HAPPY BIRTHDAY

OUR FIRST POST IS TO WISH A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. THE ABOVE PICTURE WAS TAKEN LAST YEAR FROM SOUTHPOINT PARK ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND. THERE IS A GREAT YOU TUBE VIDEO OF THE 2005 FIREWORKS DISPLAY FROM SOUTHPOINT PARK .
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION (RIOC) CHARGES $18 TO ENTER SOUTHPOINT PARK IN ORDER TO VIEW THE FIREWORKS DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS A PUBLIC PARK FREE OF CHARGE AT ANY OTHER TIME. RIOC CLAIMS THAT, UNLIKE OTHER PUBLIC VIEWING AREAS FOR FIREWORKS SUCH AS THE FDR DRIVE OR BROOKLYN HEIGHTS PROMENADE WHICH ARE FREE, SOUTHPOINT PARK IS STATE LAND WHICH DOES NOT RECEIVE ANY MONEY FROM THE CITY TO PAY FOR THE EXTRA COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH KEEPING THE AREA OPEN FOR VIEWING THE FIREWORKS.
IF THIS IS SO PERHAPS RIOC CAN EXPLAIN WHY THE RECENTLY OPENED EAST RIVER PARK, A NEW YORK STATE PARK ON THE WILLIAMSBURG WATERFRONT, WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR VIEWING OF FIREWORKS?