Year Of The Tiger Will Start Quietly

The Year of the Tiger arrives in Chinatown today with a whimper instead of the traditional bang of thousands of firecrackers.

City Hall banned fireworks as part of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s wide-ranging effort to improve the quality of life in New York.

Chinese community groups sought an exemption from the 2-year-old ban but got nowhere, just as they did last year.

“It’s like Christmas without a Christmas tree,” complained George Hwa, vice president of the United Chinese Association.

Firecrackers are just too dangerous, the city said.