Yesterday reports surfaced that the security process for visiting Liberty Island was going to be changed. Instead of having tourists (and the rare local) line up at Battery or Liberty State Park for security checks, visitors would take a boat to Ellis Island and would be screened there. That'd be a nice way to decrwod the Battery, right? Well, it ain't happening anytime soon. Concerns from federal and city police have scrapped the plans, for now.
The change in security may still happen, just not until everyone is on the same page. Which did not happen this time. Apparently city police officials only found out about the idea recently when "a representative of the Park Police, who objected to the changes, contacted the New York Police Department’s counterterrorism bureau." And considering how fast the idea was shot down, we think it is safe to say they weren't amused.
In the meantime, one plan for Lady Liberty that hasn't changed is the structural work she's due to receive later this year. If you've been itching to go check out the view from the crown (which reopened in 2009) you've got until late 2011 to reserve a ticket. After that the interior of the statue will be closed for about a year (which isn't a problem for most tourists, according to the National Park Service only about 15% of visitors go inside the statue).
