Sep 23, 2008 12:40 pm US/Eastern
What's Going On Today in NYC? East Side Traffic
Tara Lipinsky, WCBSTV.com
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
It happens every year without fail; leaders of countries around the globe converge on Manhattan for the annual United Nations General Assembly meaning only one thing for those of us who live here year 'round; TRAFFIC. And it really ticks people off.
Why anyone would get behind the wheel of a car and head to the East Side this time of year is beyond me, but many do and they face hours of frustration as they "stop and go" only a few feet at a time. Meanwhile, Secret Service men line the streets, as wise city-dwellers pound the pavement past them, and people in power pack the Waldorf-Astoria to hob-knob and eat a fabulous meal.
Why do you we New Yorkers do it? Why not indulge in public transportation for a week or so? Is it possible people forget? Or not have heard? Could it be that thousands of you out there don't read a newspaper, watch television news or listen to news radio while commuting in your car? Maybe people are just digging in their heels and feel it's their right to drive no matter whom is coming to town.
Well I wanted to find out how YOU feel about it. And I thought it was a brilliant idea to hop on the cross town bus from 10th Avenue and take it to the East Side. Well, I waited, and waited and waited. Still no bus. I should have known then. When an M57 finally pulled up to the packed stop, the blind herd happily climbed aboard. But a few minutes later, I realized we were going nowhere fast and others followed, hoofing it across town. That's when I started asking New Yorkers to sound off on the yearly inconvenience, and I was sometimes surprised at what you all had to say.
Now, a popular response from many of you out there was to move the United Nations to a new location. One man suggested Cuba, another Upstate New York. Many of you were outraged that you had to put up with the politicians and the public nuisance year after year. But, many of you felt it was all part of the New York experience, and some street vendors say they even benefit from the onslaught.
Here in New York, the greatest city in our nation, if not the world, it is amazing one person could find so many people with so many different opinions living among each other in relative harmony. And many of those people originate from all those various countries represented here this week, making global decisions. I can't think of a better place to house the United Nations, even if I have blisters on my feet.
E-mail Tara to tell her what you think!
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
WCBSTV.com's Most Popular Pages
