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CNN Live At Daybreak

Spirit of America: Officials Everywhere Pushing for Americans to Get Out and Support Economy

Aired September 28, 2001 - 08:52   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: From President Bush to New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, officials everywhere are pushing for Americans to get out and support the economy, spend, spend, spend, spend in your state, spend in New York, and as CNN's Kitty Pilgrim explains, that message is being heard by some patriotic tourists.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MYR. RUDY GIULIANI (R), NEW YORK: Here is a way you can help us. Come to New York, go to a play, go to a Yankee or Met game, come and spend some money here.

KITTY PILGRIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Forty-two senior citizens from rural Ohio heard that message loud and clear.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We kept listening to the mayor of New York say if you want to help New York, come to New York, and that's the thing that I think we've kept in the back of our minds.

PILGRIM: Mary Margaret Fowler has organized trips for her senior church group for 14 years. This year, I planned on New York City. I started working on it February, by the first of March, it was pretty much put together.

I came on the senior trip, my daughter said, well, mom, you're not going to New York are you? I said, well, sure, you can't run scared.

PILGRIM: New York City patrolman Giannetta, who walks the beat at Rockefeller Center, says tourists are returning, this time to show their support.

OFC. ROBERT GIANNETTA, NEW YORK POLICE: I have gotten hugs from women, and you know, people come up and shake my hands. It's a different attitude. We are helping the economy, that's for sure, because our group loves to shop. Everywhere we have gone, people have smiled, and they say thank you. In the one store we went to, I think she said, oh, what a treat to have all of you people here buying our scarves and that.

PILGRIM: With tourist attractions like the Statue of Liberty still closed to the public, Fowler and her group have remained flexible. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: When we could not go to the Empire State Building, we went to Little Italy, and they had a pastry and something to drink at a little cafe. That was unique.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Make sure you come to New York.

PILGRIM: New York, always larger than life. Kitty Pilgrim, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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