I was there last year visiting my brother and got hit up for change 5 times just trying to leave Penn station then hit up another time on 8th avenue by a woman who looking like a pin cushion from all the needle marks in her arms and legs so I assume the homeless are all over the subways as well. It’s just one huge sh*thole now which is not surprising being that they elected and reelected a commie for Mayor.
When I lived in Boston decades ago, wearing headphones with a “walkman” tape player was a way to avoid conversations with strangers on the subway, while waiting, and while walking on the sidewalk.