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Interview With NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Aired July 04, 2002 - 14:20   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Tight security across the nation today to protect the freedom of celebrations. Our Maria Hinojosa is in Coney Island in New York, the centerpiece of all the festivities for today. And you have got a special guest with you, don't you?

MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Fredricka, as a matter of fact, we didn't know that Mayor Bloomberg was going to be coming -- personally, really, coming here to Nathan's hot dogs, because, Mr. Mayor, you just had to have one, right?

MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK CITY: I had to have a Nathan's hot dog on the Fourth of July. This is America.

HINOJOSA: You've heard about the winner, 50 1/2...

BLOOMBERG: I heard about the winner. I'm not in that league. I'm going to have one hot dog. That's all my waistline can take.

HINOJOSA: OK. So where have you been, Mr. Mayor? What is the mood of the city? What are you seeing?

BLOOMBERG: Well, the mood is great. Unfortunately, we have to celebrate today what's wonderful, the right to be ourselves, practice our religions, say what we want to say. But it was done and we have it a great cost. People have been fighting and dying for America for 225 years, and on September 11 another 2,800 people gave their lives so that the rest of us can go out and celebrate today.

HINOJOSA: You feeling like New Yorkers are feeling secure today?

BLOOMBERG: Oh, people are secure. New Yorkers understand. There are no specific threats. There's just the general prudence of when you have crowds together, and particularly on a patriotic holiday, to pay attention. What we as individuals should do if you see something suspicious, call 911, leave it up to the professionals.

HINOJOSA: Now, today, for the first time ever, we actually had the bomb squads with their dogs here as part of the contest setting up. That's part of this increased security?

BLOOMBERG: Well, the world is a difficult place and there are some bad people there, and, unfortunately, we found that the oceans aren't quite big enough to keep terrorism away. When you see the police with dogs, that should give you a great deal of comfort, that police are doing exactly what they should be doing. And that shouldn't scare you off; quite the contrary.

What you have to do is to make sure you don't let the terrorist win without firing a shot. We have got to go out and go about our business and tell the world that America is still the place if they want to raise their families free and not have to worry in the middle of the night of somebody busting down the door and hauling them off, you come to America, and you come particularly to New York, the safest big city in the United States.

HINOJOSA: So, Mr. Mayor, when you look around at the crowds here, it's pretty fascinating -- I mean, this is the New York. Who are you seeing here? What surprises you? What are the crowds looking like?

BLOOMBERG: What you have to understand, 40 percent of New York City is foreign-born. When people from around the world want a better life and they get in their canoes, they row across the oceans to New York, never in the other direction. And this is the diversity of New York. All these people are here. They'd rather be here than anyplace else. They feel safe; they feel secure. They want to raise their families here and enjoy themselves.

And today is the day to do everything. Remember those that gave us our freedom, and enjoy what they fought and died for.

HINOJOSA: Thank you so much, Mr. Mayor.

BLOOMBERG: My pleasure.

HINOJOSA: Have a cool day.

BLOOMBERG: Thank you, and have a nice Fourth of July. Happy birthday to America.

HINOJOSA: Thank you so much.

Of course, many of those immigrants came here to compete in the hot dog contest. The winner, Takudo Kobayashi (ph), 50 1/2 hot dogs, breaking all records. Back to you, Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: Oh, very impressive. All right. Thanks very much, Maria Hinojosa, appreciate it.

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