[Catherine Callaway, Cnn Anchor:] People in the Big Apple are ready to bring in their New Year in the traditional big way. As CNN's Maria Hinojosa reports, New York City officials believe that they have all of the bases covered from security to party favors.
[Maria Hinojosa, Cnn Correspondent:] Here, the numbers already say it, this city is ready for the New Year. But like any big show on Broadway, there's always a rehearsal, just to make sure that famous ball makes it up, and with the held of the workers, makes it back down. [on camera]: What are you looking forward to in terms of being here for New Year's?
[Unidentified Male:] I'm looking forward to the ball to see the ball come down from the top of that building over there.
[Hinojosa:] For 99 years, this has been the city tradition, but for 2003, they're also be ringing in the New Year literally; 50,000 revelers will get 50,000 little wrist bells...
[Unidentified Female:] And there are over 50,000 of them. It will be very loud.
[Hinojosa:] ... trying to break a world record for synchronized bell ringing...
[Unidentified Female:] You can ring by bell, you can ring by bell, ding dong, ding.
[Hinojosa:] ... to Anita Ward's famous disco song, "Ring My Bell."
[Unidentified Female:] For me, bells mean something exciting, rejuvenating, happy.
[Hinojosa:] Getting ready for confetti didn't go so well. A lot of it ended up on the office floor, but on the street, no one seemed to care. [on camera]: OK, a young woman from Sioux City, Iowa, and you want to be in the middle of Times Square because?
[Unidentified Female:] It's not Sioux City.
[Hinojosa:] For safety, newspaper bins and garbage cans are being removed, manhole covers welded shut, and thousands of local, state and federal agencies will be out in force.
[Ray Kelly, Nyc Police Commissioner:] This will include several hundred undercover officers, including members of the detective division, the narcotics division, counterterrorism and our intelligence division.
[Hinojosa:] For many, the tight security is no deterrent. [on camera]: You know, some people would say that Times Square in the middle of, you know, a million people is the last place that they'd want to be.
[Unidentified Male:] Not me. I think it's the best place to be, you know... Especially on the holidays. Yes, it's good to be with your loved ones, but you know, it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You probably won't ever do it again in your whole lifetime.
[Hinojosa:] This year, actor Christopher Reeve and his wife will be special guests, chosen to represent courageous and hopeful New Yorkers, like many looking to put a difficult year behind them and hoping once again for all good things...
[Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York:] My only advice to people is dress warmly, lighten up. We're all in this together.
[Hinojosa:] ... and a New York shutout for unity. Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.