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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: Empire State Building Tallest Once Again

Aired September 24, 2001 - 08:13   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: In the wake of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Empire State Building is now the tallest in New York, and that's exactly where we find CNN's Michael Okwu, who joins us live from there with a look at the disaster's impact on tourism.

All I can think of is ouch, ouch, ouch. It's not a very pretty picture, is it?

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Paula.

I'm on the 86th floor observation deck, and this is where you would have been able to get a very clear view of the Twin Towers just south of me. It is right now it is shrouded in mist. But on a very clear day, this is where lots of tourists would flood in and get what was really a commanding view of that area.

I'm standing facing north here, and you can see just behind me the city essentially trying to get back to normal. A beautiful view of the Chrysler building and the MetLife Building, and of course, far off to the east there along the river is the United Nations.

Now, this is a building that has experienced quite a bit. It is obviously the most recognizable building in New York right now, and possibly the most -- and arguably the most recognizable building in the entire country. Tourists would flock here, and if tourists didn't come here, at least they had seen this building and particularly this observation deck countless times in films.

But lately, there haven't been a lot of tourists in New York City. Hotel occupancy rates are down by some 30 percent since September 11, which of course was the day of the attack.

Just off to the west here, you can see what essentially is the Times Square district, the crossroads of the world and also the epicenter of the entertainment industry here in New York. A number of Broadway plays have been hit quite adversely by all of this. There are at least four plays that are now going to be taken off the books. Fall is typically a very slow time on Broadway, but as a result of the terrorist attack, even slower. There are a number of productions where the cast and the crew, as we spoke to some people in the last hour who were going to be accepting 25 percent pay cuts in order to do their business. Rescue workers in their own way -- Paula, back to you. ZAHN: Michael, the -- I just want to clarify something. That observation deck has been closed since September 11, right?

OKWU: That's right. It's been closed since September 11. The public has not been allowed in the building. There is heavy security downstairs. I'll tell you, it took quite a bit of time for me to get in here this morning.

There are police officers who stand at the base of the building, and they are there during 24 hour shifts. Somebody else comes in for 12 hours, somebody else comes on for 12 hours. But most of the building occupants -- the offices have been let in, and they are open and they continue to try to reach some sense of normalcy.

ZAHN: Well, I hope for your sake, when the sun starts burning through some of that fog, you'll be able to see the normal views that you'd get from up there. But it really -- we actually -- I can see how much it's improved in the last hour from your last live shot -- thanks, Michael.

OKWU: Well, we changed locations for you, Paula.

ZAHN: You did! Well, I appreciate the effort very much.

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