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Funeral for NYPD Officer Jason Rivera; Pittsburgh Bridge Collapses on Day Biden Plans to Visit City to Talk Infrastructure; Bomb Cyclone Expected to Slam Maine With Snow, Hurricane Force Winds. Aired 10-10:30a ET

Aired January 28, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

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JIM SCIUTTO, CNN NEWSROOM: We're hearing now from the New York City mayor, Eric Adams, speaking at the funeral of a slain New York Police Department officer, this at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. Let's listen to his comments now.

MAYOR ERIC ADAMS (D-NEW YORK CITY, NY): -- for a few months, October 9th, 2021, it was clear the love was present as she walked inside the hospital and I saw just the collapse of emotion of losing her husband to senseless violence. And to her parents, Anna and Daniel, all they ask is just justice for their son and justice for the children of this city. Parents wanted what every parent desires. I say to you, we're sorry. We're sorry.

Jason was the first person in his family to become a police officer. As I thought about him, I could not help but to reflect on my life. Disappointed in my observation but watching the desire in the police department to build new bridges, he decided to go inside and help from within, and he was committed to that desire and he did it for the right reasons. He wanted to make a difference. He wanted to become a police officer.

And also I thought about Jeffrey and what it means to be a big brother, Jeffrey. All you want is the best for your baby brother. You spend your entire life trying to protect them from harm and feel hopeless when something devastating happens. And we have a tendency to blame ourselves when that happens. Please don't do that. Your brother was a hero and he understood the bonds of brotherhood and what it means to be a brother, and how painful this parting is for you.

Now, I remember looking at your face and thinking about Bernard, my baby brother, and all I could say to you is that you have physically lost your brother but you have gained me as your brother. And I thank you for what you have done to have this wonderful human being become a member of the New York City Police Department, and how you've guided him throughout his life. You did your job so he can do his job.

Jason was fortunate enough to also have a wonderful extended family. Dominique's parents, Lilliana and Jimmy and their children, his siblings-in-law. The entire Dominican community as well as the entire city of New York is in mourning, but it also lifts up our acknowledgment of how much first generation New Yorkers played a vital role in the fabric of this city. He was a first generation New Yorker, son of immigrants, example of how we can come together as a city. He's a hero and our fellow New Yorkers acknowledge that. And we grieve for all of them as well as his family.

And with the family of his fallen partner, Officer Wilbert Mora, our hearts go out to his family, but I also want to speak to my men and women that wear and adorn the uniform every day. Once a cop is always a cop. It never goes away. Every retired member inside this church and in this city feels the pain. I think about Glen Martin, the husband of a longtime chief adviser, Ingrid Martin.

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He gave me a picture of his son that I hung in my locker evening day as every day as a rookie cop in throughout my career and I was afraid that one day I would have to tell his family that he was not coming home. And it concerned me.

And there were days when I thought the public did not understand and appreciate the job we were doing. And I want to tell you officers, they do, they do. Don't ever give up on the people of this city because they will never give up on you.

And every day when I see New Yorkers, they say thank the men and women of the New York City Police Department. And I want to thank you, I want to thank you for what you do every day. You stand in the gap of safety. And these two fine men wanted the tree of safety that allows us to sit under its shade from the hot sun of violence. You play a vital role in the prosperity of this city.

And today's a morning for all of you. The tragic death of your brother in blue uniform is a stark reminder of what's on the line every day and I'm here sitting next to the governor of the state of New York York and Senator Chuck Schuhmer and other electives, we are committed to giving you the resources to do your jobs and ensure we can keep the people of this city safe.

It takes courage to put on a uniform and a badge to answer the call, to serve the cause of justice in every sense of the word. Carter Dolan (ph), this is a biblical moment, scripture states, greater love have no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. That is what Jason did. He gave his life defending his fellow New Yorkers.

That greater love unites us here today, standing side-by-side. It has been a tremendous amount of sadness and grief in our city, but as I travel, I see something special about New York. Inside the crevices of violence, uncertainty and COVID, inside the uncertainty of what tomorrows are alike, I see love and hope and opportunity.

We are New Yorkers. I believe in this city with all my heart and I know what we're capable of doing as we lift up this family and the families who are experiencing and feeling this violence. We care about each other. That's what makes this city possible, along with the courage of officer like Jason Rivera. The hearts of 8.8 million people are reaching out in mourning today and we will ensure everything within our powers to not lose our family members through this senseless violence. I cannot thank you enough for your contribution.

And although your loved one has taken a physical transformation into the spiritual realm, we know he's always with us and this city will become a better place because of his sacrifice. God bless New York. God bless the New York City Police Department. God bless America.

SCIUTTO: New York City Mayor Eric Adams there eulogizing fallen NYPD Officer Jason Rivera, just 22 years old, praising him for putting his life at risk in the line of duty to protect his fellow officers and others and also notably, Bianna, speaking to the many officers there attending the funeral and saying, we're going to be giving you resources. In other words, saying the city is going to back the police to prevent something like this from happening again.

