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Smoke shop on Canal and Church has closed
The smoke shop at the corner of Canal and Church, which has been there (I think) for at least a decade, has been closed by the city.
Neighbors noticed the lights were off first; now the notices from the sheriff are added to the side door.
But the illegal handbag vendors have *not* left that corner, and J. writes that they are back in force on Canal and Broadway. The NYPD has cleared them out several times, but they always return. From what we have learned it takes more than beat policing; to do a raid, they must have an expert who can prove the bags are fake.
(Why they can’t just be cleared out for selling stuff on the street, I don’t get…)
The illegal cannabis shop at 424 Broadway has also closed. Thanks to J. for that shot too.
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“(Why they can’t just be cleared out for selling stuff on the street, I don’t get…)”
Exactly. They are surely breaking multiple laws, including obstructing the sidewalk, most likely operating without a license, public urination, etc. Their presence is a daily reminder–along with the continuous reckless driving allowed on NYC streets, especially evident on Canal Street–that the powers that be in this city don’t care about the law.
Maybe we should turn Canal Street into a canal again. Well, sooner or later, it probably will be.
Re: ” the powers that be in this city don’t care about the law.”
That is pretty clear. One of the powers that be–the NYPD Commissioner–just resigned under the cloud of an wide-ranging FBI investigation. The investigation also involves other high-ranking members of Adams’ administration, one of whom resigned from a high-ranking NYPD post in connection with a scandal during the De Blasio administration.
Yours is the perennial question, and the answer is mostly the same, with slight variations between administrations. In short, it’s more costly to the city, and consequently taxpayers, to round these people up and put them through the legal system (IOW give them room and board, etc.) than to let them scrape out a living and pay their own way. It’s cold, but it comes down to math, as usual.
There are a growing number of street vendors (tourist hats and cut-up fruit) around City Hall Park – and the City has done nothing.
As for Canal Street, the level of entitlement among the Canal Street vendors is mind-blowing.
Entitlement to do whatever they want and continually break the law – not a bit of apology.
Handbags aside, the Canal Smoke Shop closure is a big win for the neighborhood.
There are usually no less than 15-20 people hanging out and smoking on both the Canal and Church sides around the clock where its difficult to even cross. A step in the right direction.
Now just need to hope that something beneficial replaces it and the building doesn’t sit unoccupied and vandalized as it waits for its next tenants (see Belle Reve).
The entitlement of the vendors has reached a new high. They setup one right against the other so you have no ability to navigate around them. Coupled with the constant Citizen alerts of guns and knives being wielded on these blocks, we’re being held hostage by these people.
I was almost hit by a car on Saturday as I was unable to walk on the sidewalk and had to momentarily step into Canal (I stepped on a vendor’s blanket to get through). Multiple officers stood at the top of the 6-train entrance exchanging pleasantries and enforcing nothing.
The scene on Canal/Broadway has worsened not improved. The African vendors simply moved from the westside to the eastside of Broadway. They are around 24/7, no sign of going anywhere. It almost appeared as if a deal has been made with the city that they would leave the westside of the street alone? The corner surrounding the smokeshop has become an encampment of sorts, they hang out there all day with all their stuff spread out on the sidewalk complete with music and pot.
The degree of lawlessness on the streets downtown is beyond words, between traffic noise and urine smell on top of the restaurants and cafes occupation of sidewalks it’s nearly impossible to remain sane.
Interestingly the NYT seems especially sympathetic to street vendors:
“Can New York City Street Vendors Survive a Police Crackdown?”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/16/nyregion/street-wars-vendors.html
One thing not mentioned enough is the handbag vendors both hurt store business on those streets and keep vacant stores shuttered. I know a landlord on Canal Street who has had a vacant store for years. He would love to bring in a ‘nice enough’ store or restaurant to the block, but no real retailer would even consider Canal Street due to the street vendors. He says its hard to get anyone to even take a look.
Street vendor “rights” vs. NYC Education and Social Services Funding. NYC is facing massive budget deficits which will inevitably result in massive cuts in spending for education and social spending. If the vendors were not there, taxable businesses and their employees could contribute to an economy that would benefit all.