Panhandlers emerge on Harlem River Drive throughout afternoon rush hour on July 20, 2022.
J.C. Rice
New York Metropolis’s highways have immediately change into scorching spots for panhandlers prepared to threat their lives dodging oncoming site visitors to make a quick buck.
Over the previous week, Submit reporters noticed down-and-out daredevils pleading for money from motorists within the coronary heart of bustling roadways – together with the Harlem River Drive and FDR Drive in Manhattan, and the Main Deegan Expressway in The Bronx.
In the meantime, the NYPD seems to be doing little to curb the unlawful foot site visitors – which generally takes place in the course of the night rush when site visitors is bumper-to-bumper and there’s much less concern of vagrants getting slammed by rushing automobiles.
Some motorists say they’ve lately witnessed police vehicles experience by the brazen beggars, with out flashing a siren, providing them help and even simply ordering them off the highway.
Whereas panhandlers – together with infamous “squeegee males” aggressively wiping windshields — have lengthy tried to hustle money from drivers at busy intersections on metropolis streets, some metropolis employees and different commuters say they’ve observed a brand new phenomenon over the previous few months: swarms of beggars on Massive Apple highways dangerously uncovered to oncoming automobiles.
“Legal guidelines simply don’t matter anymore,” fumed crime-fighting Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, who says he’s watched cops 4 occasions within the final three months drive by panhandlers on either side of the FDR Drive in Decrease Manhattan with out taking motion.
“Previously, freeway patrol [cops] would’ve shut this down instantly, however it’s simply one other instance that you are able to do something now in New York Metropolis — and nobody will cease you,” the previous Republican mayoral candidate barked.
On Thursday afternoon, The Submit watched a girl wearing soiled sweatpants, a free T-shirt, and bubblegum-pink clogs toss a dirty Goal canvas tote bag over a graffiti-laden concrete barrier and onto the southbound part of the Harlem River Drive close to East 131st Avenue.
The 28-year-old girl, who known as herself “Jasmine,” then nimbly climbed over the barrier herself earlier than arriving at work — the center of 4 freeway lanes.
Holding a big, dark-brown espresso cup, Jasmine stood straight, mumbling to herself whereas staring down vehicles that slowly creeped by, whereas begging for spare money.
A number of drivers and passengers rolled down their home windows, giving her a handful of greenback payments over a 15-minute interval – simply sufficient money for her to move out and purchase a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich at a close-by eatery.
When requested later by a reporter if she was involved for her security, Jasmine teared up.
“That is very secure, see the way it’s going very gradual?” she stated of the site visitors.
Jasmine returns repeatedly to the identical location as a result of she’s had monetary success there — and with out being routinely hassled by authorities, she stated.
One common Harlem River Drive motorist confirmed The Submit photographs he took every week earlier, of Jasmine clenching a paper cup with each arms in the course of the roadway — whereas a NYPD automobile drove proper by her with out stopping.
The identical shutterbug additionally shared photographs snapped Wednesday of individuals panhandling and promoting water and fruit alongside the FDR Drive and Main Deegan Expressway. In a single shot, a middle-aged man was photographed hunching over a walker, pleading with drivers for money whereas navigating via heavy site visitors alongside the Willis Avenue Bridge connection to the Main Deegan.
Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) stated he hopes Mayor Eric Adams’ administration cracks down on the daredevil panhandlers however isn’t shocked by this sudden surge contemplating the “environment of lawlessness that has enveloped our metropolis.”
“It’s not solely unlawful, however very harmful,” he stated. “There’s nothing compassionate about letting individuals do that. Each the panhandlers and motorists are at risk.”
Each the Mayor’s Workplace and the NYPD issued statements saying panhandling in site visitors is each harmful and unlawful — and that New Yorkers ought to report such exercise by calling 311. Nonetheless, neither provided explanations of why cops are driving by panhandlers on highways with out a minimum of stopping to assist get them to security.
An NYPD spokesperson as a substitute stated the company is “conscious” of an inflow in panhandlers immediately working highways, including the division’s “aim is to not summons or arrest our manner out of this difficulty however quite to achieve voluntary compliance and, when a person is encountered, provide to attach these in want with the suitable metropolis providers.”
Sliwa, nevertheless, stated he expects freeway panhandling to solely worsen as a result of it’s probably extra profitable than street-side begging – and authorities aren’t cracking down on it.
“The [panhandlers] are taking main dangers strolling a high-wire act in the course of highways like they’re a part of The [Flying] Wallendas,” he stated.
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