A British couple managed to scale the Empire State Building, get engaged, and get arrested. The stunt exposed glaring security gaps at one of America's most iconic landmarks. Sources inside the NYPD are furious.
How did a pair of tourists bypass layers of security, climb to the spire, and pop the question before anyone noticed? The answer is an embarrassment for the building's private security and the NYPD's counter-terrorism unit. The couple, both from London, now face criminal charges.
But the political fallout will be far more significant. Expect hearings. Expect recriminations.
Expect a reshuffle of security contracts. For those of us who watch the game, this is a classic own goal for the NYPD. They've handed ammunition to critics of public safety spending.
And the couple? They've got a ring, a police record, and a story that will last a lifetime. Landing them in a holding cell, not a honeymoon suite.
