Our Sacramento mayor was doing double duty on New Year’s Eve

The New Year’s Eve entertainment planned for Old Sacramento will include jugglers.

And as it turns out, the city’s busy program for the evening is going to force Mayor Kevin Johnson to do some juggling of his own.

Johnson said he would attend both the city-run event in Old Sacramento and the Times Square-style ball drop on K Street tonight.

“I’ll be at two places at the same time,” the mayor said Tuesday. “And if you don’t believe it, watch.”

The mayor said he would attend the 9 p.m. fireworks display in Old Sacramento before heading a few blocks east to emcee the midnight ball drop at 10th and K streets.

The ball drop is thought to be the first of its kind on the West Coast.

“One of the goals for our city is to continue to elevate the profile of Sacramento, and this certainly is a step in that direction,” Johnson said.

The mayor said he hoped the Old Sacramento celebration would merge with the K Street party next year. For now, he’s predicting big things for the ball drop.

“There’s going to be thousands and thousands of people,” he said.

Police officials met at City Hall Tuesday to develop a game plan for the night.

Sgt. Norm Leong, a department spokesman, said eight additional officers were being called in for the K Street party. He said that about 80 officers combined would patrol the events.