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I'm all for the fireworks...apart from the tourist side of things, they're a tradition dating back many years, the kids love them (they do have a magic about them) and they're fun.
All this talk about it being pollution and a waste of money, better spent elsewhere on the homeless, poor, etc etc, is just nonsense talk. It wouldn't matter how much the display cost, it wouldn't even put a dent in any of those problems. Look at all the money they've spent over the years "combating" these problems worldwide...what's it really done. Nothing. Chris hit the nail on the head by saying it's government and non government management deficiencies, corruption and greedy self interest which have exacerbated these problems, not a lack of money.
Then, speaking of pollution, instead of putting blame on the fireworks display (a one-off), why not give up using your cars entirely and take public transport. Or, if you don't have public transport where you live, lobby the government to have it put into place. Make sure, then, that you get a system that's comprehensive and works well. Yes, you may have to pay for it, but at least it won't be contributing as much CO2 to global warming as you are now.
In so far as the hooligan element being there, that's a societal problem that needs to be addressed right from the time these people are little kids. You reap what you sow, as they say. In that sense, we need to look carefully at how we act as a society as a whole, as well as a family unit. Frankly, it needs changing, and bemoaning our present stupidity isn't going to solve the problem.
Worrying about the cost or environmental impact of a one off, yearly fireworks display isn't going to solve any of the other problems that have cropped up in this thread and canceling the display won't solve them either. We have more pressing problems to worry about than this and we should focus on these rather than canceling an event which is much loved by many thousands of people. Let the people have their fun and the city its tourist attraction.
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