NYC stepping up security for the U.N. General Assembly. Here's what to expect.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch held a briefing Thursday morning to discuss security measures for the United Nations General Assembly.
Officials emphasized there are no specific or credible threats.
The event typically means extensive traffic headaches throughout Manhattan, at a bare minimum. The Department of Transportation says the 80th U.N. General Assembly will kick off the city's annual Gridlock Alert Days, starting this coming Monday. Representatives from about 200 countries will descend on New York City as part of the gathering.
"Next week, as global leaders, civil society representatives, press and advocates come together to discuss these issues, we have an obligation to ensure that they're able to do it in a safe manner, and we will accomplish this task," Adams said.
"We're telling New Yorkers security is a shared responsibility"
Adams said there will be a multi-department and multi-agency effort, encompassing federal partners, to ensure the safety of the event.
"At this time, there are no known specific or credible threats against the United Nations. But our posture is elevated out of an abundance of caution, given the global environment. We will have thousands of officers, K-9s deployed and we will be protecting New Yorkers and visitors underground in our subways, as well as on our streets surrounding the United Nations. And from the air, we'll be using our drones and helicopters, and on our waterways, with our harbor and counterterrorism units," Adams said. "Because as always, we remain vigilant, and we're telling New Yorkers security is a shared responsibility. If you see something, say something, most importantly, do something -- notify the authorities."
"The NYPD remains fully prepared with a layered security plan designed to meet the need," Tisch said. "The resources we are deploying are extensive and go beyond just a uniformed presence."
NYPD Harbor Unit is dominance personified
The NYPD Harbor Unit spends weeks getting ready for the U.N. General Assembly to make sure everybody's safe. While most people are thinking about what's happening on the ground, for these teams, it's all eyes on the waterways.
"Very important people come down to the U.N. and safety and security of the New York waterways and everyone involved is first and foremost our main priority," Commanding Officer Raul Maisonet said.
From shore to shore, the Harbor Unit is dominance personified.
"They are the best in the world. They are good at what they do," Maisonet said.
He said the unit is on high alert as many world leaders gather in Lower Manhattan.
"We want people in New York City to know that everyone is safe," Maisonet said.
Heavy weapons teams tail the NYPD boat. Elite piloting skills, paired with M4 rifles, will be an additional presence on the water for the next several weeks, strategically placed at sensitive guard points.
"Their main priority is to ensure the safety and security of the post that they are at," Maisonet said. "It's a little scary looking, but I guess that's the point."
Street closures in effect for UNGA 2025
Adams urged New Yorkers to use mass transit, since navigating the streets next week will be particularly challenging. Tisch said there will be hundreds of motorcades throughout the week.
Tisch outlined street closures as of Monday for the duration of the event:
- First Avenue will be closed from 42nd-48th streets daily
- 44th-48th streets from First Avenue to Second Avenue daily
- Passenger vehicles and bicycles may use the First Avenue tunnel to travel through the area
- There will be rolling, intermittent closures citywide as certain delegations move
"Beyond the UN headquarters itself, other meetings and special events across the city will require resources and protection. Thousands of NYPD Officers will secure routes, fortify protection for the president the United States, support security at hotels where heads of state will be staying," Tisch said. "A temporary flight restriction will be in effect from September 21st through September 27th with a two nautical mile radius of the U.N. Flying drones inside this restricted airspace is strictly prohibited."
General Assembly taking place at same time as Jewish High Holidays
Meanwhile, the NYPD says it's beefing up security amid safety concerns surrounding the upcoming Jewish High Holidays. The Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah, starts at sundown Monday, and Tisch says there will be heightened security across New York City for the next two weeks.
The Jewish community is on high alert as we get closer to marking two years since the Oct. 7 terror attacks by Hamas.
Police data shows anti-Jewish hate crimes account for 56% of all hate crimes citywide.
"An increased presence of our heavy weapons teams, our bomb sniffing dogs, our patrol officers, all the parts of our machine that you see -- and those that you don't -- working behind the scenes," NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism Rebecca Weiner said.
Antisemitic hate crime is down 16% citywide, but officials say they will be working around the clock for the High Holidays.
