Carper's Corner
Inauguration Day
January 14, 2009Washington – What an exciting time to be from Delaware! As President-elect Obama and Vice President Biden’s inauguration approaches, my staff and I have been hearing from people all over the state who are excited about being a part of this historic occasion.
As you may know, my office received some 6,000 ticket requests, far exceeding the limited number of tickets available for distribution. Soon after the election was over, the trickle of requests for tickets quickly became a river and then a flood. Thousands of requests came in from all corners of the state, from Delawareans who’ve attended inaugurations before and those who haven’t. From baby boomers and generation X’ers to community leaders and school teachers. The limited number of tickets we received was never going to be able to meet every request. However, we worked hard to stretch the limited number of available tickets as far as possible, and in the end I am pleased that Joe will take the oath in front of hundreds of Delawareans.
Given the historic nature of this event and the unprecedented numbers of people who are expected to attend, arrangements are being made to open the entire length of the National Mall to the public. You will not need tickets to view the ceremony from the National Mall.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee is responsible for the planning and organizing of other official Inaugural events, such as the Inaugural Parade for which tickets also are not necessary.
Finally, for those of you lucky enough to come to Washington and view this historic event, I want to share with you a recent article that ran in the News Journal, written by John Yaukey of the Gannett News Service. The article may answer just some of the questions you have about what to expect here on Tuesday, January 20:
If you're planning to attend the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration, be prepared to walk several miles, stand for long periods in the cold and deal with dense crowds.
Here are some tips for anyone attending inaugural events. The information is based on interviews with officials in charge of security and logistics and information posted on their Web sites.
QUESTION: How difficult will it be to get to the swearing-in and the parade?
ANSWER: That depends on where you're coming from.
INBOUND: The major bridges that connect Washington with northern Virginia will be closed to everything but mass transit and pedestrians. Some bridges will be off-limits even to pedestrians and cyclists.
PARKING: Parking in downtown Washington will be scarce -- where it's allowed at all. Much of the parking around the Capitol and White House is reserved for charter buses. Some garages will be closed for security. Street parking will fill up quickly.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: City officials recommend taking the bus or the Metro subway, but expect long waits at stations. The Metro system's escalators are notorious for breakdowns. If you take the Metro, be prepared to walk up nonworking escalators that may be long and crowded. Cabs will be difficult to get.
HOOF IT: Be prepared to walk several miles, possibly in cold, wet weather. Pennsylvania Avenue, the path of the inaugural parade, will be cordoned off. Crossing it will require traveling around the parade route, which will be a considerable hike.
Q: What can I expect to see if I go to the public viewing area along the National Mall for the swearing-in ceremony?
A: You may be about four blocks from the event itself, and you may not have a direct line of sight. But there will be large video screens, so everyone can see and hear what's going on. People should expect to deal with large crowds throughout the event.
Q: Will there be restrooms on the National Mall?
A: There will be 5,000 portable toilets. Expect long lines. These are not good places to change diapers. Bringing small children is probably not a good idea.
Q: Will there be food?
A: There will be street fare -- hotdogs, hot chocolate, coffee and cider. Restaurants will be open, but expect crowds and minimal staffs in some places.
Q: Will cell phones work?
A: Cell service providers have warned that inauguration crowds could overwhelm networks. Providers recommend using text messages, which require less network capacity.
If you can't make it to Washington, Senator Biden and his family will join the President-elect and his family at the Wilmington Train Station this Saturday on their way to Washington by train. Doors to the event, held behind the station, open at 9:30 a.m.