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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Unprecedented security is being put in place in Washington, D.C. ahead of Wednesday’s presidential inauguration.
Security is also tight in New York City, where NYPD counterterrorism officers are standing guard outside City Hall — nearly two weeks after the attack on the U.S. Capitol and days before the upcoming inauguration.
“So used to it. Even back from September 11th, they increased it, and it’s a normal thing now,” one New Yorker told CBS2’s John Dias.
Mayor Bill de Blasio said adding extra security to sensitive areas across the city is out of an abundance of caution.
“No specific threats direct against New York City. We are absolutely read, if one emerges, to move the resources in place to address it quickly,” he said.
Two-hundred of NY’s Finest are on their way to Washington D.C. We’re proud of these NYPD cops who stepped up and volunteered to help our law enforcement partners secure the inauguration and America’s Capital! pic.twitter.com/JXjIZD5mfL
— Chief Terence Monahan (@NYPDChiefofDept) January 18, 2021
How long the feeling of fear will go on depends on who you ask. The NYPD warns this will be a year of more domestic terrorism.
“Hopefully this is all growing pains and it’s gone soon,” said Mike Cafarella, of Tribeca.
“It’s a necessary evil. We have to live with it,” Carroll Gardens resident Barbara Maresca said. “I don’t know if there’s ever going to be a time that we are in the clear.”
Some retail stores are taking action, too. In Times Square, other places had boarded up windows. Customers weren’t surprised, but some said it may be too much.
“I don’t think we are going to see a lot of civil unrest,” said Ryan Sweeney, of Queens. “But it’s smart if stores want to take precautions anyway.”
CRISIS IN THE CAPITOL
Leaders continue to stress there are no credible threats to New York City, but they’re taking no chances after what happened in Washington.
“It was obviously an intelligence failure,” intelligence analyst and counterterrorism specialist Brian Boyd told CBS2. “They didn’t like the optics or the appearance of the National Guard being around the Capitol during a Trump rally.”
While it’s good to be ready, Boyd said he doesn’t think attempts of insurrections will happen outside Washington.
“To me, that’s closing the barn door after the horse has been led out,” he added.
PHOTOS: FBI Searching For Suspects Who Stormed U.S. Capitol Building
Extra officers are also staged at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue. An NYPD senior official told CBS2, “from now through the inauguration, we will have a robust presence at Trump affiliated locations.”
Once President Donald Trump leaves office, the NYPD will reduce staff at the building, take down barricades and even reopen nearby streets.
The department hasn’t released its full plan as to what security will look like at Trump Tower post-inauguration, but experts say it will most likely be up to Trump to staff and pay for any additional security, since he owns the building.
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