Link from the Drudge Report.

JMHO, If I were the NYPD I would order the whole of New York City be closed down on New Year's eve 2000 - not just the theater district. Even if the lights stay on, NY City will be the biggest and best target for any terrorist group. If the light go out? Well, I don't even want to consider what could/would happen.

GREAT WHITE WAY WILL GO DARK ON Y2K EVE

The city's world-famous theater district will be blacked out on New Year's Eve, Post columnist Cindy Adams reported today.

Anticipating record crowds and the potential for violence they represent, police have ordered all Broadway theaters to close on what is traditionally a big night on the Great White Way, Adams said.

You looking to buy Millennium Night seats to "Art," "Lion King," "Death of a Salesman," "Phantom," "Ragtime," etc? Fuhgeddaboudit." she wrote.

Police Commissioner Howard Safir told Adams, "Shutting the theater is not only a safety measure, it's a practical precaution. With enormous crowds in the area, theatergoers pouring into the streets won't be able to get out the door.

"We'll freeze the zone early to vehicular traffic with a safety lane down the middle of the road for emergency vehicles.

"We'll institute chutes or checkpoints all along to see nobody brings in booze or whatever shouldn't be brought in.

"And there will be lots of cops. None of our force is off that night," Safir said, estimating that a possible two million people may surge into the area to welcome the new millenium.

Commanders for Manhattan South, the precincts whose watch includes 59th to the Battery, just notified all theater groups and owners that the West Side - 59th Street to 41st Street - will be closed all day, Adams reported.

"We know 43rd to 59th will have an unusually high number of people," three-star Chief Al Hoehl told her. "Every New Year's that includes Broadway and Seventh Avenues. This year we also expect it to spill over to Sixth and Eighth Avenues.

"No calculating how many tourists from how far away will congregate there. Two years ago, a Florida survey revealed 80% of its residents hoped to be in Times Square New Year's Eve. That's just one state."

Shubert Theater Chairman Gerald Schoenfeld told Adams: "The decision was reached three weeks ago and we were subsequently informed. All of us in the Broadway community have been very supportive."

And those who already hold tickets to performances that night?

"They'll have the option to exchange for another night or be given a refund. It's their choice. Anyone calling for New Year's Eve seats from now on will be told there's no performance that night."

Fran and Barry Weissler, producers of the SRO musical "Chicago," placed newspaper ads as early as one year ago guaranteeing they'll still be playing come Year 2000. They advertised Millennium Night seats for $200 apiece.

"Chicago's" 1,600 seats were sold out at $100 per last New Year's Eve , Adams said. Ticketholders will be offered "complimentary" seats to another performance, according to spokesman Pete Sanders.

Also among the losers are composers, lyricists, authors, whoever's on a royalty basis, and weekly wage earners, Adams noted.

Over the holiday period approximately 600,000 people go to the theater. In the period immediately following, the box-office traditionally dips.

There does exist a slight wrinkle, however. American League of Theaters and Producers president Jed Bernstein calls it, "The U2K problem. The 'U' stands for unions.

"Since nobody wants to be out of pocket, a solution seems to be adding one additional performance the week before," he said.

"But three or four shows can not fit in one more matinee or are too long, thus too strenuous, to play a ninth performance. These cases still must be worked out.

"And unions such as those belonging to stagehands, musicians, ushers, exact an extra 1/8 of a weekly salary for an additional performance. That's another $60,000-$70,000 nut for a producer.

"Equity, the actors union, is waiving this penalty. They said, 'Hey, it's the Millennium and everyone's glad to not work that night.'

"But not every union is willing to do that," he said.

-- flb (fben4077@yahoo.com), July 07, 1999

Answers

"Two years ago, a Florida survey revealed 80% of its residents hoped to be in Times Square New Year's Eve. That's just one state."

Florida is full of trans-planted Noo Yawkers. Most other states aren't (thank God).

Still. 2 million people? And religious folk get ridiculed for making a fuss about the year 2000, "after all it's just a number." It should be interesting to see what happens.

-- hope to be (safe@home.thanks), July 07, 1999.

flb,

Thank's for bringing this one out for discussion. The cause of concern in the story is the crowds, no mention of computers, Y2k, or problems with electricity. The possibility of Y2k mayhem is real and in light of what Washington D.C., is up against, contingencies should be prepared.

A few weeks ago I suggested on csy2k, NYC might close Times Square for New Year's Eve. Looks as though the big brains are looking at some unpleasant realities. Perhaps, the plan to close the theatre district may be somewhat like Cory's plan A, B, and C, type of approach.

Plan B, could be similar to the aftermath of the blizzard a few years ago, closing the city to all but essential traffic. To be implemented if people and systems start misbehaving.

Plan C, well... It would certainly be a stretch to imagine New Years Eve without Times Square, Dick Clark, and the Ball dropping at the stroke of midnight. The effect on the country would be -not good.

So, If I were the Mayor, I'd look at some serious backup plans for electricity, and communications. Maybe tap into that new fuel cell powered building, generators, special ConEd thing, something. Make sure the networks are tied in and able to go off the grid too. After all, "the show must go on," .....just not on Broadway.

-- Tom McDowell (bullriver@montana.com), July 07, 1999.