who hear them too sharply, they also set off a chain reaction of barking, growling and anxiety amongst our dogs which takes quite awhile to settle down.
I am all for fun and celebrations, but this has become too frequent, too disruptive, too loud and a source of noise pollution to the rest of us. I am sure a compromise could be worked out, but as for now this is very inconsiderate of all residents within earshot of field.
-SK, New City
DF, Pomona, NY
not every day or every game plan accordingly
But would they do better with other forms of promotion? Is it unfair to the residents to have all that noise? I can definitely see both of those as important questions.
Again, I would be annoyed by loud fireworks at night when they did not exist previously, and I can sympathize with that complaint. Nevertheless, the fact remains that the ballpark was built whether you wanted it or not, and things like fireworks attract attendance, which funds the Boulders, which in turn allows the organization to pay back the local government for the money that was put forward. I read that the average base income for people living in Pomona, NJ is $70,000 to $80,000 a year. Frankly, I wouldn't mind trading in my crappy $30,000 salary and apartment in Newark for a nice house in Pomona with occasional firework noise.
I already have 2 rescue dogs; and, fortunately we live far enough away from the illegally constructed Boulders stadium. St. (HA!) Lawrence went ahead and built even after the referendum was voted down! And the cost overruns were exorbitant, and you know that we are paying for it now! Some of us won't go to the games because we are boycotting the whole existence of the stadium. It is a crying and barking shame!
Just another day in crooked Ramapo politics - what's new?