I've had those kinds of interactions here also. A buyer got mad at me for walking between her and the seller, even though that was the only way get through. I ignored her. Alternative: remind that the primary purpose of a sidewalk is ...walking. Many neighbors simply give up and walk out in the street instead, which is clearly not advisable with the mad driving and spike in traffic-caused deaths. — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

While i dont begrudge someone trying to make a living, a few times the vendors were aggressive (or those with them) when I tried to get past the crowded sidewalk. One guy selling stuff acted fairly aggressive after I bumped into him, as if he wanted to start a fight. I am 6' 4" so not sure how he treats shorter people. Glad for them to be gone. Would rather support small businesses that actually follow rules — Patrick on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

That is progress indeed. It will require regular attention by the police, though, for this to last. — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Today I was pleasantly surprised to see the Canal/Broadway area devoid of the counterfeit hustlers. I spoke with two cops from the 1st pct. in an unmarked car who told me that 20 people were arrested and two truckloads of goods were confiscated. Let's see how long this lasts. Next target should be the vendors clogging the Brooklyn Bridge walkway. — Urban Pioneer on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

I am heartbroken to see this. She had taken care of my pup since he was 12 weeks old. She was the kindest soul … words cannot express my sadness - truly a gem of a person. She was always so understanding and caring and knowledgeable on everything that was going on in the world of healthcare. Her knowledge extended beyond that of veterinary medicine, you will be missed a lot. — Kam on Jennifer Berg, local veterinarian, has died at 49

The real problem is quality of life, when you have over 100 men standing around crowding the street smoking weed getting drunk all day and selling drugs now and counterfeit together that's a real problem. Make no mistake they sell drugs now not just counterfeit, I know this cause I'm on the street every day and this escalation just started recently. The residents and retailors in the area are constantly under duress all day cause of it. I know two retailors that got their windows broken because they asked the counterfeiters not to block the entrance way to their stores. They behave as a gang when there all together selling their illegal goods. There are also some single moms that live in the area with their kids and have to walk by them through the weed smoke and poor footing to get into their apartment. — Raphael A. on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

I think the scathing NY Post article was the catalyst, not the petition. I was out there today to pick up a rice roll from Joe's (always a treat) and it was a pleasure to walk down Broadway to Canal. Worth noting, there were 4 uniformed offers all together on the West side corner of Lispenard and Broadway, no vendors with wares on the street, but I encountered two covert shopping deals directly across the street from them in full view (with the laminated sheet of purses in full view). Still, not going to complain, a great improvement! — TheBlackSquirrel on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Can you update your manufacturing sourcing information, please? I like to support American innovation AND manufacturing. The "made" in "made in Tribeca" to me means made, done, manufactured, It is ingenuous for Tribeca Citizen to say "I think most of my readers understand that “Made in Tribeca” means the business resides here, not that the manufacturing does." Even if that may be true for readers of Tribeca Citizen, it is not necessarily true for others. Would the claim pass muster with the Federal Trade Commission? — Richard on Made in Tribeca: Priority Bicycles

I also hope this is a sign of a real change. I wonder if the seizure had anything to do with the petition. I always wonder whether petitions really have any effect, and same for 311 calls and such....maybe they do. If so, we should keep up the pressure regarding this and other issues in hopes of resolution. — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Right. Offering legit licenses does not solve the problem that these are still illegal counterfeits. So to render these businesses legit also requires that they no longer deal in counterfeits at all. At least some of the news reports suggest $10 million was based on the selling prices of the junk, not the value of the real brand items. For example: "Fake Rolex watches were selling for $75. Even at that price, authorities say the counterfeit goods they seized had a street value of more than $10 million." https://abc7ny.com/nyc-crime-nypd-luxury-knock-offs-illegal-street-vendors/12504905/ If based on the real prices, then the number would be vastly higher then. The $10 million figure does seem high. Assuming average street price of the junk is $50 (that's a guess...maybe it's more), that would require seizing 200,000 items! — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Hi! Curious if we ever learned whether this work will continue farther south or north on West Broadway? Thanks for all you do! — CW on West Broadway construction project to begin in May

