HARTFORD, Conn. — Concerned about terrorism, Rep. Christopher Shays urged revelers not to attend New Year's Eve celebrations like the one at Times Square this year. New York's mayor countered that Shays could use an infusion of courage.
A member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and chairman of a terrorism subcommittee, the Connecticut Republican told WVIT-TV on Tuesday that he wouldn't go to Times Square "for anything."
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said nobody should stay home because of the nation's heightened terror alert, and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said the nation's security was unprecedented.
But Shays said it is irresponsible for officials to make people think they don't need to take precautions, like avoiding packed crowds in New York City.
"Secretary Ridge says just do what you normally do," Shays said. "I would say, what do you normally do? If normally you go to Times Square, I wouldn't do what you normally do."
Shays added, "I wouldn't go into places when you're packed and where if there was panic, a lot of injuries would take place."
Bloomberg said Wednesday on NBC's "Today" that former Iraq POW Shoshana Johnson would be taking part in the Times Square festivities.
"She was a woman fighting to protect the congressman's freedoms," Bloomberg said. "She was captured and wounded in Iraq. Maybe he should call her and learn a little bit about courage."
The mayor's office also said Shays also should show more confidence in "world's greatest police department."