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The Pittsburgh Steelers have an eclectic group of former players and fans. They're not going to be mistaken with the United States Armed Forces, but there is a unique camaraderie. Players and fans feel it when they are in public. In virtually every corner of the United States, you will find people sporting black and gold. It is an invitation to say hello to a fellow fan and not a stranger. It is the spirit we should be celebrating this time of year.
Independence Day still engenders that feeling in many people. Families gather for barbecues and pool parties in the summer heat. Fans flock to watch baseball, enjoy hot dogs, and an occasional bite of apple pie. When the sun goes down, fireworks fill the night sky. In some states, you can put on fireworks displays of your own legally. It will cost you, but the amateur displays in neighborhoods are often just as spectacular as city-sponsored events.
It is relatively harmless on New Year's Eve when most people have the next day off, but when the Fourth of July falls in the middle of the week, it can get complicated. Many people plan vacations around the holiday, so they don’t have to worry about overindulging and reporting for work the next day.
In 2023, the reality is many people don’t have that luxury, and celebrations that last until the wee hours of the morning can be burdensome for your neighbors. One of those neighbors might have more than 116,000 Twitter followers. In Pittsburgh, a former Steelers quarterback meets this criteria. Charlie Batch took action and posted to social media to voice his displeasure.
To the city of Pittsburgh and all other surrounding areas. There should be a time limit on how long fireworks should be allowed. If halloween has hours for trick or treaters, then you should enforce a curfew for all nonqualified firework experts. I suggest 930-1030pm #JustSaying
— Charlie Batch (@CharlieBatch16) July 5, 2023
Steelers Former QB Charlie Batch Deserves Serious Consideration To Replace Matt Canada
Batch went to high school at Steel Valley and joined the Steelers in 2003 as a backup quarterback. He played in 33 games for the Steelers over eight seasons. Batch was 6-3 in nine starts over that period. He was an invaluable resource for Ben Roethlisberger and one of the most popular players on the team. Batch retired after the 2012 season, but is still a fixture in local media at KDKA-TV.
“Whenever you have the Fourth of July that falls in the middle of the week, people have to work,” Batch clarified the next morning. “Be courteous and you don’t have neighbors who are courteous.”
No one, not even a local celebrity, deals with every situation adeptly. Batch was frustrated and took to social media to voice his frustration. It is probable that his immediate neighbors were not guilty of the behavior. But a social media post at 10:30 PM is unlikely to do anything but draw derision, especially on Twitter.
I get it Charlie. But remember, we were young once too. We used to go out at 10pm. Now we go to bed at 10. Take it with a grain of salt
— steelcitywarden (@steelcitywarden) July 5, 2023
“It was very unfair,” Batch concluded. “To hear something after 10:30, 11 o’clock in some cases, 1 am. Some people are not celebrating, they’re just being funny.”
In most municipalities, fireworks shows don’t start until after dark. Usually, 9:30 pm and sometimes later on the Fourth of July. If people attend the town or city displays, they may not arrive home until 11:00 pm or later. When they do, it is not completely out of the question that they would continue to celebrate. Consideration for neighbors who are sleeping is often an afterthought.
Batch is 48 years old and quickly approaching the get off my lawn stage of his life. Based on his social media post, he may have already arrived. There is nothing wrong with an older gentleman occasionally asking people not to walk on the grass. It may even be something I am personally familiar with. As long as you avoid Chad territory, my daughters tell me, we are just normal old guys always complaining.
The city of Pittsburgh currently allows fireworks to be used until 1:00 am during the holiday. On days not designated for celebration, the cutoff time is 10:00 pm. Batch is fighting an uphill battle to get the ordinance changed as he found out on Twitter, but there is no harm in asking for a little common courtesy. Maybe they would say Sorry Charlie.
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