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Legislation to rein in the costumes characters and desnudas of Times Square passed in the City Council Thursday.
The bill will let the Department of Transportation make rules for the city’s pedestrian plazas — so they can carve up the crossroads of the world into zones and only allow the tip-seeking solicitors to operate in certain areas.
It was approved by a vote of 42-1, with five abstentions.
The plan arose out of complaints that overly aggressive topless women, Elmos and superheroes had become a nuisance to tourists and commuters in the square.
TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE BOSS WANTS TO SET 'RULES OF ENGAGEMENT' FOR COSTUMED CHARACTERS
The city is finally cracking down on costumes characters who have drawn complaints for harassing people at Times Square.
(ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
“They harass tourists, they aggressively solicit tips, and many of them won’t leave you alone. And even worse, they get into fights with each other, they grope people, and they get arrested for assault and battery at an increasing rate,” Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan) said of the bad actors among the performers.
“Just google your favorite superhero and ‘arrested in Times Square,’ and you will get a million hits. People should be able to visit Times Square and experience the quirkiness and edginess that makes it unique without needing to run in the opposite direction every time they see Spider-Man,” he said.
The city has long struggled to figure out a way to contain the scene in the square without running afoul of the First Amendment rights of the costumed performers and desnudas, who are legally allowed to be topless in New York.
They said they think the new rules will pass muster as reasonable time place and manner restrictions, though they will likely be tested in court.
“This is about creating some order in Times Square, where there’s been a lot of chaos,” said Councilman Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan).
He cited a series of Daily News front pages on the desnudas last summer for finally spurring action on an issue that has bedeviled local leaders for years.
“People should be able to walk through Times Square without being harassed and harangued,” he said. “This was never about topless women. They were not the problem, they are not the problem, and that is never the issue here. The issue is trying to create some order.”
The topless women will also have to follow rules created by the Department of Transportation.
The topless women will also have to follow rules created by the Department of Transportation.
(GARDINER ANDERSON/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
The authorization for DOT to make rules will also apply to the other pedestrian plazas around the five boroughs — 53 currently, with 20 more planned.
Abdel Amine Elkhezzani, 37, who has played Spider-Man in Times Square for more than a decade, blasted the rules and said he’ll refuse to fall in line.
“I’m Spider-Man. I don’t stay in a zone,” he said. “If they think they’ve got rules and regulations I need to follow, I’m not following it, and I will be the first one to get arrested.”
Elkhezzani said it violates his rights not to let him perform in costume in a public area.
People will now have to visit certain parts of Times Square to find the costumed characters.
(ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
“Most of the people doing this job are immigrants, and they had heard America is a free country. They had heard [in] America, you can use your freedom of expression,” he said.
While pols have insisted the characters will still be able to earn a living, he said he would lose 95% of his income because earning tips depends on approaching people and convincing them to pose for a picture.
“I interact with them. I entertain them to convince them to take pictures with me,” he said. “You put them in the mood to take a picture with you. They’re happy.”
Councilman Robert Cornegy (D-Brooklyn), who voted against the bill, said the city should not unnecessarily burden New Yorkers trying to make an honest buck.
“Don’t knock the hustle,” he said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...ume-characters-follow-rules-article-1.2592487
The bill will let the Department of Transportation make rules for the city’s pedestrian plazas — so they can carve up the crossroads of the world into zones and only allow the tip-seeking solicitors to operate in certain areas.
It was approved by a vote of 42-1, with five abstentions.
The plan arose out of complaints that overly aggressive topless women, Elmos and superheroes had become a nuisance to tourists and commuters in the square.
TIMES SQUARE ALLIANCE BOSS WANTS TO SET 'RULES OF ENGAGEMENT' FOR COSTUMED CHARACTERS
The city is finally cracking down on costumes characters who have drawn complaints for harassing people at Times Square.
(ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
“They harass tourists, they aggressively solicit tips, and many of them won’t leave you alone. And even worse, they get into fights with each other, they grope people, and they get arrested for assault and battery at an increasing rate,” Councilman Dan Garodnick (D-Manhattan) said of the bad actors among the performers.
“Just google your favorite superhero and ‘arrested in Times Square,’ and you will get a million hits. People should be able to visit Times Square and experience the quirkiness and edginess that makes it unique without needing to run in the opposite direction every time they see Spider-Man,” he said.
The city has long struggled to figure out a way to contain the scene in the square without running afoul of the First Amendment rights of the costumed performers and desnudas, who are legally allowed to be topless in New York.
They said they think the new rules will pass muster as reasonable time place and manner restrictions, though they will likely be tested in court.
“This is about creating some order in Times Square, where there’s been a lot of chaos,” said Councilman Corey Johnson (D-Manhattan).
He cited a series of Daily News front pages on the desnudas last summer for finally spurring action on an issue that has bedeviled local leaders for years.
“People should be able to walk through Times Square without being harassed and harangued,” he said. “This was never about topless women. They were not the problem, they are not the problem, and that is never the issue here. The issue is trying to create some order.”
The topless women will also have to follow rules created by the Department of Transportation.
The topless women will also have to follow rules created by the Department of Transportation.
(GARDINER ANDERSON/FOR NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
The authorization for DOT to make rules will also apply to the other pedestrian plazas around the five boroughs — 53 currently, with 20 more planned.
Abdel Amine Elkhezzani, 37, who has played Spider-Man in Times Square for more than a decade, blasted the rules and said he’ll refuse to fall in line.
“I’m Spider-Man. I don’t stay in a zone,” he said. “If they think they’ve got rules and regulations I need to follow, I’m not following it, and I will be the first one to get arrested.”
Elkhezzani said it violates his rights not to let him perform in costume in a public area.
People will now have to visit certain parts of Times Square to find the costumed characters.
(ANTHONY DELMUNDO/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS)
“Most of the people doing this job are immigrants, and they had heard America is a free country. They had heard [in] America, you can use your freedom of expression,” he said.
While pols have insisted the characters will still be able to earn a living, he said he would lose 95% of his income because earning tips depends on approaching people and convincing them to pose for a picture.
“I interact with them. I entertain them to convince them to take pictures with me,” he said. “You put them in the mood to take a picture with you. They’re happy.”
Councilman Robert Cornegy (D-Brooklyn), who voted against the bill, said the city should not unnecessarily burden New Yorkers trying to make an honest buck.
“Don’t knock the hustle,” he said.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...ume-characters-follow-rules-article-1.2592487
Those kid's faces
