Drivers honk horns outside De Blasio's mansion in protest over New York's illegal fireworks
'If we can’t sleep, Mr. Mayor, you won’t sleep', said local councilman who demonstrated on Monday
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Hundreds protested outside Bill de Blasio’s mansion overnight as fireworks continued to disrupt New York’s nighttime.
Video shared online showed drivers outside the mayor’s home, Gracie Mansion, on Monday making constant noise to disrupt his sleep.
“Hundreds are protesting outside Gracie Mansion in Manhattan right now after NYC mayor refuses to do anything about the insane fireworks the last few weeks plaguing NYC“, said one New Yorker on Twitter.
“Residents can’t sleep, so they decided to not allow Deblasio to sleep tonight either,” they added.
Democrat councilman Chaim Deutsch, who attended the protest, said on Monday that “We need to send a message that we need to end these chaotic fireworks that [have] been happening across the city”.
He said on Twitter: “So if we can’t sleep, Mr. Mayor, you won’t sleep”
Hundreds are believed to have passed Mr de Blasio’s home on Monday night to protest down East End Avenue, on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
The mayor later admitted that he was “very worried” about the illegal fireworks which have been reported across the city this month, reported ABC7NY.
“Besides the fact it’s a nuisance and quality of life problem, I’m really worried that some kid’s going to get hurt or someone’s going to set something on fire accidentally,” said Mr de Blasio.”I thought maybe it was some isolated thing, but no, this is a much bigger phenomenon, and we have to address it to keep people safe.”
Some 2,000 calls have now been made to New York police about nuisance fireworks this month, local reports have said.
Meanwhile, the mayor’s office is expected to announce “a multi-agency crackdown on illegal fireworks suppliers” on Tuesday following the protest.
That comes after Brooklyn firefighters were filmed with illegal fireworks last week, as New York sees above-average firework use.
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