Mayoral Candidate Questions City Fireworks Expense

Every member of the Chicago Heights City Council supported the spending of $27,000 on the city's annual Independence Day fireworks display, except one.

Ald. Joseph Faso, who is also a mayoral candidate, said at the Monday City Council meeting he did not agree with spending so much money on a one-day event, which would be contracted out to New Horizon Pyrotechnics and monitored by the Chicago Heights Fire Department.

"Doesn't anybody feel that we should save this money," Faso asked the council. "I don't think we can afford it."

Faso said the event, which will be held in the north field at Bloom High School, draws a large crowd of residents and nonresidents but does little to help the city.

"People come from all around to see our fireworks, then they don't come the rest of the year to support Chicago Heights," Faso said, also expressing concerns about city employee overtime expenses related to the event.

The city's Independence Day celebration used to be a multi-day event that cost around $60,000, according to City Chief of Staff Matt Fares.

"It helps that it is one day, as opposed to several days," Fares said.

Ald. Lisa Aprati called the event a tradition, and said she would like to see it continue. Mayor Vincent Zaranti supported the expenditure in the interest of uplifting the community, stating, "I think we all need to have a good time."

Faso said he is not against having a good time but doesn't think the city can afford it.

The discussion became heated when a woman in the audience loudly excaimed, "We need the streets done." Zaranti told the woman she was out of order, and Faso said to the woman, "I agree with you, ma'am."

The council voted 5-1 in favor of going into a contract with New Horizon Pyrotecnics for the display this year.