Order And Security In Public Squares

The City Council finally took action to address a problem about which much has been said: disorder in the city’s public places, especially the famous Times Square, a place very crowded by both locals and visitors.

The vertiginous increase of an informal job sector in public squares has caused much friction between passersby and workers dressed in costume. This has affected the image of areas not only destined to recreation, but which also are an international reference for tourism in the Big Apple.

To prevent this situation from spinning out of control, a law was approved this week that will trace a sort of map of where “Elmo,” “Spiderman,” “Batman,” “Minnie,” “Cowboy,” and others will be able to operate.

The initiative’s spirit, as council member Ydanis Rodríguez made it clear, is to ensure public order, as well as reducing congestion.

However, most workers – many of them immigrants – who work in this entertaining field in exchange for tips, clearly see the measure as an enemy that is going to corner them and reduce their source of income.

It is understandable that that there is some resistance to change. But there is no doubt that even the workers’ security was at risk, and concrete measures had to be taken.

It’s impossible to ignore reports like the one from Times Square Alliance indicating that 61% of Times Square employees reported experiencing a negative encounter with a costumed character or a vendor. This is the result of agglomeration.

Only time will tell how effective is the new law. But while it is being implemented, the City must provide help and training to all those workers who give public places such a colorful touch.

They are workers who try to make an honest living. Behind the costumes there are many immigrant stories full of sacrifice, but also of dreams to get ahead. They don’t deserve being left adrift.