Election gives NY New Year's Eve feel

NYPD will be out 5,000 strong with both candidates in Manhattan

The police presence in New York City on Election Day will make it feel like New Year's Eve, particularly in Times Square.

In a press conference in Times Square on Monday, New York Police Department Chief Carlos Gomez said that more than 5,000 uniformed officers will be out on the city's streets on Tuesday, patrolling more than 1,200 polling places.

"This is by far the largest election detail that the NYPD has ever had," he said. "It is more than double our previous high. And it is comparable to the detail size that we have here on New Year's Eve and last year when Pope Francis visited."

What adds to the amped-up atmosphere and security in New York is that both candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, will hold their election night events in Midtown Manhattan.

"This presents a very unique set of challenges," said NYPD Commissioner James O'Neill. "For the first time in modern memory, both major party candidates will monitor the results in New York and hold election parties in Midtown."

Clinton will be at the Javits Center between 34th and 40th streets on 11th Avenue. Trump will set up at the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue and West Fifty Third Street. Streets around both venues were either closed or partially closed starting Monday afternoon.

"We've got two things going at once here," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. "The fact that both candidates are in NYC, and then ... that this campaign has generated particular concern.

"One of the reasons we're here [in Times Square] is that we may see protests in the evening, or celebrations," the mayor said. "Whatever it may be."

NYPD Counterterrorism Chief Jim Waters said the department has "more than tripled our capacity to protect NYC with 535 CRC (Critical Response Command) people as well as 800 Strategic Response Group personnel - long-gun trained, counterterrorism-trained and well-prepared to face any threat that comes toward us or any danger coming to NYC."

The NYPD situation room and the Joint Operations Center at One Police Plaza will be staffed with representatives from more than 50 city, state and federal agencies.

"I want to be clear at the outset - New York City will never be intimidated - never by threats of terror, nor by anyone who wants to do anything to disrupt our electoral process," the mayor said.

williamhennelly@chinadailyusa.com