Frozen Zone

A “frozen zone” is a high security area that is off limits (“frozen”) to pedestrian and vehicular traffic. A “frozen zone” can be declared after a disaster (such as the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center) or when important national or foreign officials visit (such as the 2004 Republican National Convention or a meeting of the United Nations).
 
The term “frozen zone” was used in 1941 (when it was applied to New York’s docks), 1960 (when it was applied to a visit by foreign leaders attending the United Nations), and 1979 (when it was applied to a visit by Cuban leader Fidel Castro). “Frozen zones” have been set up more frequently since the 2001 terrorist attacks.
     
 
17 July 1941, New York (NY) Times, “Italy Holds Up Train,” pg. 8:
[First Deputy Police Commissioner John J. Seery of New York said last night that the police acted strictly within their jurisdiction. “Police cards or not,” hesaid, “the docks are what is known as a frozen zone. Police press cards are worthless there, especially when an embarkation is under supervision of the State Department or the Army. In fact, several American correspondents were also restrained, but no force was used to my knowledge.” He added that no complaint had reached his office.]
 
18 September 1960, New York (NY) Times, “Mobile Police Reserve of 308 Set to Protect Leaders at U.N.,” pg. 19:
A “frozen zone” will be set up in the vicinity of the pier, along the East River Drive between Twenty-third and Twenty-eighth Streets. All unauthorized persons will be excluded from this area.
 
Google News Archive
12 October 1979, Calgary (Alberta) Herald, “‘Frozen Zone’ rings Castro in New York,” pg. A1, col. 1:
New York (AP)—Police call it the “Frozen Zone,” a four-square-block security ring around the Cuban Mission that chilled business and cooled neighbors. Nearby, the demonstrators protesting Fidel Castro’s visit remained definitely hot.
 
New York (NY) Times
A Copier Stays Broken For the Sake of Security
By LYNDA RICHARDSON
Published: February 01, 1992
(...)
Mr. Servin was caught in a frozen zone, as no-access areas are called by the police, as he walked in the front of the United Nations on First Avenue yesterday afternoon. The technician contemplated abandoning his tool cart to make himself less conspicuous and even asked a woman if he might use her United Nations identification card.
   
New York (NY) Times
Snarled Traffic, the Secret Service, and a Presidential Night at the Opera
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
Published: September 23, 1997
(...)
A Presidential visit is never quite routine, even in New York, which fancies itself the most imperturbable city on earth. And Mr. Clinton’s brief visit—he arrived Sunday evening and left last night—did a sufficient job of turning the city on its ear.
 
Street closings knotted traffic throughout the day in midtown Manhattan and frustrated pedestrians on the Upper West Side during the evening rush hour as the police set up a ‘‘frozen zone’’ around Lincoln Center to make way for the President’s motorcade.
         
New York (NY) Times
AFTER THE ATTACKS: THE DISPLACED; Caught Behind Barricades And Waiting to Go Home
By RANDAL C. ARCHIBOLD
Published: September 13, 2001
The road from homeless to home led through a squad of Nassau County police officers guarding a barricade at Hudson and Houston Streets.
 
’‘When can we get in?’’ asked David Wolmer, 25, trying to get to his new apartment on Reade Street, in what the police call the ‘‘frozen zone’’—the area closest to the World Trade Center.
 
NY1.com
08/04/2004 10:48 AM
“Frozen Zone” To Surround MSG During GOP Convention
By: NY1 News
When Republicans descend on Madison Square Garden later this month, the NYPD plans to cordon off the surrounding blocks, banning traffic, limiting pedestrians and deploying hundreds of police officers in the “frozen zone.”
 
During the GOP National Convention, which runs from August 30 to September 2, no cars or buses will be allowed on streets from Sixth to Ninth Avenue, between 31st and 33rd streets. In addition, people on foot will have to show identification to get anywhere from 33rd to 31st Street between Seventh and Ninth avenues, and police will escort them to their destination.
 
New York (NY) Times
THE CLEANUP
Traffic Lanes Restored, City Gets Groove Back
By DAVID W. CHEN and MICHAEL LUO
Published: September 4, 2004
(...)
Barely 12 hours after President Bush delivered a rousing address to the Republican National Convention, New York made a quick return to normal yesterday, as workers and shoppers replaced delegates and protesters, and fears of terrorism and logistical chaos gave way to feelings of relief that the week was over.
(...)
In the area of Madison Square Garden, near what had been called the frozen zone, shoppers and tourists were out in force on a brilliant sunny day.
 
New York (NY) Times
Life Stirs, but Fitfully, in the Heart of the City
By ETHAN WILENSKY-LANFORD
Published: July 20, 2007
“Wow, when did you see it so dead over here?” said Anthony Americo, smoking a cigar at his perch yesterday on an overpass above Park Avenue. He was looking down just after 8 a.m. at the “frozen zone,” the Midtown blocks where no unauthorized workers or residents were allowed.
 
Before him, there was an eerie stillness. City officials said that 125 businesses in the zone were closed yesterday as workers cleaned up after a steam pipe explosion on Wednesday.
 
New York (NY) Post
Security levels raised in anticipation for 9/11 anniversary
POST WIRE SERVICES
Last Updated: 2:24 PM, September 7, 2011
Posted: 2:20 PM, September 7, 2011
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly says there are no specific terror threats against New York City. But the NYPD still plans a major show of force for 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Kelly said Wednesday that police will form a frozen zone around the World Trade Center site. They’ll flood it with thousands of extra officers for the Sunday observance there with President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush in attendance.
 
New York (NY) Times
Downtown: Life in the ‘frozen zone’
By JULIE MENIN
Last Updated: 9:51 AM, September 8, 2011
Posted: 11:33 PM, September 7, 2011
Recently, I was showing a friend from out of town around the World Trade Center area with our children. Her daughter wanted to know why there were so many police officers and barricades everywhere. My 8-year-old son explained, “Well, that’s New York.”
 
Ten years after 9/11, for those of us who live and work downtown, that’s the “new normal.”
 
This weekend, thanks to security surrounding the ceremonies at the World Trade Center site, we’ll be back in a “frozen zone”—and have to show ID just about every time we leave home.
 
Huffington Post
Matt Sledge
9/11 Anniversary: Two Sides Of New York’s ‘Frozen Zone’
First Posted: 9/11/11 06:25 PM ET Updated: 9/12/11 04:23 PM ET
Much of Lower Manhattan on Sunday was a “frozen zone,” with barricades thrown up for blocks around the World Trade Center, police officers with binoculars scanning rooftops for snipers, and Coast Guard ships patrolling the Hudson. West Street, usually roaring with the sounds of cars and trucks emerging from the Battery Tunnel, was a carless canyon. Coffee shops and pizza parlors stood empty, aside from the occasional cop catching a quick bite to eat.