00:00I want to thank Commissioner Tish, Chief of Department Michael Petri, Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner, as
00:08well as NYPD leadership for joining me today as we discuss our plans to keep New Yorkers safe over the
00:14coming days.
00:14On Friday, New Yorkers across the five boroughs will come together in solemn remembrance of the horrific terror attacks of
00:2225 years ago.
00:23And that evening, our Jewish neighbors will gather in shuls and at dining room tables in shared observance of the
00:29beginning of Rosh Hashanah.
00:30On the same day, New Yorkers will both look to our past and forward towards the future.
00:36And as they do so, we will ensure that wherever they are, they are safe.
00:40Our administration and the NYPD have been praying for months to ensure the security and well-being of every New
00:46Yorker on September 11th.
00:47I want to begin with our plans to safeguard those in lower Manhattan.
00:50First, I encourage all New Yorkers to avoid driving downtown.
00:54There will be significant street closures around Ground Zero.
00:58As we prepare to welcome dignitaries to Ground Zero to observe the memorial and reading of the names of those
01:03who were killed,
01:04the NYPD and Secret Service will be implementing heightened security measures.
01:09Fencing will be installed to surround the memorial site and other locations in lower Manhattan.
01:13There will be security screening for anyone invited to the memorial.
01:17And please remember that this event is not open to the general public.
01:20Those without an invitation will not be allowed to enter.
01:24The one train will bypass World Trade Center, Cortland.
01:27New Yorkers can expect to see an expanded police presence both around Ground Zero and high traffic locations downtown.
01:34I want to thank New Yorkers in advance for their patience and understanding towards any travel-related disruptions they may
01:40face on the day.
01:42At sundown, the high holidays will begin.
01:44Hundreds of thousands of Jewish New Yorkers will dip apples into honey, blow the shofar, reflect on the year that
01:50passed, and begin 5787 with sweetness.
01:53And yet we know that for many Jewish New Yorkers, there have been moments of immense sadness over this past
01:58year.
01:58Too many of our neighbors have been the victims of anti-Semitic hate crimes.
02:02And too many are understandably afraid to come together and celebrate openly.
02:06I want to speak directly to our Jewish New Yorkers now.
02:09Your safety during these sacred days is of the utmost importance to our administration.
02:13And we will work tirelessly to ensure that you can observe the holiday securely.
02:18There will be an increased NYPD presence outside of synagogues across the five boroughs, as well as other Jewish, religious,
02:25and cultural locations.
02:27And as we look ahead to Friday evening, NYPD personnel will continue monitoring for any threats both online and in
02:35person.
02:35Let me be clear.
02:37There are no current known specific or credible threats against New York at this time.
02:41We will continue to work closely across all levels of city government, as well as with state and federal partners,
02:48to keep our city safe.
02:50I encourage New Yorkers to sign up for Notify NYC by texting NOTIFYNYC to 692-692, and to also monitor
02:58both the NYPD and NISEM's social media accounts for any additional updates.
03:03I look forward to this day occurring seamlessly and occurring safely.
03:07And I want to thank every member of the NYPD and every city worker in advance who have devoted themselves
03:12to serving and to protecting their fellow New Yorkers.
03:15Now, I would like to invite Commissioner Tisch to share further updates and updates on our plans.
03:25Good afternoon, everyone.
03:26We are here today to discuss, as the mayor said, two major NYPD security operations that will unfold across New
03:33York City in the coming days this Friday.
03:35It marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks.
03:40And as New Yorkers gather to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost that day, we expect family members, dignitaries,
03:47and other invited guests to attend the commemoration at the 9-11 memorial.
03:52And you will see a massive security operation in place.
03:57That operation reflects both the significance of the 25th anniversary and the attendance of dignitaries, former presidents, and other senior
04:06officials.
04:06The NYPD will have a significant presence throughout lower Manhattan, working alongside the United States Secret Service and our federal,
04:14state, and local partners to secure the memorial site,
04:17protect those attending the ceremony, and maintain public safety throughout the surrounding area.
04:24There will be layers of security that are highly visible and others that the public will not see.
04:29New Yorkers can expect to see uniformed officers throughout the area, along with members of our Counterterrorism Bureau heavy weapons
04:36teams,
04:37and other specialized resources deployed as part of the operation.
04:42Our CounterDrone teams will also be deployed in lower Manhattan as another layer of security around the commemoration.
04:50The ceremony is not open to the general public.
04:53And because of the security footprint around the site, New Yorkers should expect significant traffic and pedestrian restrictions throughout lower
05:02Manhattan.
