response to @dan^ — canal resident on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

You're confused or vastly ignorant. Many vendors operate legally and contribute positively to the city’s cultural and economic life. But when unlicensed vending and abandoned merchandise block sidewalks—turning public walkways into obstacles courses—it directly undermines public safety and commuters’ ability to get where they need to go. 1. Public Safety Hazard Canal street is one of Manhattan's most dangerous corridors due to overcrowding from illegal street vending/selling of counterfeit merchandise. Pedestrians cannot walk on the sidewalk or get pushed into the street According to the NYC Department of Transportation’s own safety data, between 2020 and 2024, Canal Street saw:190 total traffic injuries, 18 serious injuries, 2 fatalities This is not abstract data—these are people hurt while walking, commuting, or simply trying to get through the city. 2. Public Sanitation Issue Street vending activity leaves behind cardboard, packaging, and food waste is left overnight and not removed by vendors, creating ongoing sanitation issues. The condition attracts rodents and creates pedestrian safety and accessibility issues. 3. Selling of Illegal counterfeit goods This is a FEDERAL (18 U.S.C. § 2320 — trafficking in counterfeit goods) and NY STATE Criminal (Penal Law § 165.71–165.74) offence Counterfeit vending is not minor or legal gray-market activity — it’s treated as criminal enterprise activity — canal resident on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

NYPD can legally order dispersion when obstruction creates danger This protects residents, workers, visitors, and vendors alike Key Phrases That Help Get a Response and escalate: “Pedestrians are being forced into traffic” “This is a public safety hazard” “ADA access is blocked” (especially effective) “Someone could be hit by a car” “This requires crowd control” — canal resident on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

NYPD can legally order dispersion when obstruction creates danger This protects residents, workers, visitors, and vendors alike Key Phrases That Help Get a Response and escalate: “Pedestrians are being forced into traffic” “This is a public safety hazard” “ADA access is blocked” (especially effective) “Someone could be hit by a car” “This requires crowd control” — canal resident on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

clutch those pearls and stay in your expensive apt downtown dad reborn lol — Dan on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

There is a mentality among good-hearted people like Dan that are okay with and support the vendors selling counterfeit illegal goods. Perhaps they believe that the money for basic services including hospitals, police and sanitation will miraculously arrive from the sky. Virtually all of the major tax-paying businesses that were once on this area of Canal Street have fled and this counterfeit bazaar is completely tax free and the revenues solely benefit the vendors and their criminal suppliers. NYC currently has a budget of roughly $116.5 billion with a potential deficit of over $10 billion. Facts are facts and reality does not care what you believe. — Larry on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

"let people earn"? These sales fund terrorism. They create an environment of lawlessness. They don't pay taxes and hurt legitimate small businesses. They promote other illegal behavior - slowly evolving to an open air drug bazaar. Every other store on Broadway is looking for workers. Get legal, get a real job, or get out. I fear this will end very poorly - and ultimately either a customer or vendor will die. — Downtown Dad Reborn on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

There are sidewalks crowded with street vendors - selling various things - throughout NYC. There are sidewalks all over NYC that are impassable too. BTW the City Council just passed legislation lifting the caps on street vendors. Per the NY Times, the bill requires NYC to make 2,200 food vendor applications available every year from 2026 through 2031 and 10,500 general-vending applications available in 2027. “By 2031, there would be nearly 17,000 permits available for food vendors, as well as nearly 1,300 specifically for veterans and disabled vendors. The limit on licenses for general vendors would increase to more than 11,000 in 2027.” In the meantime, the City does zero for local retail and businesses which have been suffering for years - high rent, ecommerce, crime. And street vending impact too. The City cares only about restaurants (street dining benefits) and street vendors. But zero for stores. — Lisa on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

what exactly would you like to see it replaced with? another bank? some soulless chain? the street vending is what makes this part of nyc special. move to the burbs if it bothers you — Dan on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

who cares... i love a few blocks away and if i want to avoid the scene, i just avoid the scene. it's quite easy actually ... see, you simply walk around it. let people earn ffs — Dan on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

What a great story!!!! Hooray for David and all involved saving mr Sevalrud’s life. I happen to witness a friend fall over while presenting his poetry in a public event. He appeared to be having a heart attack and fortunately another friend new CPR and continue doing that until EMS arrived, which took maybe 15 minutes. He survived She saved his life! I took a CPR class after that. I think it should be taught in elementary school, high school, college. everywhere! — Janet Restino on A life is saved after quick thinking in Hudson River Park

