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No July Fourth fireworks for you, St. Paul

Fireworks light up over downtown St. Paul on July 4, 2010. Teresa Boardman

One of the best parts about adopting Minnesota and St. Paul when we came here 26 years ago was the Fourth of July Taste of Minnesota fireworks over the Minnesota Capitol.

The great lawn was packed with people. The scene could not have been more Minnesotan. More American. More perfect.

The Taste became a tacky carnival, moved to Harriet Island, where it died from its own irrelevance.

On Wednesday, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter officially drove a stake through what was left of the holiday in his city.

https://www.facebook.com/MayorMelvinCarter/posts/179434249401317

Visit St. Paul lists a grand total of five things to do on the Fourth of July in the city. One of them is "get outside."

Update: It's apparently a $100,000 expense.