"Ring of Steel" Coming to Midtown

New York, NY —

Lower Manhattan's network of security cameras, license plate readers and weapons sensors is coming to midtown. Mayor Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Ray Kelly say the city will extend the counterterrorism network sometimes referred to as the Ring of Steel into an area that includes Grand Central Terminal, Pennsylvania Station and Times Square. The high-tech network started running last year. It now covers a nearly two-square-mile area that includes the New York Stock Exchange, the World Trade Center site and other high-profile buildings and infrastructure. The city now plans to add cameras and license plate readers at key spots between 30th and 60th streets. The city is financing the expansion with about $24 million in federal money.