Democracy in Westfield??? Our American Rebellion of 1776 was fought because the King of England wanted to rule our country without listening to our complaints or ideas about self rule! Every year since the American Revolution there have been fireworks displays in every city across our land, on the fourth of July, celebrating democracy defeating despotic rule! As a small child I remember my dad taking our family to the dike off Orange Street to watch, with thousands of Westfield residents, fireworks being shot off over the Westfield River! People living in this area complained to City Hall, about the traffic and large numbers of people using their sidewalks! Thus NIMBY (NOT IN MY BACK YARD) became a political force that moved the 4th of July to the Westfield High School ball field and then Stanley Park. Now it seems that a small number of NIMBYs who have both money and political clout are acting just like the King of England. Does democracy exist in Westfield or does the tail wag the dog? No fireworks display in Westfield this 4th of July because King NIMBY told Mayor Sullivan NO!
