Agree or not on whether these counterfeit goods sellers deserved this, but you all have to realize that in the midst of this agents went up to numerous others demanding ID - reports say that all the people they went up to were non-white. Please don’t tell me some of yall support that. — Ken on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

NYC seemed a lot safer and cleaner under Mayor Bloomberg. Anyway, no matter whether it is the safest/cleanest it has ever been, there is surely lots of room for improvement. — Marcus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

The production and sale of counterfeit goods is a global, multi-billion dollar problem and one that has serious economic and health ramifications for Governments, businesses and consumers. Counterfeiting is everywhere - it can affect what we eat, what we watch, what medicines we take and what we wear - and all too often the link between fake goods and transnational organized crime is overlooked in the search for knock-offs at bargain-basement prices. ...Criminal organizations are often involved beyond just producing and moving counterfeit goods, with many also trafficking drugs, firearms and people. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — Larry on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

The production and sale of counterfeit goods is a global, multi-billion dollar problem and one that has serious economic and health ramifications for Governments, businesses and consumers. Counterfeiting is everywhere - it can affect what we eat, what we watch, what medicines we take and what we wear - and all too often the link between fake goods and transnational organized crime is overlooked in the search for knock-offs at bargain-basement prices. ...Criminal organizations are often involved beyond just producing and moving counterfeit goods, with many also trafficking drugs, firearms and people. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime — Larry on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

While we may sympathize with the individuals selling the counterfeit goods, we need to understand that everything they are doing is illegal. The goods are counterfeit and often provided by organized crime. This is an all cash business and with NYC facing a $34.3 Billion Cumulative Budget Gap Through State Fiscal Year 2029 (figure provided by the NYS Controller's Office) perhaps we do need the tax revenues provided by legitimate businesses (which are unable to compete with the street vendors). — Larry on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

I think it is perfectly normal for residents to demand that international crime organizations not be allowed to operate brazenly and openly in the streets. — Reademan on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

What is the more humane way to remove the bazaars entirely obstructing the sidewalks? — James Bogardus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

Finally. Hopefully they continue doing this every day, day after day until these criminals stop making the sidewalks their own to do whatever they please. — Jr on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

There's a literal poem about this that we were all taught in grade school. — malcolm on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

With all due respect SoHo, I grew up in the South Bronx of the 1960s and 70s. Then moved to Manhattan and have lived in Hell's Kitchen and Tribeca ever since. You are living in the safest, cleanest version of NYC there has EVER been. I'm sorry if this two-block stretch is impacting your "quality of life." But in a city of almost 8.5 million people, you may have a few less-than-perfect blocks. These issues should be addressed humanely and in accordance with the rule of law. Masked men throwing out due process IS NOT THE FIX. And if this tiny section of Canal/Lispenard bothers you so much, you can always move to Westchester - city life doesn't agree with everyone. Remember this when these masked men come for all of us. — F on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

What's the more humane way? Arresting people for breaking the law repeatedly, and being part of an organized crime network, seems quite justified. — Marcus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

What is the more humane way to remove the bazaars entirely obstructing the sidewalks? Ignoring it out of political correctness? Asking politely? — James Bogardus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

This is what ICE and the FBI should be used for. Arresting people who clean homes and harvest our crops should not be the priority, but this trade is organized crime. It is damaging to taxpayers, local brands (Coach, Kate Spade to name two), and to people who are just trying to walk down the sidewalk in safety. It's absurd that this was allowed to go on so long, and like the scaffolds that benight every sidewalk, it speaks to the failure of local politicians to do the obvious. — OK on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

Thank you SoHo! Truth , I am tired of it~ — Native on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

It’s not our real estate investment - it’s our quality of life. If you haven’t had the pleasure of dealing with the filth, the urination, the defecation and the aggression from these guys first-hand, then you don’t understand the frustration driving the comments from residents. If NYPD and Chris Marte were addressing the problem, the federal authorities would not need to step in. Local officials should be embarrassed. — SoHo on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

