‘Trapped’ in UN-related gridlock

By Alex P. Vidal

“If you’re stuck in traffic, call a friend or listen to a favorite podcast. If you’re waiting in a long line, make friends with a person in line with you. There are lots of ways we can change the vibe.”—Gabrielle Bernstein

WE were right to warn earlier that if we didn’t have official business in New York City’s Lower Manhattan, it was best to avoid the area, especially in the First Avenue, where the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) kicked off on September 22, leading to street closures, extra security and more in Manhattan until September 29.

We were in the Third Avenue and East 41^st Street September 24 morning for our patient’s doctor’s appointment and realized we had been “trapped” in a terrible traffic jam after coming out from the 8th floor of one building.

The gridlock could be felt or seen if someone was riding on a helicopter from the east to west, north to south corners.

Even France President Emmanuel Macron had to use his hotline to President Donald Trump to complain about the Big Apple traffic after being stuck behind a police barricade while trying to reach his country’s diplomatic mission in New York City after speaking at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 night.

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NYPD officers guarding the barricades appeared somewhat embarrassed at having to block the path of a visiting world leader.

“I’m sorry, president, I’m really sorry, it’s just that everything’s frozen right now,” one of them said in the video. Macron seemed to joke with them that they could turn a blind eye to his crossing, saying he wanted to “negotiate” with them.

Macron wasn’t the only world leader to suffer such a traffic-related indignity. Earlier in the day, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was also seen held up at the barriers.

Nearly 200 world leaders took to the stage during the week-long assembly, also known as UN week, to discuss “peace, development and human rights,” according to the organization’s website.

Politicians from all over the world discussed and voted on issues covered under the Charter of the United Nations. They were also expected to appoint a new secretary-general, elect members of the Security Council and approve the UN’s budget.

The main event, the general debate, began on Sept. 23 and will last through Sept. 29. The assembly will then continuously meet in sessions through December.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) has warned drivers to plan for sweeping road closures amid the general assembly. A gridlock alert wa also in effect as the Department of Transportation warns of heavy traffic in the Midtown area this week.

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These streets could be shut down at the discretion of police:

-FDR Drive between Whitehall Street and 42nd Street

-East 86th Street (north side), East 80th Street (south side), Park Avenue (east side) and 5th Avenue (west side)

-60th Street (north side), 34th Street (south side), 1st Avenue/United Nations Plaza (east side) and 3rd Avenue (west side)

-57th Street (north side), 45th Street (south side), 3rd Avenue (east side) and Madison Avenue (west side)

-58th Street (north side), 49th Street (south side), Madison Avenue (east side) and 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas (west side)

-West 47th Street (north side), West 44th Street (south side), 7th Avenue (east side) and 8th Avenue (west side)

-Grand Army Plaza between 58th Street and 60th Street

-Grand Army Plaza between East Drive and 5th Avenue

-8th Avenue between West 49th Street and West 44th Street

-7th Avenue between West 56th Street and 59th Street

-6th Avenue between West 59th Street and West 46th Street

-5th Avenue between East 63rd Street and East 49th Street.

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-Madison Avenue between East 58th Street and East 42nd Street

-Vanderbilt Avenue between East 47th Street and East 42nd Street

-Park Avenue between East 86th Street and East 45th Street

-Lexington Avenue between East 57th Street and East 42nd Street

-3rd Avenue between 83rd Street and 72nd Street

-East 83rd Street between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue

-East 63rd Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

-East 62nd Street between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue

-East 61st Street between 5th Avenue and Lexington Avenue

-West 59th Street between 7th Avenue and 5th Avenue

-West/East 58th Street between Broadway and 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas

-West/East 57th Street between 7th Avenue and Dead End/FDR Drive

-West 56th Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue

-West 55th Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue

-West 54th Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue

-West/East 53rd Street between 7th Avenue and FDR Drive

-West 52nd Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue

-West 51st Street between 7th Avenue and 6th Avenue

-West/East 50th Street between 7th Avenue and Dead End/FDR Drive

-West/East 49th Street between 8th Avenue and FDR Drive Service Road

-FDR Drive Service Road between East 48th Street and East 49th StreetEast 48th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive Service Road

-West 46th Street between 8th Avenue and 6th Avenue/Avenue of the Americas

-West/East 42nd Street between 7th Avenue and FDR Drive

-West/East 34th Street between 7th Avenue and FDR Drive

-Traffic slows to less than 4 mph in Midtown during the assembly, according to the DOT.

Erin Pflaumer, a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018, reported that there were no credible threats as of September 22, according to authorities. More NYPD patrols, along with Secret Service agents, could be seen walking the streets of Midtown and in the subway system.

New Yorkers have been told to keep their eyes and ears open and to stay vigilant this week.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Editor)