What is really going on with the screens that are everywhere?

It has been noisy in New York City. Fireworks complaints have already reached more than 10,000 in the first half of the year, up from just 50 total in the first half of 2019. Residents of some neighborhoods are rocked, and others have offered confusing conspiracies about the involvement of the policeman. Mayor Bill De Blasio promised a “big undercover operation” to go after vendors, and Governor Andrew Cuomo, not to be outdone, said Monday that he would involve the New York State Police to cut fireworks from neighbors. most pyrotechnicists in New York. in Pennsylvania

These late-night displays have been called “mysterious” at multiple points of sale, but in reality they are not. On a balcony at a friend’s house in Brooklyn last weekend, we chatted as fireworks crackled around us. Some too close for comfort. He pointed to the building right behind his and told me that he had seen teenagers trigger them. “Those kids are fine,” he said, telling me they stopped at around 9 p.m. M. “It’s those guys who go all night,” pointing to the block.

I spent the next few hours wandering the streets, trying to identify the launch points for various fireworks. All consumer fireworks are illegal in New York City, including flares, but they were not difficult to find. Every few minutes, another explosion exploded in the sky. People outside looked and smiled. Many people enjoyed it, unless they tried to sleep.

I asked someone sitting outside near where I saw some if they knew where they came from. He smiled and motioned for me to lower the apple. “You won’t miss them,” he said, just as someone else left.

He was correct. It was obvious to the large number of worn fireworks containers and cardboard boxes. There were about 10 people parked outside an apartment building. One was holding a long tube of fireworks in his hand and was about to light it. I quickly told him I was a journalist and asked if he could take photos. “It is a free country,” he said. “Do what you want. As long as you’re not a police officer.

It was a surreal vision. The fireworks they fired looked like the type you’d only see as part of the Macy’s exhibit, which this year won’t look much different than these unique shows. They climbed high enough to clear the six-story buildings and explode. In a city that often feels claustrophobic, everyone was looking at the sky.

The loud bursts and creaks did not interrupt the laughter and conversations. After vehicle traffic slowed down, the same guy who posed for the photos went outside and attached a plastic tube to shoot a large one. He ran to the side of the street, and everyone saw the night light up. Some said they had been distancing themselves socially, but no one was wearing a mask. “Corona is cheesy,” said one of them.

An undercover police car entered, a completely black car with discreet sirens. No one was surprised: “Is this the part where you go out with your gun?” they asked loud enough for the police to listen. The car stopped, and for a moment it seemed like it could become a stalemate. But the car slowly drove away.

“I love this shit. I want to be a man of demolition, ”said one boy as he shot another. I asked him where he got them all. He told me they get them from people who bring them from Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. I asked him if he had seen the videos of some NYPD officers lighting fireworks. He was aware of the conspiracy theories, but he discarded them: “Take them away from us!” he told me. “Sometimes they come and confiscate them and give them to their children. I guess they also want to have fun. ”

Soon after, another car stopped. She parked right in front of the group and opened the trunk. It was full of fireworks. The man was clearly from out of town and selling them for cash, from $ 5 to over $ 100. He didn’t speak to me, he was just there to make a quick sale. The group I’m standing with bought more. One guy pointed to a group further down the block and said, “Try them on.” He nods at them and then walks away.

The party continued, “Look at this, I’m going to shoot two at once.” I told them I was going to keep walking and find more groups to photograph. A guy invited me back and said this was nothing compared to what they had planned for July 4th.

I found another crew almost immediately. They were very excited: “You came here just in time! We’re about to launch a big one. “The box has a cat, with the phrase” SAY WHAT ??? “on it. This was going to be big. A younger person in the group couldn’t wait: he left it right where they were standing. They yelled at him to cross the street, where it is safer.

He turned it on and ran across the street, telling me to back off: “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Fireworks hit and the sky lit up. It was all a smile. I showed them the photos I got, and they were excited. I went around and showed them some of the others in the area. They recognized each other. I asked them if there is a sense of competition between groups around Brooklyn. “No, we are having fun,” he said. “What else should we be doing?”