Slog - Comments on South Seattle Blows Shit Up http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up Holy crap. It was my first July 4 in the Rainier Valley, and DAMN do they shoot off a lot of illegal fireworks down there. Seriously--it sounded like Kosovo until at least 1 in the morning. Just walking around the neighborhood, we saw hundreds of awesome DIY fireworks displays--really professional-looking stuff, shot out of schoolyards and traffic circles and the middle of the street. It made me proud to be an American.... Copyright 2008 Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:19:31 -0800 Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:48:19 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by boy I'm so glad I wasn't there. I can't stand being around that.

]]> boy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758438 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758438 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:21:24 -0800 Comment by Gomez U District and Wallingford too (Wallingford, one friend told me, is like a warzone on July 4th), and probably the other neighborhoods.

I don't see why they have fireworks laws if no one's gonna obey them. I'm cool with easing them and allowing the illegal rockets usage so long as there's some safety guidelines. And if anyone wants to complain about my stance, keep in mind... nobody's obeying or really enforcing the law anyway.

]]> Gomez http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758444 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758444 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:28:47 -0800 Comment by fun shaped boy drunk dudes in the U-district with tons of those things = awesome

]]> fun shaped boy http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758452 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758452 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:36:43 -0800 Comment by Mole Harborview had over 30 fireworks-related injuries come into the ED ... that's up from years past.

]]> Mole http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758472 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758472 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:51:41 -0800 Comment by Fnarf Whoo hoo! Injuries!

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758486 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758486 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 15:58:27 -0800 Comment by mattro2.0 While I was riding my bike to work from C. Hill to Seward Park, I noticed an obscene amount of firework debris along the side of the road. 37th ave s by genesee was colored almost completely red with firecrackers, courtland pl behind safeway, shreds of exploded fireworks EVERYWHERE!!

]]> mattro2.0 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758499 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758499 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:08:16 -0800 Comment by elswinger I live near 42nd & Stone Way and the illegal fireworks went on until after three. The penalty needs to be really really expensive as a deterrent and the city needs to depend on the money so cops will write the tickets.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758534 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758534 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 16:23:32 -0800 Comment by SeMe Its always like that here in the valley. You should come by MLK, between Orcas and Graham ( the non gentrified part) during the lunar new year, its even louder, though I gotta say last night was a bit more like Sarajevo( 1993)than Kosovo!

]]> SeMe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758592 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758592 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:01:15 -0800 Comment by boom What's the carbon footprint for fireworks?

]]> boom http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758618 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758618 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 17:33:50 -0800 Comment by Levislade Yay fireworks!

"Roisin Isner, drummer for the San Francisco band Tinkture lost her hand in Dolores Park last night watching the fireworks. Her dad sent the email below to some local media outlets...

"Sent: Thursday, July 05, 2007 4:32 AM To: XXXX Subject: Roisin Isner, Tinkture drummer Hello, I am Roisin's father. July 4th, Roisin and friends were in Dolores Park watching fireworks. Some stupid piece of shit threw an M60 at them. It landed on Roisin's right hand and blew it apart. She will undego surgery later this morning but it doesn't look good. Most likely she will lose her index finger; second and third fingers will also be permanently impaired and disfigured. Needless to say, her musical career is over. I want this fucker. Media attention will help flush him out. People know who did it and I'm offering $20,000 for a name. Please do whatever is necessary to get the story out. Do so and I will reward you as well. Thank you, Chris Isner"

I'm hoping this is some kind of sick hoax, but I don't think it is. Hooray for explosions, huh?

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758668 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758668 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:31:26 -0800 Comment by kerri harrop i'm staying at the beach on vashon all week and have a great view of the city. i learned this from last night: the south end fucking goes bonkers on the fourth of july.

from rainier south it was a nonstop barrage of pyrotechnics and they were still going strong when i called it a night around 2 am.

it was awesome.

]]> kerri harrop http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758672 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758672 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 18:37:00 -0800 Comment by sara the cops have been cracking down for the past 3-4 years. parking bans around the park, lots of visible squad cars, etc. so what you saw was small potatoes.

still, this year we didn't bother going to the big shows, as there was plenty of action in the neighborhood (Judkins).
last night when 3 cop cars arrived to quell the continuous industrial-strength fireworks, my neighbor -- who's been here far longer than my 10 years -- hollered, "What a waste of taxpayers' money!" They started up again (as all of them did) immediately after the cops cleared out.

a few years back we'd heavily water our lawns on the 3rd and nag the city to mow the hay on their vacant lots (to prevent fire). kids would line up along mlk tossing lit fireworks under passing cars. now that's what i call a party.

welcome to the south end!

