I grew up there and moved out last year. Best thing I ever did. The place is nothing short of hell on earth, what I like to call “North Korea with food”. Everything revolves around “The Dear Leader”. Every parade, every event, every happening, all his edicts, his wants, his desires, The Dear Leader is everywhere front and center even in the privacy of your own $3000 a month apartment. Every New Years you would think The Dear Leader would let a kid with cancer or any kid for that matter drop the New Years ball, but NOOOOO the Dear Leader has to be front and center every single year. People may like to live like that, live like children being told what to do, what to eat, what to drink, if they are allowed to start a business, what they can own or not own, or how much money they can have but not me. So I moved, or escaped is a better word.
I visited NYC in 1960 so I’m sure it’s way worse now than it was then. It was fine for a long weekend but that’s all. Congratulations on your “escape”. LOL.