NY Mayor wants Statue of Liberty reopened

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, April 07, 2004

NY Mayor wants Statue of Liberty reopened

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is insisting that the Statue of Liberty be reopened, even if each tourist has to be escorted inside by a police officer.

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New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is insisting that the Statue of Liberty be reopened, even if each tourist has to be escorted inside by a police officer.

'This is a symbol of America. Come on, let's stand up and have some guts. If we have to have the security people there, let's do it, but let's get it open,' he said on Monday.

The statue has been closed for security reasons since the Sept 11 terrorist attacks.

The observation deck on the statue's pedestal is scheduled to reopen in July. But tourists still will not be allowed inside the statue itself.

Mr Bloomberg, who contributed US$100,000 (S$169,000) of his multibillion-dollar fortune to help pay for US$7 million in security upgrades to the monument, said the statue never should have been shut in the first place.

'If you have to have a police officer standing next to every single person going in there, that's a better way to do it,' he said.

The security upgrades that will be made before the pedestal is reopened include screening procedures similar to those used at airports, and a reservation system to reduce long lines.

Visitors used to be able to climb a narrow, winding staircase to the crown.

Source: agencies

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