So if one of them rapes or kills someone, your saying don't arrest them for fear they will be deported? You realize how insane this argument sounds, right? If you come to a country illegally, and you don't uphold the laws, you SHOULD be removed. Period. If you have a pending case, sit tight and show us that you will be an asset to our society. Because if you come here and show me that your ok with not obeying our laws and customs, well how are you going to be when you are a citizen? And you have rights and privileges? How far will you go? Sorry, this is just insane thinking. Arrest them. — Sam I Am on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Why would you NOT want ICE to intervene? If the bulk of these vendors are illegal, or have orders of removal, why not let ICE do their job? Do you remember how clean and safe it was when they did enact an operation a few months ago. I don't think I ever saw Canal that peaceful in over 20 years. It's always been a place for illegal goods and vendors thanks to the Chinese, but it's at a whole different level now. But back then it was manageable. Most illegal vendors just had a sample or two on them with a picture book and they just direct you to a mini van or a back room shop. But as time has gone by, the new wave of illegal immigrants have been more bold, ignoring law enforcement. They just don't care anymore. Because even going to a U.S. jail is better than their going back to their home country. Especially with NYC being a sanctuary city where they know they will be taken care of. Enough already. Let the law do their job. It's what we pay them to do. I agree, we should help immigrants, but this is NOT the way. This shows they do not care about our laws. And that in itself is troublesome. I get it, they got to eat, but at some point our hospitality has been beyond abused and now our own safety and that of our loved ones is at risk. If Trump and our elected officials were smart, they should give them temporary work authorization. So they can go find work, legally, while they wait for their cases to be heard. Tax them, and attach conditions that if they violate any laws (aside from tickets or minor infractions - they are in anew country, so some.laws may not make sense to them), it's immediate grounds for dismisal and deportation. Have them report once a month, make sure they are good. Miss 3 appointments, grounds for dismisal. People need a purpose. People can't just sit around doing nothing, especially if they are hungry or have other mouths to feed. This is the only way this will work. But until a politician with common sense is elected, and none of these left or right wing extremists - yes, both of you are crazy. Trump, Mamdani, Harris, Biden, etc... all idiots. A politician who puts aside their political affiliation and instead serves the people, because that's what a real leader does. Reality is not always so black and white. — Sam I Am on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

From what I have heard from a friend that is knowledgeable about the situation, they are reluctant to arrest the vendors of the counterfeit goods because they are undocumented individuals and they could face deportation if charges are brought against them. This sort of squares the circle for me, since until now I could not understand how such open flagrant violations of the law were allowed to continue. — Larry on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

They will call 3-1-1 or the local police and that does so little. What else can you expect them to do? — Randy on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Your last statement is correct. The law makes it difficult for the NYPD to make arrests. See this Q&A. But why they can't clear the sidewalks of crowds is a mystery. — Tribeca Citizen on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

The SoHo Broadway Iniative https://sohobroadway.org/ — Tribeca Citizen on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Kissing bridges were found in several NYC locations in centuries past. One famous bridge was at Second Avenue near 50th Street; another at 77th and Third Avenue. And, a well-known bridge was at the intersection of Park Row and the now de-mapped Roosevelt Street right here in Tribeca. Thomas Janvier referred to some of these locales in a section of his book, "In Old New York." See Love Lane - Collection at Bartleby.com" (https://www.bartleby.com/lit-hub/love-lane/). Look up the topic of kissing bridges and you will find an unexpected glimpse of the city that seemed lost forever, especially in today's surveillance-obsessed society. Welcome back to the neighborhood, Kissing Bridge! — Gary on Fox Fodder decorates the Laight Street bridge for the holidays

Start busting the customers. When they stop coming, it all goes away. — J Frank P on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

We can debate whether it was aggressive or reckless. What we do know is that it was useless. — ned on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

There's a PH on 57 Lispenard - mere feet from that corner - that went for $20K a month in May. Imagine paying for that and having those people right outside your door lol — Ned on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Zohran Mamdani, from what I understand​, ​ignores both the​ criminality and the destruction of the quality of life that we are facing. He only criticized what he called "aggressive and reckless raid on immigrant street vendors"​ and expressed no concern whatsoever for our community. Hopefully, when he is Mayor, he will wake up to the needs for both safety and quality of life in NYC. — Larry on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Not to say that ICE is the way to enforce the law, as that should be done by local law, but for a couple days after the ICE raid, the area around Canal and Broadway was the cleanest I have ever seen it - almost no trash or litter at all at night. Of course, now we are back to living in a trash dump. The most expensive trash dump in the world? — Marcus on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

Surely the counterfeit bazaar is a major reason every business that attempts to operate at that once-beautiful bank building fails. — Marcus on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever

If you care about quality of life (i.e. crime) in our neighborhood (and city - this is happening in other parts of the city also), please start writing to our future mayor now. — Marcus on Counterfeit sales on Broadway are worse than ever