Before I get started, please read this. It’s a short press release from the Port Authority of NY and NJ. It will only take a brief moment.

Sunday morning, it will look like all Hell has broken loose around Ground Zero. At first glance, it will look like there’s been another disaster there.

It will only be a drill.

The Port Authority and NYC Office of Emergency Management will conduct an emergency drill Sunday morning, simulating an explosion in the PATH tunnel between NJ and World Trade. More than 800 first responders and other emergency teams will take part. The media will be there in full force.

It will all look very real. Maybe too real. But, it will only be a drill.

As a news anchor, I don’t get to say this too often. Kudos to the Port Authority. They have been running ads on WCBS 880 and in other media for the past week, alerting the public that this drill is coming up on Sunday. They’ve spent a lot of money on airtime to let the public know what will be happening.

They don’t want to set off a panic…like, say, flying military jets low over Manhattan and the Hudson River with no warning.

Thank you, Port Authority. You did it right.

And, remember, this will only be a drill.

Here’s that press release again.

I’m still angry. Incredulous, too. But really more angry.

I saw them. Maybe you did, too. Thousands of people saw those two planes. One of them, the Air Force One backup plane. The other, an F-16. The fighter jet, shadowing the larger plane, as they fly over lower Manhattan, New York Harbor, Jersey City and the Statue of Liberty.  

Remember, this is New York City. History has made us a little sensitive to things like this.

Why did they do this? Well, because the White House wanted to update it’s file photos of Air Force One. Yeah.

The NYPD says they were told by the FAA not to release information about the flight before-the-fact. Security precautions, they say. The public wasn’t told in advance. And, it scared the Hell out of thousands of people.

Some one, somewhere, thought this was a good idea.

I have four words for that person: You. Must. Be. Fired.

What kind of idiot - knowing the history of big airplanes and lower Manhattan on beautiful, sunny days - would think it’s a good idea to pull a stunt like this without warning the public first?

Look, I support our military. And, I have great respect for the White House and the President of the United States. But, this display of moronic judgement cannot be forgiven. So, hours later, some White House military wonk apologizes? And, those thousands of people who were frightened out of their skin are supposed to just say, “Okay, fine?”

Um, no.

I saw the planes from 39th and 12th on the west side…several miles away. Even from that distance, I was a little nervous about what was going on. My wife works in the financial district in lower Manhattan. She was shaken up. A friend and CBS colleague in Jersey City admits it was, “very, very scary.” He said it looked like the planes were flying straight for his home.

“We’re sorry” doesn’t cut it.

This screw up can not be forgiven. Call whoever gets the axe a “fall guy” or “scapegoat” - I don’t care. Some one, somewhere, decided it was okay to do this. We can’t have a person with this kind of judgement in a position to make these kinds of decisions.

You. Must. Be. Fired.

(Photo above by WCBS listeners “The Loneys”)

We have full multi-media coverage (photos and video) here. Please check it out.

And, have you seen this amazing YouTube video of the planes? This poor woman reacted the same way thousands of other people did. 

You have undoubtedly heard about the numerous April 15th “Tax Day Tea Parties” being held across the country today. Many of them are being organzed and promoted by radio talk show hosts.

Do these “Tea Parties” make legitimate points? Or, are they just silly, self-serving stunts being pushed by publicity-seeking radio hosts?

Here’s one take from the noted radio observer Tom Taylor, from his daily Taylor on Radio-Info e-newsletter:

Tax day = Stunt day?

California Republican lawmaker says “Tea parties” are radio stunts that don’t solve real problems.

Today may be “tax day”, April 15, but State Senator Abe Maldonado looks at the kind of headline-grabbing stunts being egged on by KFI, L.A.’s John & Ken and says “It’s crazy. While my state melts and burns, these folks are making money selling ads. All they care about is money in their pocket.” The KFI (640) duo’s latest effort is to agitate for the recall of one of the six GOP state legislators who voted to pass the current state budget. Maldonado says (in a column by the San Francisco Chronicle’s Carla Marinucci) that elected-official recalls “are just games to these people”, but they cost the taxpayers money and time. He says John & Ken – who no doubt revel in the attention – “are in it for the ratings, not for the people of California. I’m sure they live well, and the people of California have to pay.” Maldonado says “The Republican Party needs to be working on creating more jobs and improving the economy” – and one of his proposals is to allow open primaries. He says that idea will be hated by “the radio guys and the web guys…they can’t win elected office. They’re wannabe elected officials who can’t make it.” Of course John & Ken aren’t the only radio wiseguys convening “tea parties” today.

