Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty
New York City’s Mayor-electEric Adamswill be sworn in just after the raucous midnight ball drop at Times Square on Saturday, Jan. 1.
Adams, 61, will become the 110th mayor of the nation’s largest city amongthousands of revelers expected to gatherunder the lights for festivities in the heart of Manhattan.
“I am deeply humbled to officially take the oath of office at this iconic occasion, and to participate in the transfer of leadership that is a cornerstone of our democracy,” Adams said in a statement Wednesday.
While an estimated 60,000 people typically attended pre-pandemic celebrations on New Year’s Eve in Times Square, the city has set capacity at 15,000 for Friday’s bash.
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Some precautions will be in place, of course. Everyone over the age of 5 must show proof of vaccination to enter the tightly controlled area in and around Times Square on Friday. Once admitted, attendees will be required to wear masks and remain in designated viewing pens.
As 2020 faded into history — and 2021 began — only a small number of first responders and medical workers were allowed in Times Square a year ago.
“Times Square has long been synonymous with the New Year — a place of excitement, renewal, and hope for the future,” said Adams, who’ll be the second Black mayor of New York City. “These are the same themes that animated my campaign and will inform my mayoralty, as I prepare to lead the city out of this challenging period.”
Adams initially hoped to have his inauguration in Brooklyn at the Kings Theatre but has reportedly postponed the ceremony because of concerns about holding an indoor event during the Omicron-led surge in COVID cases.
Likemany health officials, incoming Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine disagrees with the decision to host thousands in Times Square this year.
“I think we need to do more to slow this,” Levine toldThe New York Timeswhile recovering from a second COVID infection, despite being vaccinated and boosted. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we should have an in-person crowd in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.”
Current Mayor Bill DeBlasio disagrees. “We want to show that we’re moving forward,“he said in aTodayshow interview Thursday. “We want to show the world that New York City is fighting our way through this.”
source: people.com
