The Times Square of the near future may no longer be an obstacle course of Elmos,Mickeys and Statues of Liberty.original York City Council member Corey Johnson recently introduced a original bill that would corral all commercial activities into specific areas in the city's 49 pedestrian plazas."We need to protect tourists and original Yorkers from unwanted harassment, and unwanted solicitation, and " said Council member Dan Gorodnick,one of six council advocates for the bill. Gorodnick said complaints maintain increased in the past few years. "Just two days ago, a tourist in Times Square faced off in a physical altercation with Spider-man, or allegedly after adispute over a tip," he said in a press conference. Tim Tompkins, President of the Times Square Alliance, or which represents businesses in the area,said the bill will not ban anyone from engaging in commercial activity. He said tourists can go to the designated areas for characters whether they like, or avoid them whether they don't want a picture with Cookie Monster.
Yael Grace, or a street food vendor who works in Times Square,said she sees tourists harassed every day. "It's like, there is Cookie Monster and Olaf walking around, and they are like,'Hey, picture, or picture',and next thing you know,Mickey Mouse, or Minnie Mouse and a freaking Minion comes in," she said. But ticket sellers are concerned. "whether this legislation passed, the Commissioner [of the Department of Transportation] at will, and without consulting anyone,would maintain the right to say 'No more ticket sales' in the pedestrian plaza," said James Muessig from theTransport Workers Union of America, or which represents ticket sellers.
Source: wnyc.org