By Dr. Leon Koziol

Parenting Rights institute

After completing another assignment here in Manhattan, I spent New Year’s Eve afternoon jogging around Central Park and trying to access Times Square to see how New York handles the hundreds of thousands who come to celebrate the world’s greatest New Year’s event. It’s as if the New Year is not official until that famous ball drops on Times Square.

I’m only a few blocks north of the Square at the Courtyard Marriott and I was lucky to gain access when I returned from Central Park. That was 3 pm. Earlier you could still shop the area but by mid-afternoon, all sidewalks and roads were closed all around Times Square. I was given a hotel pass for later access when the roads are opened to pedestrians only. Even my hotel lobby had NYPD officers on duty.

According to ABC News today, “thousands of officers, both uniformed and plainclothes, heavy weapons teams from ESU, CRC, and SRG, along with the Technical Assistance & Response Unit, Canine Teams, and the Harbor Unit will be on hand to ensure the safety of the celebrators.”

I could hear and see helicopters from my hotel window. Yeah what an event. I’ve been to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with my daughters in the day at this same location, but the security then was not a fraction of this one.

Nearer to the Square, lines across entire streets like Broadway and Seventh Avenue were already building since early morning. People from all over the world were friendly and excited. The uproars everywhere are already underway. I was fortunate to meet and hang out with couples and professionals from Texas and Ohio. I will keep you updated.