Anthony, Texas Mayor Changes His Mind On Fireworks

A change of heart from the mayor of Anthony, Texas means the small town will not be selling fireworks ahead of the 4th of July.

During a special town meeting Thursday afternoon, Mayor Art Franco explained his reasoning.

Franco told his fellow town council members that after the city of Socorro decided to sell fireworks within its city limits in spite of the countywide ban, he had hoped Anthony would be able to raise about $1,500 of its own by selling permits to fireworks vendors, as well.

But after speaking with local fire officials, his own police chief and New Mexico officials, Franco changed his mind.

“We looked at the pros and cons,” he told ABC-7. “The cons way outweighed whatever little money we were going to make.”

Anthony town council unanimously voted to delete the fireworks proposal from the special meeting agenda.

Bill Adler, chief of the West Valley Fire Department, called it the “right decision.”

The 65 volunteer members of West Valley handle fires in the Anthony, Texas area as well as fires in Anthony, New Mexico, just a hop away.

Adler told ABC-7 he expects a lot of El Pasoans will head to New Mexico on the 4th to avoid the El Paso county ban.

And he said it worries him.

“Fires are gonna spread quick,” Adler said. “We’re not talking little flames, we’re talking 30-, 40-foot flames.”