05:02The United States Secret Service will install security fencing on the east side of West Side Highway, from Liberty Street
05:10to Fulton Street,
05:11as well as around the perimeter of the 9-11 memorial site.
05:16Beginning on Friday morning at 6 a.m., street closures will go into effect.
05:21No vehicular traffic will be allowed south of Canal Street to Battery Place and from Broadway over to West Street.
05:28Southbound vehicular traffic will be open on Broadway with a ban on all trucks.
05:34The Hugh Carey Tunnel will remain open, and cars can exit south for access to the FDR Drive for invited
05:41guests attending the ceremony.
05:43Security screening entrances will be located on Greenwich Street, at Vesey Street, and at Liberty Street.
05:49Pedestrian crossings will remain available on Church Street, at Barclay and Liberty Streets, and on West Street at Murray and
05:56Albany Streets.
05:57And I want to emphasize one important point for everyone attending.
06:02Firearms are prohibited at this event.
06:06As the 9-11 commemoration concludes Friday, another major security operation will already be underway across the five boroughs.
06:15At sundown that evening, Rosh Hashanah begins, marking the start of the Jewish High Holy Days.
06:21Over the following days, Jewish New Yorkers will gather with family and friends and fill synagogues.
06:26Across the city, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are solemn days of reflection and of renewal.
06:32This year, they also come at a time of heightened concern for Jewish New Yorkers.
06:37Even as shootings and murders have fallen to historic lows, hate crimes are moving in the wrong direction through the
06:44first eight months of this year.
06:45Confirmed hate crimes citywide are up 16 percent, and anti-Semitic hate crimes are up 9 percent.
06:52And once again, more than half of all confirmed hate crimes in New York City have targeted Jewish New Yorkers.
06:58Even though Jews make up only about 10 percent of this city's population, those numbers are deeply disturbing.
07:05And we've seen these incidents play out across the city.
07:08A few weeks ago, an individual disrupted Shabbos services at Central Synagogue and assaulted a congregant and a member of
07:15the synagogue security team.
07:17And in July, we saw a Jewish man stabbed outside a synagogue on the Upper West Side since October 7th.
07:23Our intelligence community has also tracked threats and disrupted plots directed at Jewish institutions here in New York,
07:32including alleged plans for attacks against a Manhattan synagogue and a Jewish center in Brooklyn.
07:37So, I want all Jewish New Yorkers to know this.
07:41You have a partner in the NYPD now and throughout the year.
07:45As of today, there are no specific credible threats directed at High Holy Day celebrations in New York City, but
07:52we remain vigilant.
07:54There will be assets you see and others that you don't.
07:58Our intelligence and counterterrorism bureau is watching the threat environment here at home and around the world,
08:04working closely with our federal, state, local, and international partners to identify emerging threats and direct resources where they are
08:13needed.
08:13Our Hate Crimes Task Force is investigating acts of anti-Semitic hate and pursuing accountability.
08:20As in years past, you will see an increased NYPD presence around synagogues, yeshivas, and other sensitive locations across the
08:28five boroughs.
08:29As we will deploy additional uniformed footposts and dedicated house of worship patrols.
08:35Precinct commanders and community affairs officers will continue working directly with clergy and institutional leaders
08:41to develop and hone security plans tailored to their communities while traffic personnel monitor conditions around houses of worship.
08:49So, whether New Yorkers are gathered Friday morning to remember those we lost 25 years ago
08:56or entering a synagogue that evening to welcome the new year, they should know that the NYPD will be there.
09:03Thank you, and we will now take some questions.
09:05Good afternoon, folks.
09:07So, we're going to do on-topic questions about security preparations at the 25th anniversary and the new Taiwan.
09:14So, again, on-topic questions about that.
09:16So, I'll rock up.
09:17From the mayor and the commissioner, I know you had two members of the president of the Senate on this
09:23Friday.
09:24There's a full number of them on there, and if so, can you reveal someone's confirmation?
09:29Would you tell them to ease their face?
09:36You know, I have heard from Jewish New Yorkers of the fear that they have in light of the rising
09:45anti-Semitic hate crimes
09:47that we've seen over the past few years, and you just heard it from the commissioner.
09:50Jewish New Yorkers comprise anywhere between 10 to 12 percent of our city's population
09:55and yet comprise a majority of the victims of all hate crimes, and that is unacceptable.
10:00And any act of anti-Semitism is unacceptable.
10:03And what we say to Jewish New Yorkers is that whether it be for the high holidays or whether it
10:09be for any day,
10:10that it is our responsibility to ensure that they are safe,
10:13and we are going to use every single tool at our disposal to deliver exactly that.
