The Clintons will be pushing the button that lowers the Waterford crystal ball that counts down the final 60 seconds of 2008 in Times Square tonight. At their side will be the mayor of New York, Mike Bloomberg, and the Jonas Brothers helping them to ring in 2009 in Times Square along with millions of partiers.
Mayor Bloomberg said the NYPD is ready:
“Times Square is so secure, it’s the last thing to worry about,” he said. “There’ll be a lot of police that you see [and] there’ll be a lot of police that you don’t see.”
It’s reported that 1,129 cops who graduated from the Police Academy Tuesday will be on duty in Times Square, as well as counter terror teams and Secret Service agents.
No backpacks, and no alcohol will be permitted in Times Square, where temperatures could drop to just 17 degrees by midnight.
Five minutes before midnight, 1,000 balloons will be released into the night sky to drift down onto the crowd gathered below. The balloons will be decorated with the words “Joy,” “Hope” and “2009.” The 12,000-pound (6 ton) crystal ball will touch bottom at the stroke of midnight.
“American Idol” host Ryan Seacrest will host the evening’s musical program. Longtime emcee Dick Clark, who had a stroke four years ago, is scheduled to make a cameo appearance.
Happy New Year!