Posted on 07/03/2004 11:31:33 AM PDT by AZ GRAMMY
City officials assure San Luis will have fireworks
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — The city's fireworks show will take place as scheduled Sunday, even though a planned Fourth of July parade has been canceled, San Luis officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
Interim City Administrator Rosalicia Cordova said she had received a couple phone calls from concerned residents after a newspaper advertisement came out in The Sun and Bajo El Sol Friday that stated the city was not going to allow a Fourth of July parade.
The ad stated the city of San Luis was not going to support a parade because it didn't support its organizers, which were Factor Sales and its leaders.
But Cordova said residents misunderstood the ad to mean the city was not patriotic and that it was not going to hold a fireworks display. She explained that was not the case.
Cordova said the $14,300 Fourth of July event is scheduled to take place from 7 p.m. to about 10 p.m. at the Joe Orduno Park on the northeast corner of Highway 95 and Juan Sanchez Boulevard.
Oscar Leon, San Luis city council assistant, said the event has been organized for many years in San Luis and this year is no different.
"It's an event for the whole community," Leon said. "And not only for the city of San Luis, but for the neighbors in San Luis, Mexico, and all of the Yuma County community."
Cordova added that the city is not supporting a Fourth of July parade because its organizers did not request a permit application for the event until about two weeks ago, which was too late for the city to organize.
Also, she said, the city had prepared its fiscal 2005 budget prior to the parade request and had not allocated funds for additional overtime for city police officers and public works employees to provide security and traffic control for the event.
Mayor Guillermina Fuentes and Councilwoman Nieves Riedel also spoke at the news conference, clarifying their patriotism to the United States and their dedication to improving the city and representing its residents.
Riedel said her brother served in the Vietnam War and her oldest daughter is about to retire from the United States Armed Forces.
Fuentes said the inclination that the city is not patriotic is only the opinion of an organization in San Luis.
"It's a personal opinion of an organization against the city, and (those involved) have all the right to think and write what they want," Fuentes said. "But we're here to clarify that (misinterpretation).”
The Fourth of July event includes sport events, like women's softball, watermelon busts, food booths, refreshments, music, a pool party and a fireworks display. Admission is free and prizes will be given out through raffles. --- Jacob Lopez can be reached at jlopez@yumasun.com or 539-6872.
http://yumasun.com/artman/publish/articles/story_11870.shtml
the city council didn't budget for an Independance day parade, but they did budget for cinco de mayo parade, this the USA not mexico
Why is their political party left out? Republicans I suppose!
(Combs over hair.)
Thhhhhatsss not going to happen! Thhhhhis is not likely anytime when Giuliani's around. I don't care ifffff I hafffff to haul assssssss from Mexssssssssico City. NO FIREWORKS! And thhhhhatsss thhhhat!
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