REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: Bloomberg Celebrates in Private Party

The only guests allowed into Michael Bloomberg's election night
party were campaign contributors, registered Republicans chosen
by lottery, and and reporters with press passes.

In sharp contrast with Mark Green's election party, into which
almost any New Yorker could walk, Bloomberg's party at
restaurant and night club B.B. King's was blocked off by a battery of
police officers. Directly behind a line of police vehicles, news vans
lined up to broadcast Bloomberg's message to New York, and a
crowd of people brandishing badges waited to enter the party.

The entrance into Bloomberg's party was carefully guarded, with
each entrant's name being checked on a list, bags being
searched, and coats being taken in the name of security before
guests were allowed to cross the barricades erected to guard the
entrance of the B.B. King's and all of the neighboring
establishments. Shuffling between the crowd were numerous
smartly dressed twenty-somethings brandishing clipboards with
guest lists and brightly colored neon necklaces for those that
would be admitted to the party.

The party itself was a high security event, surrounded by a line of
police barricades and private security officials checking
identification. The party was mainly attended by middle-aged men
and woman dressed nicely in gray and black suits, and a major
undercurrent outside of the party especially among younger
attendees was the desire to get jobs in Bloomberg's
administration. In fact, many who were not admitted bemoaned not
being seen by Bloomberg and therefore not being able to be
considered for jobs in Bloomberg's upcoming administration.

By 11:00, a small group of people had formed outside of the party
not seeking entrance but instead simply trying to catch a glimpse
of the candidate. For most of the night the street remained almost
empty, with people entering quickly out of the cold night air and
coming out only to smoke quickly, or to get a quiet moment to talk
before darting back into the party.

Few sounds emerged from the party itself and it seemed to be
businesslike, if not secluded from the public. By 11:00 a few
reporters already had begun to leave the party almost twenty
minutes before Green had even decided to concede, even as
last-minute supporters rushed in sensing that the election would
soon be decided.