Even if people don’t agree with everything Zeldin stands for (myself included) one party rule hasn’t been a good thing for NY and the democrats needs a shakeup. How many political scandals and cases of corruption do we need before people realize this isn’t working. Our city isn’t safe and is getting worse - something has to change. All Hochul does is blame others for everything that has gone wrong and has no guts to standup for law abiding New Yorkers. We all deserve better. — Neighbor on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

To those who think the DA should not prosecute low level crime, you are showing that you don’t care about honest working people. You don’t care about the clerk at 7-11 or the security guard at Target who risk getting punched in the mouth or cut with a knife when they confront shoplifters. You don’t care about shoppers on tight budgets who now pay higher prices because of retail theft. Criminal gangs in our city now send drug addicts into stores to shoplift and bring the loot back to be sold on the secondary market. Why not try an experiment? Leave your handbag wide open and your wallet and cash in plain sight as you blithely walk down the sidewalk, and see whether you are physically assaulted and robbed, or just pickpocketed for your mere economic loss. — Brian on Woman sexually assaulted and robbed at Pier 45

Please run for Mayor, James! — EM on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

Why do you not see a link between "horrendous crimes" and "low level economic crimes"? The lack of enforcement of "low level economic crimes" breeds greater criminality. The alleged attacker has a long criminal record, including so-called "low level economic crimes": " [...] Prior to the sex-crime arrests, Phanor had been busted at least 25 other times, mostly for petit larceny, assault, drug possession and drug dealing, sources said. Seven of those arrests were sealed. [...] "Phanor had previously been busted at least 25 other times, most recently in Manhattan for allegedly stealing a box of KIND granola bars from a Midtown Walgreens in Dec. 2019. He was sentenced to time served in that case. "[H]e was arrested for drug possession and possession of burglary tools in Oct. 2019 and pleaded guilty at his arraignment on the condition he completed a program, court records show. When he didn’t show up on mandatory compliance dates, two bench warrants were issued in his name in Jan. 2020, the records show." https://nypost.com/2022/11/03/homeless-man-serial-rapist-busted-for-west-village-attack/ — james on Woman sexually assaulted and robbed at Pier 45

I have a few things to say here. I am a vigorous supporter of bail reform and have supported, both in deed and financially, bail reform. But these is real crimes. Not shoplifting or fare evasion - pure low level economic crimes where the costs to society, both in economic loss and costs to incarcerate, far outweigh the loss. These are horrendous crimes against us all. What is being done?? Yet there are a host of comments about the street vendors. Why is that? And no comments here about these crimes. — G on Woman sexually assaulted and robbed at Pier 45

I do think this comment is interesting: "I hear from more and more friends and colleagues who are Democrats that they will be voting Republican as a result of the sense of lawlessness. So such hands-off non-enforcement of this and other crimes has political implications as well." However, I think you are putting the cart before the horse. Politics is the *cause* of non-enforcement, not the effect. Have we all forgotten "defund the police", "bail reform", "marijuana legalization", district attorneys who choose not to prosecute low-level offenses such as transit fare evasion and to seek lesser charges for certain "armed" burglaries and store robberies? Police officers and police departments are not going to enforce or be directed to enforce low-level crime in this political environment. This environment is the result of the policies and politicians that many citizens wanted and pushed for. Be careful what one wishes for. We need to return to "broken windows" policing, but administer it in a competent, non-abusive way. One big difference now is that police officers wear body cameras to document interactions with the public. — james on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

Every day I have to zig zag my way to the N, Q, R. Selfishly, I would prefer to just give them a dedicated, non-sidewalk space to hawk their wares while the IP owners battle the city to protect their brands. If people want to buy this counterfeit junk - and then grab a snack in the neighborhood, let them waste their money - but could we at least keep the sidewalks clear? If a couple police stood on each side of Broadway between Walker and Canal every day, on patrol, how hard would it be to keep them from piling their junk on the sidewalk. Too much to write a citation, fine. But they could at least say, “no, get outta here.” — TheBlackSquirrel on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

Good point.. I do remember a day when they'd keep everything in sheets to be able to run quickly.. It was part of my negotiating strategy (so, yes, I have been part of the problem..) — B.Thompson on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

Some possible reasons the topic is coming to the fore recently: - It has gotten much worse since the pandemic - It has spread down into the neighborhood more from Canal Street, down Church and Broadway to Lispenard and Walker Street - perhaps also new people moving into the neighborhood who don't find this acceptable - long-time residents and property and business owners of the area just getting fed up with it - it seems there used to be more enforcement....the guys used to pack and run, or at least hide their wares away, when they saw the police. Now they don't even react. They have it out on tables and police walk by and pay no attention — Marcus on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

