Thank you for the thoughtful commentary. Everyone deserves self-determination. No one is free until we're all free, etc. — malcolm on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

I agree. Bike lane needs to be physically separated and enough room for all the self powered and power assisted traffic that moves through the area these days. The city knows it needs to discourage all the traffic that crosses the island without adding any value to residents but it is still too timid to reduce to a single lane each way. — GirlDad on Seeking public input on a redesign for Canal Street

Mamdani wants to decriminalize prostitution. Somehow I doubt he is looking simultaneously to increase enforcement against street vendors and counterfeiters. — James Bogardus on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

I wish to attend the Canal Street meeting but it is Yom Kippur. I assume several residents and store owners will be in the same situation. Please make your voice heard for those that can not attend. Thank you. — Randy on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

This is all so silly. You can think what you think of Israel (or choose an issue). Great. I'm eating a cheese burger. Take your politics and your views and your sign and go someplace else. And we all know what happened here at Walker's. No one on the staff got in the way of this (I don't blame them, it's not their job) and after some time passed, people took photos and posted it. I'd love to know who those people are in that photo. Maybe we can go to where they eat and live and bring our own signs. — E on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

Many of us were in the area when the tragic events of 9-11 unfolded, a day when nearly 3,000 individuals perished. Counterfeiting can be a way of financing terrorism.The terrorists who attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices, murdering 11 people in Paris in 2015, partially financed their weapons by selling counterfeit products. Subject to fewer crackdowns, it provides an immediate source of cash that is untraceable. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/counterfeiting-an-abc-of-terrorist-financing/ — Larry on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

Regarding the vendors, I also blame the buyers. Do they not realize they are supporting organized crime? Do they not care they bring this crime into our neighbourhoods? Apparently they either don't know or just don't care. — Marcus on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

Many of us were in the area when the tragic events of 9-11 unfolded, a day when nearly 3,000 individuals perished. Counterfeiting can be a way of financing terrorism.The terrorists who attacked the Charlie Hebdo offices, murdering 11 people in Paris in 2015, partially financed their weapons by selling counterfeit products. Subject to fewer crackdowns, it provides an immediate source of cash that is untraceable. https://www.visionofhumanity.org/counterfeiting-an-abc-of-terrorist-financing/ — Larry on Seeking public input on a redesign for Canal Street

If you care about the neighborhood, please do attend the meeting about the illicit vendors, and voice your opinions there (civilly, of course). This area of lawlessness around Canal Street is spreading to neighbouring streets rapidly. Counterfeit sales, drug sales, grilling food on the street, littering, harassing pedestrians, blocking the sidewalks, public urination (and worse), flagrant disregard for the law. Recently there were police parked around Canal and Broadway, which temporarily deterred the sellers. Or rather, the sellers just moved to surrounding streets, and waited until the police left. Obviously this kind of passive pseudo-enforcement is a joke. In the past, I've seen police officers even joking around with the sellers. I asked the officers in one of the parked cars why more was not done. I got a variant of the same answer I always get: There is no will "from above" of enforcement; the police have no power in this; there used to be a police unit to enforce against illicit vending but it was canceled a few years ago... and most importantly, "nothing will change unless the political powers that be change". I fear the problem will only get worse if our next mayor is Mamdami. Has he expressed any opinion on this issue? — Marcus on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

How do you know the percentage of anti-zionists who oppose the existence of Israel vs the ones who oppose the existence of Jews? Do you all get together or vote online? — Wondering on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

Adding a bike lane? and that's supposed to improve canal? Seriously this city has gone bonkers. — Richard on Seeking public input on a redesign for Canal Street

Also - the information in the story is also false. Walkers did ask them to leave. I didn't fact check if that was the case, but I'm also not writing an article and would hope the author did their due diligence before hurting a local business "Dear Walker's Community, We want to address a situation that occurred last night involving two separate groups of patrons. One group brought in a sign with political language that does not reflect the values of Walker's. The sign was not approved by staff, was addressed promptly, and ultimately removed. Unfortunately, the situation escalated quickly, placing our team in the difficult position of trying to mediate and de-escalate tensions between guests. We understand and share the concerns raised by members of our community. Let us be clear: Walker's does not support hate speech in any form. We are committed to being a welcoming, inclusive space for all people — regardless of background, identity, or belief. To help maintain this environment, we are updating our policy to prohibit any political signage or displays inside the establishment. Any such materials will result in the guest being asked to leave. We appreciate your support and understanding as we work to ensure Walker's remains a safe and respectful space for everyone." — B on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

