Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

New Yorkers, Tourists Dealing Well With Transportation, Canceled Shows

Aired August 15, 2003 - 15:32   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, New York officials say 88 percent of the state has electricity again. New York City is heading back to normal, it seems like. CNN's Dana Bash is in Times Square with a report on the progress -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, a lot of Manhattan still does not have power. A lot of the other four boroughs don't as well. But the lights are back up on Broadway. As you said, I'm here in Times Square, and there are New Yorkers who are milling about, lots of people in and around Times Square, and there are also people from out of town, some tourists who are here, and are here to see some shows.

One of those is here with me, Margaret Cook, she is here. She came last night to see a show. Clearly that didn't happen. But she and other folks who are on line waiting for tickets were told they are going to get refunds. Margaret, what have you been told? And what has your situation been like over the past 24 hours?

MARGARET COOK, TOURIST IN NYC: Well, I was here to see "Nine." Unfortunately because of lots of lights and power, we were not able to see it, but I understand I am going to get a refund for my charge.

But it wasn't a bad night. Considering everything, I think the city handled it well and I think the people were good in good spirits under the circumstances. At the hotel where I was staying, a jazz band was there. They couldn't play at the club where they were supposed to be, so they played for us. So it was quite a wonderful evening.

So all in all, I think people handled it well.

BASH: So you felt safe, you felt like things were under control in the area where you were staying?

COOK: Yes. I think as best as the city could handle it, I think they did a good job.

BASH: And so what are you going to see tonight? Are you going to get to see "Nine"?

COOK: I don't think so. There are no more seats. But we'll see something. It'll be fun no matter what.

BASH: OK, thank you, Margaret. And Margaret's spirits certainly echo a lot of the others that we have talked to here on this line and around the city as the Mayor Bloomberg has said time and time again, that he is certainly really impressed by the way New Yorkers have handled this situation.

He did earlier today talking to reporters say that just over 50 percent of the city now has electricity. He said his hope and expectation is that by the end of the day, all, he hopes, of the city will get, get some more electricity. But he said, he certainly thought that last night, and it didn't happen.

He is going on get another briefing, according to a showers in mayor's office at about 5:00 from Con Ed and then he will brief reporters shortly thereafter about the latest and the status of New York City. Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Dana, meanwhile, how are folks getting around? You know, the subway was shut down. The railroad was shut down. The streets were so crowded. What is the mode of transportation today?

BASH: A lot of people are hoofing it. A lot of people walking around. A lot of people on the streets.

As you said, the subway is still shut down. As a matter of fact, what the mayor has said is that even after all of the power is restored, it will still probably take about six and eight hours after that for the subway to get back up and running because they have to resync all of the operations and make sure there are no accidents.

Other modes of transportation, there are buses that are still working, and you see them. They are packed like sardines, Kyra. There are people who are just jammed in there to try to get from point A to point B.

But there are a lot of people, according to the mayor's office who, he heeded his advice and did stay home, didn't come into work. I came earlier today from Long Island. There was certainly some traffic but not as much as you would think so far as New York is concerned.

People are hoofing it, they are climbing into buses and they are just hanging out and enjoying the very nice, very warm weather -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Dana Bash, thank you.

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





Canceled Shows>


Aired August 15, 2003 - 15:32   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, New York officials say 88 percent of the state has electricity again. New York City is heading back to normal, it seems like. CNN's Dana Bash is in Times Square with a report on the progress -- Dana.
DANA BASH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. Well, a lot of Manhattan still does not have power. A lot of the other four boroughs don't as well. But the lights are back up on Broadway. As you said, I'm here in Times Square, and there are New Yorkers who are milling about, lots of people in and around Times Square, and there are also people from out of town, some tourists who are here, and are here to see some shows.

One of those is here with me, Margaret Cook, she is here. She came last night to see a show. Clearly that didn't happen. But she and other folks who are on line waiting for tickets were told they are going to get refunds. Margaret, what have you been told? And what has your situation been like over the past 24 hours?

MARGARET COOK, TOURIST IN NYC: Well, I was here to see "Nine." Unfortunately because of lots of lights and power, we were not able to see it, but I understand I am going to get a refund for my charge.

But it wasn't a bad night. Considering everything, I think the city handled it well and I think the people were good in good spirits under the circumstances. At the hotel where I was staying, a jazz band was there. They couldn't play at the club where they were supposed to be, so they played for us. So it was quite a wonderful evening.

So all in all, I think people handled it well.

BASH: So you felt safe, you felt like things were under control in the area where you were staying?

COOK: Yes. I think as best as the city could handle it, I think they did a good job.

BASH: And so what are you going to see tonight? Are you going to get to see "Nine"?

COOK: I don't think so. There are no more seats. But we'll see something. It'll be fun no matter what.

BASH: OK, thank you, Margaret. And Margaret's spirits certainly echo a lot of the others that we have talked to here on this line and around the city as the Mayor Bloomberg has said time and time again, that he is certainly really impressed by the way New Yorkers have handled this situation.

He did earlier today talking to reporters say that just over 50 percent of the city now has electricity. He said his hope and expectation is that by the end of the day, all, he hopes, of the city will get, get some more electricity. But he said, he certainly thought that last night, and it didn't happen.

He is going on get another briefing, according to a showers in mayor's office at about 5:00 from Con Ed and then he will brief reporters shortly thereafter about the latest and the status of New York City. Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Dana, meanwhile, how are folks getting around? You know, the subway was shut down. The railroad was shut down. The streets were so crowded. What is the mode of transportation today?

BASH: A lot of people are hoofing it. A lot of people walking around. A lot of people on the streets.

As you said, the subway is still shut down. As a matter of fact, what the mayor has said is that even after all of the power is restored, it will still probably take about six and eight hours after that for the subway to get back up and running because they have to resync all of the operations and make sure there are no accidents.

Other modes of transportation, there are buses that are still working, and you see them. They are packed like sardines, Kyra. There are people who are just jammed in there to try to get from point A to point B.

But there are a lot of people, according to the mayor's office who, he heeded his advice and did stay home, didn't come into work. I came earlier today from Long Island. There was certainly some traffic but not as much as you would think so far as New York is concerned.

People are hoofing it, they are climbing into buses and they are just hanging out and enjoying the very nice, very warm weather -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Dana Bash, thank you.

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





Canceled Shows>