By JOHN HOWELL

Mayor Frank Picozzi set off fireworks Monday when he asked on his Facebook page what residents would think of moving the July 4 fireworks from Oakland Beach to Rocky Point.

Comments ranged from, “No, it's a tradition for many families.   For years we had the carnivals here in Oakland beach and that's been taken away too,” to, “much better for everyone.”

As of Tuesday afternoon more than 940 comments had been filed on the mayor’s Facebook page. He stressed that a decision hasn’t been finalized and that he is looking for feedback. He’s getting it, too.

“Talk to your harbormasters and see what they think,” suggested one reader. Another volunteered, “No, it's tough for handicapped. ..also a nightmare to get in and out.”

After voicing disagreement with a move another wrote, “I have been to both venues for fireworks and OB is definitely the preference. The traffic out of both areas is bad regardless because of the size of the crowd. However, I am willing to bet that you will have far less people walking into Rocky Point then you do in OB.  There is also a large group of people who view from City Park, not sure if they will be impacted.”

The mayor likewise observed Oakland Beach neighborhoods would lose the show with a change of venues, however others would get to see it if held at Rocky Point. As for traffic, he pointed out that there is basically one way in and out of Oakland Beach without cutting through side streets, whereas with Rocky Point Avenue and Palmer Avenue, Rocky Point offers two major means.

Picozzi said he hadn’t considered Rocky Point for a New Year’s Eve show until he posed the question on social media.

“If you listen to the public, you get some good ideas,” he said.

 He advanced the suggestion. Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur was concerned over traffic, but he was willing to give it a shot. As it turned out there was congestion, but with successive events such as the Great American Race, police and the Department of Public Works fine tuned parking and traffic patterns.

Before coming to a conclusion on a July 4 show, Picozzi is looking for more input.

Overall to this point it has been positive.

“Better parking, better traffic in and out of the park, more room for people to sit down and veg out, more room for food trucks, I think moving it to Rocky Point should be a sure thing!” reads one comment.

It’s thoughtful considerations like that – positive or negative – that the mayor is looking for.