I hope every one had a nice Easter. For those of you celebrating Passover, I wish you continued safety and happiness through the end of the holiday.

  My wife and I celebrated Easter by going to brunch at the Waldorf. It’s a tradition we started a couple years ago, but interrupted last year when we had relatives in town. It was nice to dress up all fancy and go to brunch. Was the brunch worth the price? Of course not. Hey, I like ham, shrimp, little quiche thingies and the rest of the giant buffet as much as the next guy…but, really. I think my first used car (granted, more than 30 years ago) cost less! That’s okay. Like I said, the fun of it was dressing up and going to brunch. We liked that. And, the lobster-and-filet eggs benedict was pretty darn good!

The Yankees lost yesterday, so my superstitious streak comes to an end. After the Yankees lost their first two games of the season, I took desperate measures and squirted myself with Derek Jeter Driven cologne. And, they won. The same scenario repeated the next two days. But, now that they’ve lost, the cologne’s going back on a shelf under the bathroom sink.

The Mets play the first regular season game in their new ballpark, Citi Field, tonight. It should be fun for Mets fans who suffered through so many years of Shea Stadium. I hope the Mets win tonight against San Diego. No team should lose the first game in their new ballpark!

So, we rescued the captain and killed the pirates? Good. Now, we just have to figure out what to do with the pirate who was captured. He’s apparently just a kid. A kid capable of kidnapping an innocent sea captain…but just a kid.

I’m glad to see the Obama girls have their dog. They’ve named him “Bo.” How long til some one finds the name offensive for some ridiculous reason?

It’s always nice to see sunshine on a Monday morning. It gets the week off to a good start!

Tonight’s the night! The Yankees and Mets will christen their new ballparks tonight. The Yankees host the Cubs at the new Yankee Stadium…while the Mets will play Red Sox at Citi Field. Okay, these are just exhibition games - they won’t count in the standings. But, they’re the first games ever in the new stadiums!

I like this photo of the two Yankee Stadiums next to each other.

The new ballparks are magnificent! You can get an inside look at both new ballparks - including video and photos - here.

Sure, the weather forecast looks lousy. There’s a decent chance we’ll get rained on…at least a little.  But, that doesn’t matter - it’s baseball season!  I’ll be at Yankee Stadium tonight. I have some co-workers who will be over at Citi Field.

  Here’s a nice pic of Citi Field. I think fans will really enjoy both stadiums.

See ya at the ballpark!

(photos courtesy Getty Images)

Just a quick one today…

Christine Brennan raises this very interesting issue in today’s edition of USA Today.

In a nutshell: You probably saw President Obama’s NCAA Men’s Basketball bracket (he’s picking North Carolina).

Christine Brennan asks…Why no NCAA Women’s bracket?  After all…the president is the father of two active daughters!

Interesting.  What do you think?

I spent a great weekend in Mystic, CT…but the happiness came to an end when I turned on WCBS 880 Sunday afternoon and heard some terrible news.

George Weber had been murdered. 

George was an anchor for ABC News Radio. But, many in New York will remember George for his long run as morning news anchor at WABC 770.  He was the newsman for Curtis Sliwa and Ron Kuby, but was let go last year, during a round of cutbacks by WABC parent company Citadel.  Pro that he was, George segued almost immediately into a role with ABC News Radio…anchoring newscasts for their network.

Details about George’s death are still coming in…but, it appears to have been a particularly brutal murder.  I can’t imagine what led to such a horrible crime.

I hope you’ll all join me in keeping George’s family, friends and co-workers in our thoughts and prayers.

(photo courtesy GeorgeWeber.net)

I wish I could remember John F. Kennedy. I wish I was around when he was inaugurated.

I was born about nine months after JFK was sworn in as our 35th president. So, I missed the optimism, the feeling of hope, and the excitement that surrounded January 20, 1961. For those of us who missed the arrival of Camelot the first time around…take heart. We’re getting another chance.

Let me make one thing clear: This is not a partisan political “I love Obama” essay. I may or may not agree with his politics. I may or may not have voted for him. That’s really not important now. What is important now, is that Barack Obama seems to be doing something for this country unseen since JFK 48 years ago.

Look at the parallels - both young, relatively inexperienced senators. Both physically attractive, with gorgeous families. Both facing daunting odds (one a Roman Catholic, one an African-American). Both elected president while still in their 40s. Both promising change. Both energizing our nation.

I have never, in my lifetime, seen a country so fired up, if you will, about the inauguration of a new president. Sure, there is optimism with every new administration. After all, they just got elected - people must like them.

