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CNN Live Today

New York Gearing Up for Party

Aired December 31, 2002 - 11:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, here in the United States, the epicenter of New Year's celebrations is going to be in Times Square in New York City. Just 13 hours from now, Americans will begin welcoming the third year of the third millennium.
And to give us a preview of what is in store, including some pretty heavy-duty security preps, CNN's Maria Hinojosa is there -- hi, Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol, how you doing? So yes, believe it or not, there have been people in Times Square since yesterday in a party mood that you just kind of say, What? But they're here, they are ready for the big party, but if they are thinking that it's going to be a wild uncontrolled party, not at all. This is a very controlled atmosphere. Some people say a very safe atmosphere, but certainly controlled. The mayor has said that there are no specific threats for New York City for Times Square, but of course, with the information about five men who have crossed into the United States and that are being looked for questioning by the FBI, those men believed to be Pakistani, there has been a bit of heightened concern, governor George Pataki adding his voice to that concern as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: We have some reasonable basis to believe that they came across the Canadian border into New York State. We don't know where they are now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HINOJOSA: Now, at this point, Carol, what people need to know, if they're going to be coming into Times Square, we're going to give you a little bit of a tour. If you come into Times Square, once you get into these areas, you will see that you will get into a blocked off area on the sidewalk. You can come in starting at 4:00. But once you get into one of these areas, you really can't move out, and if you're going to be into one of these areas around Times Square behind these barricades, you will be searched. Your bags will be looked at. You will not be allowed to have a backpack, any packages. Any unattended package will be taken away, and once you get in, you can't leave, so people have a concept of being able to come and go, that's not the case.

Once you are in that pen, you might be able to get out to use a washroom in a restaurant, but that's about it until midnight. Now, some other things that you might be able to see. We've been told that they will be -- have and will be continuing to solder shut these manhole covers, again a question of security.

New Yorkers will notice this. The tourists may not, but if you look on the street corners, usually what you would see is a mailbox, you would see at least one garbage can, you would probably see some newspaper vending machines. Those are all gone, which is good for pedestrians, good for security is what we're being told.

On the wider scale area, a half a million people expected here. We have been told there will be snipers on roof tops. You're going to have local police. You'll have federal agents as well. A number of different elite squads here as well, including the Arch Angel (ph) and the Herculean Squad (ph). Those are heavy weaponry squads.

Also, a lot of the police bomb squad units have been checking underneath in the subways, the canine units out as well. So if you're thinking about security, well, clearly the NYPD and the federal task forces have as well. We've also heard that any police officer who has the night off, it's only because he worked the early shift. So everybody is on staff and ready for the big party, Carol.

LIN: Everybody working hard and ready to party hard. Thanks, Maria.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired December 31, 2002 - 11:02   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: In the meantime, here in the United States, the epicenter of New Year's celebrations is going to be in Times Square in New York City. Just 13 hours from now, Americans will begin welcoming the third year of the third millennium.
And to give us a preview of what is in store, including some pretty heavy-duty security preps, CNN's Maria Hinojosa is there -- hi, Maria.

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Carol, how you doing? So yes, believe it or not, there have been people in Times Square since yesterday in a party mood that you just kind of say, What? But they're here, they are ready for the big party, but if they are thinking that it's going to be a wild uncontrolled party, not at all. This is a very controlled atmosphere. Some people say a very safe atmosphere, but certainly controlled. The mayor has said that there are no specific threats for New York City for Times Square, but of course, with the information about five men who have crossed into the United States and that are being looked for questioning by the FBI, those men believed to be Pakistani, there has been a bit of heightened concern, governor George Pataki adding his voice to that concern as well.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. GEORGE PATAKI (R), NEW YORK: We have some reasonable basis to believe that they came across the Canadian border into New York State. We don't know where they are now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HINOJOSA: Now, at this point, Carol, what people need to know, if they're going to be coming into Times Square, we're going to give you a little bit of a tour. If you come into Times Square, once you get into these areas, you will see that you will get into a blocked off area on the sidewalk. You can come in starting at 4:00. But once you get into one of these areas, you really can't move out, and if you're going to be into one of these areas around Times Square behind these barricades, you will be searched. Your bags will be looked at. You will not be allowed to have a backpack, any packages. Any unattended package will be taken away, and once you get in, you can't leave, so people have a concept of being able to come and go, that's not the case.

Once you are in that pen, you might be able to get out to use a washroom in a restaurant, but that's about it until midnight. Now, some other things that you might be able to see. We've been told that they will be -- have and will be continuing to solder shut these manhole covers, again a question of security.

New Yorkers will notice this. The tourists may not, but if you look on the street corners, usually what you would see is a mailbox, you would see at least one garbage can, you would probably see some newspaper vending machines. Those are all gone, which is good for pedestrians, good for security is what we're being told.

On the wider scale area, a half a million people expected here. We have been told there will be snipers on roof tops. You're going to have local police. You'll have federal agents as well. A number of different elite squads here as well, including the Arch Angel (ph) and the Herculean Squad (ph). Those are heavy weaponry squads.

Also, a lot of the police bomb squad units have been checking underneath in the subways, the canine units out as well. So if you're thinking about security, well, clearly the NYPD and the federal task forces have as well. We've also heard that any police officer who has the night off, it's only because he worked the early shift. So everybody is on staff and ready for the big party, Carol.

LIN: Everybody working hard and ready to party hard. Thanks, Maria.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com