City of Garland cancels Fourth of July celebration

Chris Kidd says:

That is about the stupidist thing ive ever seen a city do, bad economy or not. Maybe its the traditionalist in me, but I think you should keep star spangled 4th going, maybe a bit smaller, but keep the parade and carnival atmosphere going accordingly. I guess that addison will get my money this year w/ kaboomtown...

David Goodspeed says:

my little town here still shows the holiday festivities on but city employees are taking furlough days without pay and losing city-paid dental coverage to make up for huge budget shortfall. Happy Fourth!

Chris Kidd says:

I lived in duncanville/cedar hill as a kid up into my early 20s, D-town still knows how to put together an old-fashion 4th of july celebration. The Scouts still march in the parade, people still make homemade floats and show old glory, with her 50 stars and stripes, in all her majesty.

They still have a carnival and fireworks at armstrong park, people still gather in the parking lot across from Reed Jr. High to watch them get shot off into the air, it serves as a nightcap to a great 4th. I have alot of great memories of those 4ths as a kid and young adult. I even first kissed a girl at the fireworks on a warm july 4th night years ago.

I guess what im trying to say is that memories of the 4th make us decidly American, shutting down festivities such as what Garland is doing is just a really bad move and, quite honestly, unpatriotic even in these "troubling economic" times, when we need celebrations like this to lift our spirits.

AnnMarie Wilson says:

When Firewheel was built, the city decided to move the Forth celebration there.

It sucked. Major.

They removed the rides the kids (and parents loved), the local food booths gone, put it in the middle of a bloody shopping center, no parking, traffic nightmare, BRIGHT LIGHTS, hot, etc.

We (as in the people) suggested strongly to get a nice volunteer committee together and see what we could do to put it back the way it was (that btw was 2-years ago when we suggested it).

A lot of small businesses wanted to get involved; time, product, donations, free pr. We're not talking big corporate sponsors, we're talking about the little guy.

The idea was to once more make it into the sort of Forth celebration that had garnered Garland big-time awards!

That fell on deaf ears.

We were told no room, it wasn't what people wanted etc etc etc. Of course when we ran a poll ranking what folks wanted.. well, it was what we wanted.

We could have done it a lot cheaper, brought back the popularity, and done a major boost for the city.

Instead - all gone. And no, I haven't been back since that first year at Firewheel when it took us over 2-hours to get out of the parking nightmare.

Chris Kidd says:

The city of Garland has lost touch with its roots, I know of at least a half-dozen places off the top of my head that would def. better than firewheel. Thats what happens when you hire consultants to run city events....

David Goodspeed says:

Sssshhhhh...yeah, it's little 'd'...

Chris-yes, we love the activities and I even proposed to my girlfriend last year in the parade, stopped the whole darned thing right in front of city hall (she said "yes"). Wrote a column about it called "A Parade to Remember" on my autoworldtoday.net website, last one on the archive list.

Shawn Williams says:

I hate to hear the news. It's amazing that Garland is canceling their 4th, but yet the Rangers shoot off fireworks after every Friday home game.

We'll if you're looking for a fun time, head on out to the Fair Park Fourth. Should be a good time.

AnnMarie Wilson says:

Chris -- I don't know that it WAS outside consultants actually that caused this mess. I think it goes back to pushing Firewheel down our collective throats. I understand wanting it to succeed, but not at the cost of everything else.

Of course now Firewheel has lost several of it's big anchors.. and the Starbucks closed.

It's not close to me, inconvenient to get to, and to high dollar for this person to shop there.

Chris Kidd says:

Ive been to firewheel once after it opened, it was a ghost town then, cant imagine how it is now. Have they started opening up the Gospel Music Tape/ Knockoff Jesus slogan t-shirt like they have every other space at redbird mall yet??

Travis Bush says:

<img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tBjRbiSZ21I/0.jpg">

Someone call the mayor!

Jesus Valadez says:

This is unAmerican!

Jason Rice says:

Now, Jesus.... they canceled their Cinco de Mayo festivities, so it's obviously only fair...

So Bastille Day July 14 is S.O.L.

alas

Travis Bush says:

I blame those commie theater people in Plano...

Chris Kidd says:

Commie Theather People you say?? If we're going to lay blame I say we also throw in other crazy, infamous historical figures like Stalin, Idi Amin, Lower Greenville Avi Adleman, and The 1919 Chicago White Sox lineup as well ;)

Jason Rice says:

You wouldn't talk like that if you'd ever seen Stalin in his heyday! A finer Richard III you just won't find.

Sure, he killed a few advisors here and there and doctored history a tad, eradicated freedom, but that Act IV Scene iv soliloquy...."Look what is done cannot be now amended: Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes"

ah, it brings a tear even now.

My solution: Rename July 4 "Cesar Chavez Day" --- the money rolls in. The hungry are fed. The withered crops arise. All God's children sing together hand in hand. Roll credits.

Chris Kidd says:

LOL jason...

Chris Kidd says:

Ive been to the richardson celebration a couple of times, they do it pretty well. Perhaps if Garland learned how to handle its expenses like Richardson, they wouldn't had to cancel their event, which is a shame.

AnnMarie Wilson says:

I got into (well a number of us did) arguing for the Festival with the volunteers and businesses involved. It's VERY doable!

The main argument we got from one group was: The city had no business doing, being involved with, spending money on, looking at, blah blah blah, ANYTHING that was <b>"Feel Good"</b> for the citizens.

It "<b>wasn't their job, shouldn't spend our taxes, weren't in the business of making people happy"</b>.. you get the idea.

Gee an Event that brings the city, it's citzens, families, friends together to celebrate, enjoy themselves, appreciate their city, spend $ - is now a bad idea?

Pass the Aleve please, I feel another headache coming on.