]]> sara http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758690 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758690 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:02:54 -0800 Comment by Brandon H Get a couple hours out of town. Some of the little lakes around the puget sound put on an awesome show right over the water. Give a bunch of yuppie Seattleite weekenders access to an indian reservation and they will put on a show for you.

]]> Brandon H http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758698 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758698 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:26:57 -0800 Comment by croydonfacelift Trust me, it is not awesome. The 4th, at least in the South End, is a celebration of violent cretinism.

Last night we had, apart from the explosions that started at 8am and still haven't really ended, and the weird screaming coming from all directions for no apparent reason, at least four cases of minor arson, and two cars burned in Seward Park. Awesome!

Then there was the kid shot in Skyway at a party of idiots who then got collectively infected with the 28 Days later virus and started to turn on the rescue workers who arrived to help the kid, who couldn't even be worked on where they found him because of the violent infected zombies 'celebratin' the 4th."

Now he's dead. Really fuckin awesome! I'm so fuckin hip I fuckin love that shit!

]]> croydonfacelift http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758713 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758713 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:51:36 -0800 Comment by J I was on Queen Ann last night and the southern horizon looked like a freaking war zone,

It made me want to be in the valley having a red-white-and-pabst-blue-ribbon fourth too.

Well done Ranier Valley!!!

]]> J http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758745 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758745 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:11:36 -0800 Comment by now I get it So...

fireworks: good
blue angels: bad

Is that the official party line?

]]> now I get it http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758764 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758764 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 21:55:52 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle They do the same thing in Nelson BC.

Since it's on July 1st, I don't think it has anything to do with being American.

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758769 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758769 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 22:09:48 -0800 Comment by Bumper We had a great time setting off fireworks illegally last night in the Valley. Having lived north of the ship canal, I can tell you that there is no comparison. We sat on the back deck overlooking the valley watching the pyrotechnics. Watching fireworks happening everywhere it seems somehow, organic, grass-roots and democratic.

Today sweeping up the debris we spoke with our neighbor Marie. She has lived here for 50 years. After remarking how quite it was last night compared to other years, she turned to us and said, "You know, I found out from my granddaughter that there are laws against fireworks. Who would have thought?"

]]> Bumper http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758800 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758800 City Thu, 05 Jul 2007 23:16:54 -0800 Comment by maxsolomon dogs think its "awesome", too - mine took a shit in the living room because he's too scared to go outside at night -thanks, dirtballs!

]]> maxsolomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758913 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758913 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:58:10 -0800 Comment by let's go south end Man, I can't believe how touchy people are about this post. I'd like to just give Erica a big ol' warm South Seattle welcome... glad you enjoyed the show! I think things are less prissy and uptight around here than you'll find in many of Seattle's picture perfect neighborhoods. But for the record, we still put a high emphasis on safety, fire awareness and noise abatement. Yup. Totally into that...

]]> let's go south end http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758919 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758919 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 09:17:00 -0800 Comment by Crankster Yeah, It's really cool when you have to sedate all of your animals, or when your house burns down...and oh yeah, don't forget about the guy who got shot in the parking lot where everyone was setting off fireworks (just past the city line) and when emergency workers tried to get to him the people rioted. So cool, such moments to be proud of. I just call the cops now and I really don't care if I am ruining other people's good time. Bahhumbug!

]]> Crankster http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758954 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758954 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:34:24 -0800 Comment by mattro2.0 Animals: don't eat them, don't own them

]]> mattro2.0 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758968 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c758968 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 10:48:06 -0800 Comment by HA Yeah, Fireworks are great. The park next to our house is destroyed. The basketball court is trashed. The least you can do is CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF. I called the police and the parks dept. And will do so until the pass out the proper fines. The city could sure use the extra cash to clean up.

]]> HA http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759215 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759215 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 14:02:01 -0800 Comment by Levislade Here's a legit news story on that all-too-true story about the girl getting her hand blown up: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/06/BAGHNQRD8849.DTL

Wheee, fireworks!

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759262 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759262 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:15:50 -0800 Comment by croydonfacelift "But for the record, we still put a high emphasis on safety, fire awareness and noise abatement."

No, you don't. And if Erica really wants a "big ol' warm South Seattle welcome" (gag) she could stand in my street tonight as the Morlochs fire their bottle rockets at each other up and down the hill while mama sways around the front yard with a big ol' warm South Seattle Monarch Vodka & tonic. C'mon, Erica, try it! We're not prissy-ass pussies like all those North Enders who don't know shit about keepin' it real.

]]> croydonfacelift http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759421 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c759421 City Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:52:35 -0800 Comment by bill The adult in me says that this is dangerous and should be eliminated.

The kid in me says HOT DAMN!

]]> bill http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c763655 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/07/south_seattle_blows_shit_up#c763655 City Sun, 15 Jul 2007 11:48:19 -0800