Shaker Residents Still Want Fireworks

Shaker Heights officials canceled this year's July 4th fireworks celebration more than a month ago, but some residents still hope for a return.

Three men spoke during a public portion of the city council meeting Monday night, and each one pleaded with council members and Mayor Earl Leiken to reconsider their decision.

One man even showed council a poster his young daughter made asking the city to "please save the fireworks."

"One of the few events we look forward to in my community is the fireworks show," said Paul Allen, a resident who lives on Sydenham Road near the fireworks site at Shaker Heights Middle School.

"In a corny way, looking up (at the fireworks), it just really connected with the fact that I live in this wonderful, small town."

Soon, the discussion became more contentious than sentimental. Aside from their general disappointment, the speakers all expressed that the city cowered away from troublemakers when they officials canceled the event.

"What we're doing is running away from these thugs," Cheshire Road resident Willie Douglas said. "I'm a Vietnam veteran — I didn't run then and I'm not running now."

After several minutes of comments like that, Leiken went on the defense, stressing that the city has already made its decision because last year's "monumental effort" to police the event still resulted in nine arrests and what Police Chief D. Scott Lee called "riotous behavior."

"We're just not capable of controlling what is supposed to be a nice, family event," Leiken said. "It shouldn't turn into a mob scene. 

"There comes a time when we have to exercise sound judgement."