But, what Barack Obama achieved even before taking the oath of office is nothing short of amazing. He has taken a country, suffering through its worst economic decline in generations, and pulled it up by its collective bootstraps (if you understand that reference, you are old enough to remember JFK!). He has brought hope, optimism and the realism that any one can achieve anything to the lives of 300,000,000 Americans…and countless billions around the world.

If this Ken-Kansan…a self-proclaimed “skinny guy with a name that’s hard to pronounce”…can be elected president of the United States…well, maybe anything is possible. Maybe I can achieve every dream I’ve ever had. To borrow from Mr. Obama…Yes, I can.

This has to be what it was like in 1961. This is the remake of Camelot, right? The cameras just have fancier lenses now.

You see, it really doesn’t matter if I voted for him or not. Barack Obama is my president. And, I’m pretty excited to say that.

Yesterday, as I stared at the US Airways jet sitting on a barge directly across the Hudson from my home…I started to think about the incredible story of the plane splash…and how it will be indelibly tied to that other big story going on this week. You know, the one down in Washington. 

There is so much optimism in the country right now. The nation seems energized, as Barack Obama prepares to become the 44th president of the United States. And, the incredible story of Flight 1549 seems to have boosted that energy to a whole new level.

If, tragically, the plane splash had ended with mass casualties, it would have been a national tragedy. It would have cast a pall over the country, just days before the inaugural. Flags would have been at half staff. The glitz and glamour of the ceremonies in DC would have likely been toned down. The new president would have taken the oath with a heavy heart.

But, amazingly…all walked away from the splash with barely a scratch. It’s being called the “Miracle on the Hudson”…and no one is arguing with that superlative. It truly is miraculous that every one survived. People “oo” and “ah” when they see video of the plane hitting the water. The pilot is a hero - in fact, he and his family will be at the inauguration. The amazing story of Flight 1549 has buoyed the nation’s collective sense of optimism and hope even higher.

Yes, it seems that despite the troubles facing our country right now, the nation is on a “high.”

Tomorrow…my thoughts on the inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th president of the United States.

I learned something yesterday. A jetliner, it appears, can float.

Thursday’s crash of U.S. Airways flight 1549 is already being given creative “names.” Splash Landing is a good one. But really…can this be anything but the Miracle on the Hudson?  

So many things were lined up against Flight 1549. Hitting a flock of birds moments after takeoff (more common than you would think!). Losing both engines in the bird strike (okay, that’s not very common!). And, with no power, having to ditch the A320 in the icy, often choppy and often crowded waters of the Hudson River. I’ve been around aviation for a long time. You give me those ingredients…and I’ll say you have a recipe for disaster.

So, how is it that all 155 people on board Flight 1549 survived…apparently, with few - if any - serious injuries?

Preparation. Skill. Organization. Luck. (lots of luck!)

Captain Chesley Sullenberger III glided the plane - remember, it had no power! - to a perfect landing on the water. While pilots don’t literally practice water landings, they are drilled endlessly on the procedures and techniques, using amazingly realistic flight simulators. With very little margin of error, Captain Sullenberger - as they say in gymnastics - “stuck the landing.”

The three flight attendants onboard the plane had undergone hundreds of hours of training for a disaster they hoped would never occur. Their training paid off, as they directed the evacuation of the plane. Yes, some passengers were climbing over seats to escape. But, for the most part, the evacuation was orderly and efficient.

How about those New York Waterway ferry crews who rushed their boats to the scene. Heroes! And, the work of the first responders - including the divers who went into the icy waters - was nothing short of incredible.

I’m finding myself throwing around a lot of superlatives. Miracle. Heroic. Incredible. Not intentional, really…but, wow…can we argue with those words.

I don’t want to dwell on our coverage on WCBS 880 and WCBS880.com. I really thought our team did a great job under some bizarre circumstances. But, that’s not the purpose of this blog entry.

Here it is, the next day…and I am still absolutely amazed. Simply amazed. How could all of those people escape a jetliner crash in the Hudson River with barely a scratch or shiver? I just don’t know.

I do know this. The next time your flight attendant gives you the pre-flight safety instructions…listen! Reach under your seat. Feel for that lift vest. Look around you - find the exits (remember, as they say, the closest exit “may be behind you”). If you’re in an exit row, read the info about opening the door.

I know I will.

Miracle on the Hudson. My goodness. It really was, wasn’t it? And, a jetliner, it appears, really can float.

(photo courtesy Getty Images)

Many more photos available at WCBS880.com.