Fireworks in N.Y. as Bloomberg blasts Cuomo’s push to legalize sparklers

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is pressuring Gov. Andrew Cuomo to put a stop to a state lawmaker’s move to legalize the sale of sparklers outside city limits.

Terrorists could use the sparklers — one of the few Fourth of July fireworks products that are believed safe for use by children — to ignite a bomb, City Hall officials suggested, The New York Post reported.

Lawmakers passed a bill last week that would allow sparklers to be sold in certain areas of the state, excluding the five boroughs within the Big Apple under Mr. Bloomberg’s jurisdiction where they’re already banned, The Post reported. But Mr. Bloomberg isn’t happy with the bill and wants Mr. Cuomo to veto it.

“While this bill excludes New York City, legalizing these devices everywhere else in the state would, as a practical matter, have the same effect in the five boroughs,” said the mayor’s state legislative director, Joseph Garba, in The Post. “A recent attempt to harm innocent lives provides a frightening example of how legally purchased … fireworks can cause dramatic harm and even kill.”

He referred to the failed 2010 bombing attempt at Times Square, when Faisal Shahzad legally purchased an M-88 out of state and then tried to use it to ignite his bomb.

“Shahzad purchased fireworks at a Pennsylvania chain store, transported the fireworks to Connecticut and created a bomb-like device that he transported into New York City with the intent of killing and causing havoc in a busy tourist area,” Mr. Gerba said, The Post reported.

The bill weaving through New York’s legislature would only legalize the sale of sparklers and toy caps, from June 1 to July 5 and from Dec. 26 to Jan. 2, The Post reported.