4th of July in Chicago (Sort Of)

The city of Chicago did away with the huge lakefront fireworks show at the annual Taste of Chicago two years ago and the celebration for the Fourth of July in the 'Windy City' hasn't been the same since.
Then Mayor Richard M. Daley claimed it was because the city could no longer "afford" it.
Phooey!

The Fourth of July is AMERICA'S HOLIDAY! 
The costs of a fireworks display should not be a factor to the enjoyment of the people of this great nation.
The last big fireworks show took place in 2009, just a year after thugs helped to raise caution with huge numbers of cops and special security forces appearing in 2009.
The thugs (gang bangers and the like) started trouble amongst each other during the 2008 Taste of Chicago celebration that resulted in open gunfire throughout the area near the Taste event in the downtown Chicago area.
In 2010, the city decided to break the fireworks show into three parts, with a show on the south side of the city, a smaller "downtown" display at Navy Pier (just north of the annual Monroe Harbor event) and a show on the far north side of the city.
The events were cancelled entirely under the Rahm Emanuel regime that took over as Mayor of Chicago in 2011. The Taste of Chicago continued throughout the July 4th Holiday without the fireworks show.
But this year, NO fireworks (again) and even the Taste of Chicago has been moved back after the 4th of July Holiday, spanning from July 11-15 in the city's Grant Park.
That's life in the big city I suppose, but still doesn't make it right.
It's the 4th of July and fireworks displays are part of the festivities along with the cookouts and gatherings of millions of people throughout the land.
Oh well, light a sparkler and just be careful out there and enjoy the 4th of July Holiday.

(Following below is some pictures from past Taste of Chicago events and fireworks shows)