I think what you're describing here is the Police refusal to do their job because in their eyes the effort isn't worth it. They are now the law, they are suppose to uphold the law. I do find it interesting that this is 1: Still going on, but also 2: Such a hot topic. I remember hearing about Canal street when I was young and far from NYC. Not that this means it's a lost cause, just an observation. — B.Thompson on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

I understand your concern, but it is not the bank's security's job to police the sidewalk. They are not equipped or trained to do so. — B.Thompson on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

they sell drugs too in and around the madness. well perhaps they always have but more open — nyc on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

These are the horrible (but predictable) outcomes from the lunacy that is known as bail reform. I hope everyone votes Zeldin on Tuesday, for the sake of our city and state. It's a failure, period- just ask this poor woman. — D on Woman sexually assaulted and robbed at Pier 45

When does Chip City open? — Rp on Seen & Heard: Café Clementine is coming along!

In conversations I and others have had with police officers over the past months, we have repeatedly heard from them that they are powerless to do anything. That any arrests are pointless as the sellers are out in a few hours. The police say nothing will change unless the government and laws change. Obviously even the occasional raid and seizure does nothing. Still, can't the following be done NOW even with the current laws? - REPEATED seizure of the goods. I mean DAILY until the selling is simply no longer profitable due to the losses. If the problem starts up again, here or in another area, immediately start seizures again. - enforcing existing laws, like blockage of sidewalks, vending without a permit, etc. by repeatedly chasing them away, even if arrests are not done. - public information campaign - signs, flyers, brochures, info on tourism and NYC web sites, required posted in the tourist buses, in transit stations, etc. informing of the illegal nature of this activity and how it funds organized crime and supposedly even terrorism. Maybe others have additional ideas of what can be done NOW. Incidentally, I hear from more and more friends and colleagues who are Democrats that they will be voting Republican as a result of the sense of lawlessness. So such hands-off non-enforcement of this and other crimes has political implications as well. Meanwhile the downward spiral of this city into criminality and decay continues. — Marcus on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

I see 401 Broadway now has a security guard posted outside on weekends to keep the counterfeiters away from their building. Otherwise in weekends they surround and block access to that building also. The Chase security should be doing the same. If the police can't do their job, because powers of enforcement have been taken away, then in the meanwhile private security may be a partial solution. An expensive solution for buildings, though. — Marcus on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

Maybe it's time to revisit the idea of making it illegal to (knowingly) buy counterfeit goods. — Marcus on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

They play 3 card Monty in front of the Chase Bank on Broadway and block entrance. There’s a security guard sitting inside the doors of the bank, who does nothing. — Heather on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

The other day, I actually saw guys playing three card monte on Broadway and Canal. In front of the police. I don't I've ever seen that in the last 20 years of living in NYC. Plus the long running open fire pit on Canal and Church. — DTWNNYC on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

A petition was started to show law enforcement that as citizens we care about our city. If you copy and paste the link below it’ll take you to the petition. The more people sign it the more our voices will be heard. https://chng.it/sNFXLQXpqv — Raphael on In the News: Canal Street counterfeiters stung

A petition was started to show law enforcement that as citizens we care about our city. If you copy and paste the link below it’ll take you to the petition. The more people sign it the more our voices will be heard. https://chng.it/sNFXLQXpqv — raphael on In the News: Canal Street counterfeiters stung

A petition was started to show law enforcement that as citizens we care about our city. If you copy and paste the link below it’ll take you to the petition. The more people sign it the more our voices will be heard. https://chng.it/sNFXLQXpqv — Raphael on In the News: Canal Street counterfeiters stung

A petition was started to show law enforcement that as citizens we care about our city. If you copy and paste the link below it’ll take you to the petition. The more people sign it the more our voices will be heard. https://chng.it/sNFXLQXpqv — Raphael on In the News: Canal Street counterfeiters stung

I would like to think so... — Tribeca Citizen on Seen & Heard: Café Clementine is coming along!

It’s crazy what’s going on Canal Street & the surrounding blocks of Church, Mercer, Broadway & Lispnard. The last 18 months it’s been getting worse especially drug dealers mixing in with the Counterfeiters now. A petition was started to show law enforcement that as citizens we care about our city. If you copy and paste the link below it’ll take you to the petition. The more people sign it the more our voices will be heard. https://chng.it/sNFXLQXpqv — Raphael on In the News: Canal Street counterfeiters stung