Viewfinder: New York After Bin Laden's Death Announced

The last time I had been to New York City was in 2000 on a class trip while I was a student at Fenton High School.

I had seen what the post-Sept. 11, 2001 New York City looks like only on television and in pictures. It became a reality Sunday when I saw the local response to news that the man who had orchestrated the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 U.S. citizens was killed in a firefight.

I had just arrived in New York City hours before the news broke. I was in town to train as local editor for Plymouth Patch and had the night free to explore the East Village around my hotel.

I stumbled upon a sports bar, Standings, and sat down to watch a New York Mets game with the local patrons. After the bartender called last call, two men entered the bar and asked if they could switch channels to the news. There, across the screen, it read: "Osama bin Laden killed."

The bar stopped in its tracks. I continued my exploration of the city, where people on the streets were celebrating. I stopped in to get a burger at a small restaurant and everyone was glued to the television set.

It wasn't until Monday when I got a chance to head toward Ground Zero, the site of the attacks. Another Patch editor and I hopped on a cab toward the site and got to see the still-in-progress 1 World Trade Center, also known as "Freedom Tower," adjacent to where one of the twin towers once stood. 

The area was packed with people both celebrating and criticizing bin Laden's death. Some people voiced disagreements with others' signs, while some bystanders engaged in more civil discourse.

Local, regional and national media swarmed the site, with satellite trucks and camera lights seemingly everywhere. Besides the White House, it was evident most of the national attention was directed toward this area.

The fences surrounding the construction site at Ground Zero were adorned with memorials for those who died in the attacks. The overall mood ranged from festive to solemn. Some congratulated President Barack Obama for approving the operation that killed bin Laden, while others dismissed his role.