The selling of counterfeit junk is a serious crime. At the point of sale, it may seem minor, just violating a company's intellectual property rights (although if it was your design being ripped off, or your company's product being copied, you might not consider this "minor"; it isn't just luxury products being counterfeited, it's all kinds of products from the bottom to the top, including all sorts of consumer tech, cigarettes, medicines, etc.). These counterfeiters hurt legitimate businesses in the area (and on-line, since so much counterfeit junk is sold on-line, even unknowingly by retailers like Amazon). Presumably they don't pay any taxes either, which is unfair to the legit businesses that do. The sellers damage the community, by creating an ever-growing lawless zone: blocked sidewalks, aggressive selling to passersby, public urination (and worse), shouting, running and hiding from the police then returning immediately, littering, blocking subway and building entrances, etc. The buyers are complicit and also to blame. They know they are involved in something illegal, and do it anyway. Most seriously, these sales massively fund organized crime networks, keeping those networks alive, and leading to and enabling far more serious crimes, from human trafficking, drug trafficking, terrorism, etc. So the sellers are part of those organized crime networks. This is no joke. People defend this junk bazaar as if it is some essential part of NYC "character" or tradition or whatever, some great tourist attraction that is important to preserve. I wonder if any of those defenders actually live in the midst of this and have to deal with it everyday. Same for the protestors - What % of those actually live or work (legitimately) right in the affected blocks? It must end. Some sources: "Gangs and Organized Crime" - https://www.ncpc.org/resources/ip-theft/gangs-and-organized-crime/ "The Dark Side of Fake Goods" https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/dark-side-of-fake-goods "Counterfeiting: An ABC of Terrorist Financing" https://www.visionofhumanity.org/counterfeiting-an-abc-of-terrorist-financing/ — Marcus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

I knew this would be the response of many people. You are willing to sacrifice due process and have people arrested and disappeared to foreign countries by nameless masked men to have a block of your real estate investment "cleaned up." When this regime is done, getting rid of all the people who are other than you, they will come for you or those you love - that's how authoritarians roll. — F on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

This was inevitable. The city has for many years failed to enforce the rule of law. The local powers that be have completely failed to deal effectively with this ever-growing problem. Police do nothing. Politicians do nothing. So eventually it reaches the critical point where something drastic happens. — Marcus on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

DOHMH has an ombudsman for food establishments. Perhaps Madeline can try there? https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/business/food-operators/food-service-establishment-ombuds-office.page — ChibecaMom on Duane Park Patisserie caught in bureaucratic snafu

Lots of lot line windows will be closed up at 200 Chambers. — G on Deco building on Broadway and Chambers is for sale

International organized crime that uses the proceeds of the sale of counterfeit goods to fund human trafficking, drug smuggling, weapons trafficking, and terrorism deserves the strongest possible response. — Reademan on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

Long overdue. Finally! There is no right for any individuals to overtake the neighborhood with illegal activities, aggressive behavior and the disorder and filth they create. Maybe soon I can actually walk these blocks with my kids and not have to avoid them. Vote responsibly NY! — Hudson st on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

Unlicensed vendors have overrun the streets and destroyed the marketplace for licensed vendors who are playing by the rules. A honest vendor simply cannot compete with these sidewalk racketeers, many of whom should not even be in the country. Licensed NYC vendors are grateful to ICE and the FED's. — LiceToVend on ICE agents raid street vendors on Canal and Lafayette

If I'm not mistaken, that filigree at the parapet was featured on a 'Where in Tribeca' many years ago! — malcolm on Deco building on Broadway and Chambers is for sale

Wholeheartedly agree with hoping that the future developer will preserve the Art Deco base. If there ever were an architectural style that defines this city, it’s Art Deco! Glad to see at least some developers leaning into a neo-Deco motif. — Reader on Reade on Deco building on Broadway and Chambers is for sale