BIANNA GOLODRYGA, CNN NEWSROOM: Yes, really a powerful speech there from Mayor Adams. And what you saw was not a novice politician but a veteran police officer really speaking from the heart, not only to fellow NYPD but also to Jason's family and his brother. His older brother saying you may have lost a brother but gained one in me.

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And, again, Jim, reiterating his support for the community, right, in what police really do mean to the city of New York.

CNN's Shimon Prokupecz is outside of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Shimon, a touching tribute there from the mayor. You can tell that came from the heart. This was emotional from him and you are surrounded by many, many NYPD there as well honoring their fallen officer.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. And the mayor saying, once a cop, always a cop, and, of course, saying that police officers are vital, vital to the prosperity of this city. But there's a key line here because what he is doing is he knows there are perhaps tens of thousands of officers standing outside here along 5th Avenue. We're at East 50th and 5th Avenue.

The number of offices here stretches all the way down to 34th Street where the procession will go after the services are over. The coffin driven out past the thousands of officers who are lined up here from all across the country saying goodbye.

The mayor here obviously using this as an opportunity trying to unite this city, trying to unite the city and the police officers with members of the community, which is really and somewhat strained for quite some time, also, the level of violence across this city, using this opportunity to speak to these officers.

And I have to tell you, most of them out here, it was very quiet as they were listening to him speak. So, certainly, they are listening to him and those messages from the mayor are not going to be lost. The fact that he says that the police officers are vital to the prosperity of this city, very notable here. Of course, he's also addressing the family members and the wife of the fallen officer who's set to speak here in just a few minutes. She will be the last speaker. It will be the first time that we will be hearing from her. She's, of course, posted messages on Instagram. But it will be the first time we will hear her speak and, certainly, that is going to be an emotional moment.

And then everyone will come outside here where they will say their final goodbyes. His coffin will be brought down those stairs and then the American flag, which is draping his casket, his coffin, will be handed to the family, to his wife, which will certainly be an emotional moment. And then he will take his last ride down 5th Avenue and then make a left and then head to services later on this afternoon.

But this is going to be certainly an emotional moment here as he is taken out and these officers get their chance to say goodbye, Jim.

SCIUTTO: Those pictures, Bianna, he was just a kid. He was just a kid, 22 years old.

GOLODRYGA: Married for only three months, and we're expected to hear from his wife, Dominique, as you said, Shimon, later today. Thank you so much.

Well, still ahead, the breaking news out of Pittsburgh where a bridge has collapsed just hours before the president's visit to talk about infrastructure, of all things.

SCIUTTO: Plus, what's known as a bomb cyclone is predicted to slam into the northeast today. Some cities could see up to two feet of snow paired with 70-mile-per-hour winds. We're going to have a live look at the latest forecast.

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GOLODRYGA: And this morning, we are following a major bridge collapse in the city of Pittsburgh. Officials there say there are thankfully no fatalities, while three people were taken to the hospital with non- life-threatening injuries. After the collapse, which several describe as a major artery in the city, several vehicles crossing over the bridge at the time of the collapse.

Now, the pictures that you're seeing are just stunning as a bus was literally dangling over one portion of that bridge.

Now, for some context, this is what it looked like three days ago before the collapse, clearly night and day.

SCIUTO: Yes. I mean, and quite a fall there under those trails below. The collapse happened hour before President Biden expected to visit the city in part to discuss the nation's crumbling infrastructure and how the new infrastructure law passed last year will hope to fix it. CNN's Jean Casarez has been following the story. So, Jean, first, what do we know about whether there were any warnings about this bridge's stability but also, crucially, the folks who were injured this morning?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the cause is being investigated right now. And so I think a lot of work is being done on that level. But we are learning right now how these people were rescued and it is amazing. Officials are telling us, and, remember, there were three to four cars when the bridge collapsed this morning, that they used rescuers, first responders, firefighters, heavy rescue units. They had to use rope to get down, 100 to 150 feet and then they formed what they're calling a daisy chain and they actually pulled people up to get them out of that area.

And as we know, there were ten injuries, some involving -- all minor, they say, some involving people in the cars but also the first responders because there were ice injuries, slip and fall injuries. But I want you to listen to the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, because he talks about how important this bridge was to the city of Pittsburgh.

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LT. GOV. JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA) (voice over): The bridge collapsed on both ends of the span and it came down into Frick Park, which is Pittsburgh's largest park below. And it's just surreal to see a bridge that you've driven over countless times collapse down.

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CASAREZ: Now, they're also saying that there are no fatalities have been discovered at all. So, why are they saying, discovered? Well, the last we've heard is that they are still performing reconnaissance to look at the walking trail underneath because it collapsed on to that walking trail. And as far as the cause, they are looking at that.

Now, as far as the gas leak, it was confirmed that following the collapse, there was a gas leak. But CNN spoke with People's Gas, they said cut it off immediately. There is nothing at worry at this point but they did have one of their gas lines exactly under that bridge, under the roadway.

SCIUTTO: Close call, no question. Jean Casarez, thanks so much.

So, joining us now is the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau Chief Darryl Jones. Chief Jones, thanks so much for taking the time this morning. We know you got a lot on your hands.

First thing I want to ask you is how you managed these rescues, how managed to get these folks off that bridge safely. That's no small thing.