Zionism: Some people define it as the Jewish right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. Others view it as a political project tied to displacement and domination. “Free Palestine”: To some, it means Palestinian right to freedom and self-determination. To others, it’s heard as a call to eliminate Israel altogether. “Intifada”: Some interpret it as a grassroots uprising for liberation. Others understand it as violent attacks and terrorism. The point: words alone don’t carry universal meaning. People project history, pain, and politics into them. If we give one side the benefit of nuance, we have to extend the same to the other. Otherwise, it’s double standards. — B on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

Israel has committed - and is committing - genocide in Gaza. — jake on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

"Zionism is terrorism" but fantasies of Islamic dominance over the west using actual terrorism is apparently fine to cheer for on NYC college campuses. I will never understand the mindset of so-called "progressives" in this city allying themselves with radical Islamic fundamentalist who want to see them, their love ones, and their entire way of life destroyed. Anyway, please don't let the actions of a few idiots at Walker's speak for the establishment or owners of the bar. It's not their fault some ignorant patrons put up a political sign. Been there dozens of times over the years and never seen anything remotely permissive of anti-Semitism. — James S on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

Not surprising about Musaafer...service isn't their strong suit — Tribeca Local on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

The photo in the tweet is disgusting. Clearly lots of people with nothing better to do with their lives than spread hate. — Mr T on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

As "striking" as that location might be, you'll never have a successful business there while the streets are flooded with illegal vendors and covered by knock-off goods. Cleaning that up would be a huge boon to that entire area. — James S on INTER_ on Broadway and Canal has closed permanently

walked by there yesterday, it has expanded dramatically beyond Canal Street, all along Broadway and side streets, can't even walk on the sidewalks, how this isn't obvious to act upon is a testament to how bad all of the "participating" partners have been, more like non participating — S on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

Let's show up in force for this Soho BID call! The open air drug market that Canal Street has become is beyond a nuisance - it is a danger to all that live and work in the neighborhood. Lack of enforcement, de-criminalization and catch and release policies are destroying the neighborhood. And don't get me started on the "Statue Cruise" vendors!! — Downtown Dad Reborn on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

I was at Walker's on Saturday night and witnessed this encounter firsthand. During the 45 minutes I was there, the sign remained up the entire time and was never taken down by employees. Their messaging of the "sign being removed quickly by staff, but not before it had circulated online" is unfortunately a lie. — JH on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

This is gaslighting 101. There are few if any anti-Zionists that oppose the right to Jewish self-determination. What the vast majority of anti-Zionists are opposed to is that self-determination being exercised, violently, on existing peoples’ lands, without their consent. When the UN voted to establish a Jewish state on those lands in 1947, its 57 member states were almost entirely comprised of European or newly independent / de-colonizing states (i.e., very few African or Asian states had a vote), which evinces less of a global agreement and much more of a European one (ironically, to encourage Ashkenazi Jews to leave Europe, rather than out of any meaningful camaraderie with post-war Jewry). Worth noting (as this often goes unsaid) that Chaim Weizmann and the soon-to-be King Faisal of Mecca (who led the Arab revolt against the Ottomans in WWI) signed an agreement in 1919 that explicitly contemplated a Jewish homeland in what is today Israel/Palestine, but only on the condition that the European powers keep their word and grant full Arab autonomy over the Arab parts of the Ottoman Empire. The European powers did not keep their end of the bargain and, well, the rest is (unfortunately not positive) history. Many of us hold compassion and empathy for both (Christian and Muslim) Palestinians and Jews worldwide, and hope that Palestinians and Israelis can come to some reasonable understanding whereby each recognizes the worth and dignity of the other, but gaslighting and obfuscating activists’ intent (and modern history) does not serve that purpose, and instead mainly encourages people to adopt more extreme views. Signed, a former U.S. diplomat and defense official (under both Republican and Democratic administrations) — Reader on Reade on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

I made the mistake of walking down Canal yesterday and it is almost impossible to get out of the mob scene. So sad seeing what has happened to what use to be one of my favorite streets in the 70's. — CJB on Seen & Heard: A meeting to discuss illegal street vendors on Canal

I hear next Monday is KKK night. Let's go together! We can celebrate our Right to Expression in private places guaranteed no where in law! — Josh Bank on StopDontShop targets Walker’s

I haven't been to Walkers in some time, but will be sure to head there regularly. — mruptight on StopDontShop targets Walker’s