Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Big Apple Won't Let Terror Concerns Stop New Year's Celebrations
Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:25 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: Folks here in the Big Apple say they won't let terror concerns keep them from celebrating the new year in their usual big way. About a half a million of them will head to Times Square a little bit later on today for those celebrations. There will be some changes, though.
New York City officials say they have covered all the bases. Some folks are describing the level of security as that of a war zone.
Let's turn to Maria Hinojosa, who is standing by live in Times Square with the latest on that -- happy new year, Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Paula, happy new year to you, too.
You know, you talk to some people across the country and they say that Times Square and new year's eve in New York is the last place they want to be. But you talk to some security folks and they say actually this is probably one of the safest, certainly one of the most controlled places to be. And this year in terms of the party, the theme is a little bit different.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HINOJOSA (voice-over): For 99 years, this has been the city tradition. And for 2003, they'll also be ringing in the new year literally. Fifty thousand revelers will get 50,000 little wrist belts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Over 50,000 of them, so it'll be very loud.
HINOJOSA: For safety, newspaper bins and garbage cans are being removed, manhole covers welded shut and thousands of local, state and federal agencies will be out in force.
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: This will include several hundred uncover officers, including members of the detective division, the narcotics division, counter-terrorism and our intelligence division.
HINOJOSA: For many, the tight security is no deterrent.
(on camera): You know, some people would say that Times Square in the middle of, you know, a million people is the last place that they'd want to be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not me. I think it's the best place to be, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Especially on a holiday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's good to be with your loved ones, but, you know, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You probably won't ever do it again in your whole lifetime.
HINOJOSA (voice-over): This year, actor Christopher Reeve and his wife will be special guests, chosen to represent courageous and hopeful New Yorkers, like many looking to put a difficult year behind them and hoping once again for all good things. MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: My only advice to people is dress warmly, lighten up, we're all in this together.
HINOJOSA: And a New York shout out for unity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HINOJOSA: So, Paula, you know, a lot of people come here and they think that it's going to be a huge party. Lots of people just hanging out on the street. That's not the way it goes. The way it goes is that once you come into these pens that are blocked off one block after another, as they fill up and all of those people who get inside of these penned areas will be searched. No backpacks are going to be allowed, no packages are going to be allowed, no drinks are going to be allowed. In the larger area of Times Square, several thousand police officers, federal officers, undercover agents, no garbage cans, no newspaper vending machines, no mailboxes on the streets.
We're going to have about a half a million people here in this area. The bomb squad and the canine unit have already been detecting this area and the subways underneath. A lot of federal presence, as well visible and undercover agents, a lot of the elite security teams will be here. They are saying that they are ready and already people here are saying they're ready to party.
But what time is it? Nine o'clock in the morning? They're ready -- Paula.
ZAHN: Yes, I've always been amazed at how they don't think anything of standing eight hours in that pen so they will be standing in the right position at midnight.
HINOJOSA: Let me tell you, Paula, there were people out here yesterday who were scoping out their spot. So, you know, you've just got to give it to them. They want to be here and they say they are not concerned. They're not worried. They just want to be in New York and have a great time.
ZAHN: Thanks, Maria.
Appreciate the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Celebrations>
Aired December 31, 2002 - 08:25 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Folks here in the Big Apple say they won't let terror concerns keep them from celebrating the new year in their usual big way. About a half a million of them will head to Times Square a little bit later on today for those celebrations. There will be some changes, though.
New York City officials say they have covered all the bases. Some folks are describing the level of security as that of a war zone.
Let's turn to Maria Hinojosa, who is standing by live in Times Square with the latest on that -- happy new year, Maria.
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Paula, happy new year to you, too.
You know, you talk to some people across the country and they say that Times Square and new year's eve in New York is the last place they want to be. But you talk to some security folks and they say actually this is probably one of the safest, certainly one of the most controlled places to be. And this year in terms of the party, the theme is a little bit different.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HINOJOSA (voice-over): For 99 years, this has been the city tradition. And for 2003, they'll also be ringing in the new year literally. Fifty thousand revelers will get 50,000 little wrist belts.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Over 50,000 of them, so it'll be very loud.
HINOJOSA: For safety, newspaper bins and garbage cans are being removed, manhole covers welded shut and thousands of local, state and federal agencies will be out in force.
RAY KELLY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE COMMISSIONER: This will include several hundred uncover officers, including members of the detective division, the narcotics division, counter-terrorism and our intelligence division.
HINOJOSA: For many, the tight security is no deterrent.
(on camera): You know, some people would say that Times Square in the middle of, you know, a million people is the last place that they'd want to be.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not me. I think it's the best place to be, you know?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Especially on a holiday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it's good to be with your loved ones, but, you know, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity. You probably won't ever do it again in your whole lifetime.
HINOJOSA (voice-over): This year, actor Christopher Reeve and his wife will be special guests, chosen to represent courageous and hopeful New Yorkers, like many looking to put a difficult year behind them and hoping once again for all good things. MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: My only advice to people is dress warmly, lighten up, we're all in this together.
HINOJOSA: And a New York shout out for unity.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HINOJOSA: So, Paula, you know, a lot of people come here and they think that it's going to be a huge party. Lots of people just hanging out on the street. That's not the way it goes. The way it goes is that once you come into these pens that are blocked off one block after another, as they fill up and all of those people who get inside of these penned areas will be searched. No backpacks are going to be allowed, no packages are going to be allowed, no drinks are going to be allowed. In the larger area of Times Square, several thousand police officers, federal officers, undercover agents, no garbage cans, no newspaper vending machines, no mailboxes on the streets.
We're going to have about a half a million people here in this area. The bomb squad and the canine unit have already been detecting this area and the subways underneath. A lot of federal presence, as well visible and undercover agents, a lot of the elite security teams will be here. They are saying that they are ready and already people here are saying they're ready to party.
But what time is it? Nine o'clock in the morning? They're ready -- Paula.
ZAHN: Yes, I've always been amazed at how they don't think anything of standing eight hours in that pen so they will be standing in the right position at midnight.
HINOJOSA: Let me tell you, Paula, there were people out here yesterday who were scoping out their spot. So, you know, you've just got to give it to them. They want to be here and they say they are not concerned. They're not worried. They just want to be in New York and have a great time.
ZAHN: Thanks, Maria.
Appreciate the update.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Celebrations>