CHIEF DARRYL JONES, PITTSBURGH FIRE BUREAU (voice over): No, it wasn't. And I attribute that to the highly skilled people we have in our EMS bureau who were able to conduct that rescue. The technical aspect of that rescue, we worked together, all three bureaus, fire, police and EMS. It was a coordinated effort to respond to and recover from this incident.

GOLODRYGA: Kudos to your colleague and the first responders there for acting so bravely and quickly getting to the scene, obviously, given the weather at hand there too.

I'm curious, there had been a previous bridge collapse just two years ago. Was this particular bridge on your radar in terms of concern that we could very well see the images that we see now?

JONES (voice over): No, it was not. And we do have people go out and inspect the bridges. As you know, the city of Pittsburgh is the city of bridges. We have a lot of them. And they're routinely inspected. If there was any warning or concern, we would have been notified and we would have made sure that we didn't use this route for any response. We would have come up with an alternate route.

So, this one caught everybody by surprise this morning.

SCIUTTO: We did hear from our reporter, Jean Casarez, that there is still an effort under way to make sure there's no one else in danger, the possibility that someone might have been walking under the bridge on one of those paths as this happened. Do you have any update on that search?

JONES (voice over): Well, we've called in our regional resources, the Pennsylvania Urban Search and Rescue Strike Team One. And they're going to come in with their search specialists. We're going to drill some holes into the bridge deck and use our search cams to check the void spaces just to make sure that everyone is accounted for.

GOLODRYGA: In terms of moving forward, obviously, this being such a vital artery for the city and traffic there, it will take a long time to rebuild. What does that do for the area and commuters there and residents as they try to navigate the roads in the days and weeks ahead?

JONES (voice over): Well, they're going to have to find some alternative routes. It's going to cause extra traffic congestion on those routes. People are going to have to leave a little earlier, plan accordingly. The main thing is, no one got hurt here. So, all the rest of it is just an inconvenience and we can deal with that.

GOLODRYGA: Yes.

SCIUTO: The president, as you know, is going to Pittsburgh today. And part of the reason is to draw attention to the nation's crumbling infrastructure, and you've got an infrastructure bill now in the pipeline to start repairing these kinds of things. In your role there, are you aware of other bridges, other structures that need immediate attention?

JONES (voice over): I am not aware of any others that need immediate attention, or -- but we do have some that we have weight restrictions. And as far as the president coming today, how's that for timing, huh? We have the -- some with the restrictions, some that need repairs. So, I guess this is a good time to have that discussion.

GOLODRYGA: Would you hope to have him come visit or do you think that would just cause too much of a distraction at this point?

JONES (voice over): I personally hope that he does come and visit. One thing to talk about, it's another thing to actually see it.

GOLODRYGA: Well, imagine that for a backdrop as he speaks on the need for more infrastructure funding.

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Chief Darryl Jones, again, hats off to you and your colleagues there for all of the incredible work that you've done. Thank you so much.

Well, tens of millions of Americans are facing the threat of severe winter weather this weekend as a bomb cyclone takes aim at the East Coast. Blizzard warnings have been issued from Coastal Maryland up to Maine, including Boston where travel will become nearly impossible by tomorrow.

SCIUTTO: Some areas expecting the possibility of as much as two feet of snow as well as hurricane force winds.

Meteorologist Chad Myers is monitoring the storm. Chad, what's a bomb cyclone and how likely do you see the more severe scenarios playing out here?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It depends on how close this low gets to the coast. If it's very close, the pressure on this is going to go down to category two hurricane strength. And the bomb part is not -- no bomb, it's the bombing out of the pressure. Right now, there's not even a low, just east of Georgia, but tonight, it's going to get the cold air, it's going to get the warm water from the Gulf Stream and the pressure is going to go down like a rapidly intensifying hurricane. So, that's the rub here.

We have the warnings all the way from Maine. There's going to be snow up into New Brunswick, also maybe this thing hitting maybe close to Halifax up here and Nova Scotia with very gusty winds there. But the big story is blizzard-like conditions. We are going to get not only in these red zones, we're going to get whiteout conditions almost the entire area that you're going to see here in these winds of 40 to 60 miles per hour. That's where the snow is going to be the heaviest as well.

And move you ahead, and at times, we're going to get snow amounts of two to three inches per hour. And I can picture it in my head right now if people think that they can drive two inches and slow down, another two inches or another three, all of a sudden you're stuck on a highway has seven, because the snowplows can't get to the highway because you've already clogged the highway. This is a storm that we just need to be careful with. It's a Saturday storm. Stay off the roads and don't turn this into another Virginia, like we had just a couple of weeks ago with people stranded in the roadways. In Virginia, the temperatures got down to about 10 to 15 degrees with those stranded cars. Here, the wind chills are going be ten below zero.

SCIUTTO: Listen to those warnings. Chad Myers, thanks so much.

Right now, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is speaking as tensions between Ukraine and Russia intensify with the White House warning the U.S. will not tolerate any level of Russian intrusion into Ukraine. Is there a diplomatic path forward? We're going to discuss next.

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