What to know
- Police leaders said they are monitoring social media and are prepared for possible demonstrations over the war between Israel and Hamas.
- Plainclothes officers will be present in the crowd, the NYPD said. Additionally, public transportation passengers will see an increased security presence and may be detained.
- Streets in and around Times Square will begin closing at 4 a.m. Sunday, with additional closures starting at 11 a.m.
NEW YORK — The NYPD is preparing to keep up to a million revelers safe in Times Square on New Year’s Eve with thousands of officers reporting for duty, along with anti-terrorism and aviation units.
Police leaders said they are monitoring social media and are prepared for possible demonstrations over the war between Israel and Hamas.
“Those who want to peacefully protest have the right to do so, but they will not do so at the expense of those who peacefully bring in the new year,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Officers are prepared for any demonstration, no matter the size, police officials said at a news conference Friday.
“There’s a protest every day in New York City, so there’s bound to be a protest on New Year’s Eve,” said NYPD Deputy Chief of Intelligence John Hart.
The mayor cited the preparedness of the NYPD to secure the lighting of the Rockefeller Christmas tree in late November, despite the threat of protests.
Plainclothes officers will be present in the crowd, the NYPD said. Additionally, public transportation passengers will see an increased security presence and may be detained.
The NYPD said it will expand its security perimeter around Times Square with the only entry points for entry at 49th, 52nd and 56th Streets at 6th and 8th Avenues.
“That gives us a buffer zone so we can move quickly if necessary, like last year, or it gives us space between protesters,” said NYPD Chief of Patrol John Chell.
Chell was referring to a machete attack on several law enforcement officers just before 10 pm on New Year’s Eve last year.
“There are no specific threats to the city, but as we saw last year, you don’t have to have a specific threat to receive a threat, and we are ready to respond to that threat,” Adams said.
Drones and aviation units will be observing from the air.
Leshonda Wilson of the Bronx is excited to bring her 9-year-old daughter and her mother to this year’s celebration.
“Once in a lifetime,” Wilson said. “I had the experience when I was younger of seeing the ball drop, so I wanted to bring it.”
City officials are urging New Year’s revelers to take public transportation, but check with your transportation system in advance as many will operate on modified weekends or special hours.
Streets in and around Times Square will begin closing at 4 a.m. Sunday, with additional closures starting at 11 a.m.
Large backpacks and alcohol are prohibited within the Times Square security perimeter on Sunday night.
“This is the safest big city in America,” Adams said.
If you’re not planning on going to Times Square for New Year’s Eve, you can watch the ball drop here on Telemundo47.com or on the Telemundo 47 app.
2023-12-30 00:27:06
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