The big raid was Monday afternoon. The sidewalk was barely passable just hours before. I like to think this is the beginning of some sort of change? This is a two prong problem, both the vendors and the merchandise are illegal. Even if the city creates an indoor market space for the vendors, selling counterfeit goods is still illegal. The only way forward is to enforce the law and ban the sale. More than ten million? I wonder how they got that number? Based on the value of real brand products or fake? And what did they do with the seized goods? Hopefully not already back on the street! — R. on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Well said. Thank you Jed. It's sad how many people think it's so wonderful to get rid of the tenants that made the area so attractive to begin with. — Elizabeth Mastopietro on 131-135 Duane is fully restored and will open this summer

The Mr Chows purple lighted Rolls.....after dining there, I think I get it. I am going to assume they ate at Mr. Chow's. My Beijing born wife asks, 'so where are all the Chinese people?" — Patrick on Seen & Heard: Tin Building expands its hours

The situation is not as black and white as you portray it. Clearly this lot should be used for something other than parking cars. But it should also not be used for 200-foot plus residential towers. Howard Hughes needs to quit its anchoring bias and realize that it overpaid when it bought the lot for $180 million. Take the write-down and develop something no higher than the surrounding buildings. It still might be economic to do so, just based on projected return on construction costs. Something like Dekalb Market in downtown Brooklyn would work out fine. And we actually don’t need affordable housing subsidized by the taxpayers. If you want affordable housing, don’t live in Manhattan! You think we need another blot on NYC like South Bridge and the projects on the other side of the Brooklyn Bridge? That stuff should be razed and replaced with something better. — Cogitator on Lawsuit stops development of Seaport tower

Is the issue on Duane 170 or 172? It seems that space has been sitting scaffolded with no activity for years now. Was quite the rat haven before the cold weather too — P on Nosy Neighbor: Why is the roadway still blocked on Duane Street?

They were out in force Sunday around 10:30 am — TribecaMom on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

I would like to add 170 Duane Street to the list. They have had large plastic barricades up for many years now, seemingly protecting a portapotty and collecting garbage as there has been no visible activity in the street. I checked your map and there are no DOT permits to block the street noted there. We need more room for DOB cars and placard (ab)users to park! — Elizabeth on Nosy Neighbor: Why is the roadway still blocked on Duane Street?

Does anyone know if there are any development plans for the ugly parking lot on that corner of Broadway and Lispenard? That is also the center of the junk sales, so development there might also change the neighborhood for the better. — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

It's great that this happened, but it has to be done consistently to permanently eradicate this scourge. Daily tickets, fines, seizures of the junk, etc. — Marcus on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

According to the Post there was a big crackdown yesterday, but that doesn't account for the past few weeks... https://nypost.com/2022/11/28/more-than-10m-in-high-end-knock-offs-seized-in-lower-manhattan/ — Lisa on Progress on the counterfeit bazaar on Broadway?

Another raid: https://nypost.com/2022/11/28/more-than-10m-in-high-end-knock-offs-seized-in-lower-manhattan/ Glad to see that, but will it make a difference? Enforcement has to be consistent, and penalties have to be strong enough, to end this. (Once again, the Post comments are negative and mocking, assuming that enforcement of this takes away from enforcement of other crimes, which is not a given at all. Indeed, a competing answer would be that deterring "minor" crimes also deters major crimes. Another response is that this is not a victimless crime at all. ) — Marcus on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

"More than $10M in 'high-end' knock-offs seized in Lower Manhattan" - https://nypost.com/2022/11/28/more-than-10m-in-high-end-knock-offs-seized-in-lower-manhattan/ — James on Canal Street counterfeit operation just goes on and on

As a torist I visited Pier A religiously every time I visited New York - a fantastic spot - I hope they open it again, in some iteration that includes a bar, live music and food. — Werner on Pier A is still closed and in flux

The commissioners who devised the 1811 street grid wanted to maximize the amount of real estate available for development, hence no alleys. — james on Nosy Neighbor: Why have these concrete barriers been on Chambers for ages?