Roosevelt Island is one of the best spots to view the
Macy’s July 4 Fireworks Celebration
when the launch barges are located on the East River north of the
Williamsburg Bridge as they have been for the last few years.

Take a look.

During the May 24 Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Public Safety
Committee meeting, Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department Chief Kevin Brown reported:

 … we will have july 4th on the east river and we’re we’re planning for
it right now…

Chief Brown did not say if the fireworks barges would be staged close to
Roosevelt Island or further south by the Brooklyn Bridge but the
LIC Post reported yesterday:

Long Island City residents will once again get a close-up view of the Macy’s
July 4th annual fireworks, several well-placed sources have confirmed. The
famous fireworks show is slated to return to the Long Island City waterfront
on the evening of July 4th to mark America’s Independence Day, according to
Queens Post sources. July 4th falls on a Monday this year….

Also, RIOC has scheduled a meeting next week to coordinate July 4 activities
with local groups giving more credence that the July 4 Fireworks will be close
to Roosevelt Island.

But, how will RIOC handle the July 4 viewing ticket lottery distribution this year.
Will it be any better than in the past?

As reported last July 5:

Good job by Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC),
NYPD
and
NYCEM Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers with crowd control and keeping folks safe for the July 4
celebration.

Still to be questioned and answered are the issues regarding RIOC online
lottery registration ticketing process and distribution of tickets outside of
that process.

As reported July 3, I asked RIOC Public Information Officer Amy Smith:

… I think most  people understand the need to limit ticket capacity
for health and safety concerns.

What gets residents upset is that the online ticket registration process is
sold out after 2 minutes and that no process was set up to give Roosevelt
Island residents priority for the tickets as has been done every year in the
past.

Any comment from RIOC on that issue?

Also:

How many total tickets were available for the July 4 FDR Park Fireworks
viewing online registration today?

RIOC said on Monday there were 1500 tickets but the Eventbrite
registration page said only 1100 tickets were available.

Which number is accurate? Why are the numbers different?

Also, are there any tickets distributed through sources other than the
online registration process? Does FDR Park, NY State or any other entity
have an allotment of tickets?

If yes, how many tickets and what are those other sources?…

No response yet from RIOC. 

I’ve been told that tickets (number currently unknown) were given to the
Roosevelt Island Disabled Association, Carter Burden Roosevelt Island Senior
Center and Roosevelt Island Seniors Association for distribution to their
members. In my view, nothing wrong with RIOC giving tickets to these groups
but RIOC should be transparent about what groups and individuals are receiving
tickets outside of the lottery process.

Here are scenes before, during and after the Roosevelt Island July 4 Fireworks
celebration

RIOC never answered the July 4 ticket distribution questions.

Stay tuned for more info as it becomes available.