World leaders are descending on the city this week for the United Nations General Assembly, bringing major traffic tie-ups and gridlock on the east side of Manhattan.
An increased police presence is already visible in the area.
All this week, First Avenue will be closed from 42nd Street to 48th Street, though the tunnel underpass will be open to passenger cars.
Lexington and Park Avenues will be closed between 48th and 52nd Streets.
East 44th, 45th and 46th Streets will be closed between First and Second Avenues.
East 49th and 50th Streets will be closed between Lexington and Park Avenues.
Also, 42nd Street will be closed from the FDR Drive to Second Avenue and the 42nd Street entrance and exit ramps of the FDR Drive will also be closed.
President Barack Obama will be speaking at a UN anti-poverty summit on Wednesday.
On Thursday he will address the opening session of the UN General Assembly, where he is expected to discuss concerns about North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, security in the Middle East and the global economy.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is in the city for the Assembly, and he’s already being met by protestors.
Rallies against his regime are expected throughout the week.
Ahmadinejad is scheduled to speak to the General Assembly on Thursday.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Ahmadinejad challenged the United States to accept that his country has a major role in the world.
He insisted his country does not want nuclear weapons.
Ahmadinejad said he hopes that the two remaining American hikers being held in Iran will soon be able to prove they had no ill intentions when crossing the border so they can be released.
The one hiker who has been released, Sarah Shourd, addressed reporters in New York yesterday.
Shourd, her fiance, and a friend were held for more than 13-months, accused of spying for the United States after crossing the border from Iraq into Iran.
Ahmadinejad has suggested the United States should respond to Shourd’s release by releasing eight Iranians held in custody in the United States.
Have you checked out YWN Radio yet? Click HERE to listen!
(Source: NY1)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
Many of these guys in the UN come from countries where they don’t have their own bathroom.
here they get a nice car with diplomatic plates and get to prance around our town and create major traffic jams.