U.N. General Assembly ramps up this week. NYPD preparing for gridlock and protests.
NEW YORK -- The United Nations General Assembly ramps up this week in New York City as President Joe Biden and other world leaders come to town.
The General Assembly started on Sept. 10 and lasts until Sept. 30, but the High-Level Debate begins Tuesday. Motorcades with law enforcement escorts were spotted all around the city Sunday night.
New Yorkers should expect heightened security and gridlock street closures as they go about their day-to-day routines.
"No specific or credible threats"
NYPD and security officials held a news conference Friday to discuss security plans.
"For 79 years, world leaders have been meeting here in New York City to discuss global policy at the U.N. General Assembly. And every year, the men and women of the New York City Police Department make that meeting possible," Interim Police Commissioner Tom Donlon said. "Over the next two weeks, everyone here is working towards the same goal: The safety of U.N. General Assembly attendees and also the people in the neighborhood here. That's important. And also the pedestrians that we see walking through the neighborhood, to make them feel safe."
President Biden is set to address the gathering. Federal agencies are partnering with the NYPD to deploy all resources and technology.
Donlon said the NYPD will be deploying resources citywide, and it will be a combined "all hands" effort, with K9, aviation, harbor, highway and more units involved.
"I can tell you right now, there are no specific or credible threats at this moment to this very important event," Donlon said. "The eyes of the world will be looking at us, and I'm quite confident that this will be a very successful event, hopefully, that will be handled by professionals in a safe and secure manner."
"World leaders coming to New York City all at once. That's nearly 75% of all member states represented at the United Nations, and when you factor in spouses, the number of Secret Service protectives jumps over 200," U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Patrick Freaney said.
Security measures include ensuring the airspace over the event remains secure and preventing unauthorized drone activity.
Another concern: In just over a two-month period, there have been two assassination attempts on former President Donald Trump.
As always, NYPD officials are reminding people to "see something, say something" about any possible security concerns.
Protests have already begun
On Friday morning, there was a lineup of emergency vehicles, with bomb-sniffing dogs and more. The NYPD said it handled 12 protests related to the UNGA before noon. Hundreds gathered at a rally calling for Israeli hostages to be brought home, as well as for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
The UNGA is taking place amid increased attacks in the Middle East, particularly Lebanon, where hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies detonated.
The NYPD says since Oct. 7 of last year, police have responded to 4,000 protests in the city. The NYPD says it is equipped to handle any situation.
NYPD has extra eyes on traffic for Gridlock Alert Days
Donlon is urging people use public transportation to get around due to the numerous street closures that are expected.
NYPD Lt. Dhendup Chadotsang gave CBS News New York's Jenna DeAngelis a glimpse at live traffic cameras, which the NYPD monitors with the city and state departments of transportation at the joint traffic management center.
"We have about 1,200 cameras that's looking at different intersections," Chadotsang said.
There will be traffic agents monitoring the situation from the ground and the team at the center on top of the cameras.
"There's a lot that you're gonna see and there's a lot that you won't see," NYPD Transportation Chief Philip Rivera said.
According to the DOT, traffic data shows average motor vehicle speeds in Midtown during this week are the slowest of the year.
"Last year during UN week, traffic speeds dropped to 3 mph on average. There were days it was closer to 0 mph," said Sam Schwartz, also known as "Gridlock Sam."
He recommends walking or taking the subway all week.
The gridlock is not just frustrating, but also dangerous, according to a new report by Schwartz and Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal. It shows congestion has been crippling emergency response times over the last decade.
"Traffic congestion is causing us all to be at risk," Schwartz said. "Streets will be frozen, meaning not even ambulances can get through."
According to the report, from July 2014 to July 2024, EMS life-threatening response times increased 29% from 9.6 minutes to 12.4 minutes, and FDNY medical emergency response times jumped over 72% from 8.3 minutes to 14.3 minutes.
The FDNY said, in part, it's due to an "explosion in call volume" and traffic conditions.
The NYPD also blames additional 911 calls and congestion for its 23% slower response time to critical shootings, robberies or burglaries, saying, in part, "The Department continues to explore solutions to these challenges and holds regular performance measurement meetings to ensure accountability."
Map shows U.N. General Assembly street closures
Drivers can expect delays along First Avenue between 34th and 63rd streets, as well as the FDR Drive. Transportation officials encourage New Yorkers to use mass transit as much as possible.
According to the NYPD, 57th Street and 42nd Street will have dedicated lanes, which will limit traffic down to one lane in either direction from Second Avenue to Fifth Avenue. Additionally, First Avenue will be a frozen area from 40th to 49th streets.
The NYPD says the following street closures will be in effect until Sept. 29.
- FDR Drive between Whitehall Street and 42nd Street
- Area bounded by East 86th Street on the North, East 80th Street on the South, Park Avenue on the East and 5th Avenue on the West; All inclusive
- Area bounded by 60th Street on the North, 34th Street on the South, First Avenue on the East and Third Avenue on the West; All inclusive
- Area bounded by 57th Street on the North, 45th Street on the South, Third Avenue on the East and Madison Avenue on the West; All inclusive
- Area bounded by 58th Street on the North, 49th Street on the South, Madison Avenue on the East and Sixth Avenue / Avenue of the Americas on the West; All inclusive
- Area bounded by West 47th Street on the North, West 44th Street on the South, Seventh Avenue on the East and Eighth Avenue on the West; All inclusive
- Grand Army Plaza between 58th Street and 60th Street
- Grand Army Plaza between East Drive and Fifth Avenue
- Eighth Avenue between West 49th Street and West 44th Street
- Sixth Avenue between West 59th Street and West 46th Street
- Fifth Avenue between East 63rd Street and East 49th Street
- Madison Avenue between East 58th Street and East 42nd Street
- Vanderbilt Avenue between East 47th Street and East 42nd Street
- Park Avenue between East 62nd Street and East 45th Street
- Lexington Avenue between East 57th Street and East 42nd Street
- East 63rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue
- East 62nd Street between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue
- East 61st Street between Fifth Avenue and Lexington Avenue
- West 59th Street between Seventh Avenue and Fifth Avenue
- West/East 58th Street between Broadway and Sixth Avenue / Avenue of the Americas
- West/East 57th Street between Seventh Avenue and Dead End / FDR Drive
- West 56th Street between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- West 55th Street between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- West 54th Street between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- West/East 53rd Street between 7th Avenue and FDR Drive
- West 52nd Street between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- West 51st Street between Seventh Avenue and Sixth Avenue
- West/East 50th Street between Seventh Avenue and Dead End / FDR Drive
- West/East 49th Street between Eighth Avenue and FDR Drive Service Road
- FDR Drive Service Road between East 48th Street and East 49th Street
- East 48th Street between First Avenue and FDR Drive Service Road
- West 46th Street between Eighth Avenue and Sixth Avenue / Avenue of the Americas
- West/East 42nd Street between Seventh Avenue and FDR Drive
- West/East 34th Street between Seventh Avenue and FDR Drive