fbpx

Poof! KaBoom Fireworks Gone

The annual spectacular Red Bank fireworks will not happen this July, according to a report in the Red Bank-Shrewsbury Patch.

“Following a several month-long process of examination and discussion, the KaBoom executive committee has concluded that KaBoom as we know it is not sustainable in the current economy, taking into account escalating costs to maintain public safety coupled with the increasing costs of products and services related to the event,” KaBoom Committee Chairman Tim Hogan said in a release. “KaBoom is a victim of its own successgiant water slide. Each year brought increasing numbers of visitors to Red Bank, especially as towns throughout New Jersey cancelled their own Fourth of July fireworks displays. Our security costs doubled in the last three years, and although we raised more money in 2011 than ever before, we continued to incur a deficit with each succeeding year.”

More from my site

Posted: February 15th, 2012 | Author: | Filed under: Monmouth County, New Jersey, Red Bank | Tags: , , , | 11 Comments »

11 Comments on “Poof! KaBoom Fireworks Gone”

  1. Gene Baldassari said at 11:21 am on February 15th, 2012:

    I wonder if a non-profit group can assemble a few towns that can share the expense of a regional display? Perhaps it can be sponsored by a group of businesses that can be rewarded with the publicity?

    The towns can provide the police, essential services, and location. The businesses can supply the show.

  2. BoomBoom said at 1:17 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    Kudos to the organizers for putting up with Red Bank for so long. But you know how that Mayor and Council are… the more they take, the more they want. They should move to Fair Haven or Rumson, or maybe Sea Bright.

  3. JayCe said at 1:23 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    Municipal services are already strained in my town. Don’t want our tax dollars going towards Red Bank’s fireworks when we’re already cutting back to make ends meet.

  4. Fed up in Red Bank said at 2:08 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    Maybe some of our wealthier residents of Monmouth County will donate some funds to keep the fireworks alive. You know, the people with big pensions and medical insurance for life for their families. You know the people that have tenure for life and work 8 months a year. The wealthy police officers that retire at 46 and the school administrators earning $250k or members of the NJEA executive team. Or maybe the “dastardly but double dipping and disabled” politicians that have several incomes but are “totally and permanently disabled” and draining pension funds faster than a politician can drain a martini glass at a fundraiser. Will any of these people help pay for fireworks while the rest of us non-politicians struggle to live and save for retirement >?

  5. speedkillsu said at 3:14 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    That’s a idea …Make Red Bank a abbott district …then everybody but Red Bank pays .

  6. TheDigger said at 3:35 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    “Our security costs doubled in the last three years”

    Doublespeak for paid Police overtime, pensions and benefits.

  7. Right on man said at 4:12 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    The Digger is right on the money !

    POLICE PAY AND OVERTIME WILL SURELY CRIPPLE US ALL

  8. Aren't Unions Grand? said at 4:32 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    Ok, let’s face facts. What “costs” have skyrocketed? It’s the insane overtime, staffing, supervisors, etc. that the unions have built into their contracts to the point that everything that we do in this damn state costs a fortune. Ever wonder why even with layoffs, taxes continue to go up? Because the greedy unions don’t care how many workers lose their jobs, as long as the remaining members get more and more. As long as the Democrats control Trenton, this will be the way it is. Thanks unions, for killing a Red Bank tradition.

  9. Justified Right said at 5:54 pm on February 15th, 2012:

    Red Bank’s were always fun until it was time to leave – traffic nightmare.

    We go to many all summer long, and the best around is Asbury Park.

    A few years back the developers decided to make it a thing.

    They have them go off on two separate beaches at once for non-stop blasts that last over 30 minutes, set to patriotic music.

  10. just another ploy said at 4:23 pm on February 16th, 2012:

    for more donations, so the town gets to make up for the salaries, etc., once again- threaten to take way the “toy” or “candy”, and modify the behavior: they’re looking for public outcry and begging to keep them….it’ll also likely be another excuse to raise the local taxes/ water/sewer utility prices again, too, they never can cut anything in “Blue Bank”… and, forget trying to park anywhere, and how much that costs if you do find a space, and how lovely to try and get out, when it’s over..there’s Long Branch, too, a bit easier to navigate..

  11. dont they threaten to cancel every year? said at 7:53 pm on February 16th, 2012:

    They scare people to dontate more money to pay for those $110k salaries for the cops (before they retire at 47 with huge pensions). Sopranos state is alive and well!