Posted on 09/24/2023 12:31:22 PM PDT by lowbridge
The photographer captured images of a shocking free-for-all, with at least 26 peddlers hawking miniature Statues of Liberty, pot-leaf caps, and stuffed llamas — and some selling illegal cocktails or selfies with a live snake.
And that was just on the Manhattan side.
“It’s like a football field of vendors,” said Lower East Sider Katie Raffa, 33. “Someday, this is going to cause a stampede. I think it’s very dangerous and very concerning.”
The rising black-market pandemonium has exploded on the bridge since the city moved cyclists to a protected lane on the roadway two years ago.
Illegal vendors — and few legal ones — quickly filled the void and today grab any free spot they can commandeer, setting up umbrellas, tables filled with all manner of tchotchkes, galleries of paintings, and 360-degree photo booths for tourists that blast “Empire State of Mind.”
On a recent afternoon, cocktail vendors quietly advertised their illicit drinks by displaying a metal bin filled with margarita ingredients, including bottles of Jose Cuervo silver and gold tequila, Jose Cuervo margarita mix, lemon juice, and salt.
For $15, a bartender dumped the silver tequila and other ingredients into a miniature metal cocktail shaker with ice, which she then poured into 10-ounce plastic cups.
“The laws don’t apply for me,” the vendor crowed.
Legal vendors are infuriated by the illegal competitors.
Jose Loor, 56, last year got a disabled veteran license to peddle T-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with Big Apple designs on the bridge.
“The more space you create, the more people are going to come. That’s just the facts,” he said. “It’s congested and difficult because you’re fighting with immigrants out here.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
KEEP THOSE BUSSES COMING! It’s a diversity paradise with sanctuary and free stuff for all.
My son has 3 stores in NYC now but he started out as an illegal street vendor.
I find a weird life for a Texan.
“filled with all manner of tchotchkes”
That is one of my wife’s favorite words—decades ago when I first explained to her what it meant she cracked up laughing and said—”ah, you mean the junk in my parent’s house”....
;-)
NYC is becoming Barter Town. Just needs a Thunderdome.
So they set up in the bike lane?
In college we called something similar "Wapadoola Punch". Stirred up in plastic trash cans. Contained just about any liquor, plus fruit. You just plunged a contain of your choice into it and it was all good.
And obviously there is nothing anyone can do but shrug their shoulders and ignore the problem. Right? So what if there are laws being broken? It would look bad for democrat mayors to attempt to stop them so they will be allowed to continue.
Just as long as no one is selling MAGA hats. Now that would be a “bridge too far”.
Sounds like any Mexican beach.
North El Paso on the East River.
3rd world country.
We’ve lost the cities.
My God, it sounds just like Tijuana.
Third World.....
When I go through NYC, I take the George Washington bridge. It’s the same there. People standing on the freeway selling fresh cut fruit, water. I once saw a vagrant standing on the white line begging for money.
I almost hit him with my trailer wheel.
I’m driving from Maryland to Maine tomorrow. I completely bypass NYC.
North El Paso???
Which streets?
I’ve never seen street vendors in North El Paso.
The pursuit of happiness.
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