"It has traditionally been a gathering of neighbors to celebrate our great nation," says Bonzell, who has lived in Cupertino since 1961. "Seeing the young citizens of Cupertino of all ethnicities waving flags, dressed in red, white and blue, singing patriotic songs and watching the incredible fireworks fills one with pride."

So Bonzell was disappointed when she read in the city's newsletter, Cupertino Scene, that the city council, at its June 16 meeting, had cancelled the fireworks and would use the money to keep the library open four hours on Sundays.

"The fireworks shouldn't have been sacrificed," Bonzell said. "Some things are more important than money, and I believe a lot of residents, including my husband and me, would love to donate to keep the tradition alive."

Bonzell is one of the many residents who were upset about the city council's decision. The city even received complaints from people who live outside Cupertino, according to Therese Ambrosi Smith, director of Parks and Recreation. "De Anza's Fourth of July event was so successful that it became a regional event and usually attracted 15,000 people from all over the Bay Area without advertisement," Smith said.

The cancellation of the fireworks has also stirred the city's undercurrent of racial tension.

Some residents accuse the city council of being unpatriotic and suspect the city of using the saved money to support certain ethnic celebrations that some feel are not as important as Independence Day, "a 100 percent American holiday," as one longtime resident said.

Mayor Michael Chang said there were several reasons why the City council cancelled the fireworks and urges people not to put a racial spin on this issue.

"The construction at De Anza College made it impossible for us to have fireworks there for the next two years," Chang said. "The fire marshals said the second best place was Cupertino High School. But residents in that neighborhood expressed concerns that the fireworks might bring a lot of traffic and clog the streets. And as the city is facing a budget shortfall, canceling the fireworks seemed to be the right thing to do."

Chang also said people who accused Asian American council members of being "un-American" are polarizing the community.

"I was the one who brought the fireworks back to De Anza in 1996 after the fireworks were suspended for four years because of an economic downturn," Chang said. "All of us felt disappointed that we didn't have fireworks this year."

When the Parks and Recreation Department first suggested canceling the fireworks, the city council voted unanimously to keep the event. But later during a budget-study session, council members finally accepted the Parks and Recreation Department's proposal to help deal with the city's budget cut of almost $4 million.

"Having a fireworks display for 20 minutes at Cupertino High School would cost the city $55,000, and residents could only watch it from a distance," Smith said. "There wouldn't be orchestra performances or a sing-along of patriotic songs. There would be just fireworks, which would cost $2,750 a minute. On the other hand, a Cherry Blossom Festival, which lasts two days, costs the city $14 a minute."

An Independence Day fireworks display at De Anza costs the city $80,000, according to Smith.

This year, the city kept its traditional daytime celebrations, including a pancake breakfast at the Quinlan Community Center and a children's parade. These activities cost only $3,000. Next year, the city plans to extend the daytime program to 3 p.m., allocating $6,000 for the event.

"If the community really wants the fireworks, it is certainly doable, but people must understand that it will be a compromised display," Smith said. "From my point of view, there are better uses of the money."