Voter makes a really astute point. Some commenters here (to keep things Broadway) are closing their eyes to a situation they do not wish to acknowledge.
8th Avenue used to be bearable to walk down. Now you really have to steel yourself as you dodge the scooters and the loiterers (sounds innocuous but when there’s a bunch of people just standing around in clumps, smoking marijuana, while others are trying to get to/from somewhere, it’s a lot). Add to that the trash just thrown anywhere and everywhere, plus the smell of urine? I can see how anyone walking from the A train exit to a Broadway show would think “Not doing this again”.
And sure, crime and drugs etc aren’t new. But they’ve increased. Lockdowns and free money brought an attitude of “nothing really matters and things should be given to me”. It didn’t bring the attitude to everyone, but to many. The disregard for the peace of others is really present. You think bad audience behavior is the only change in conduct? It’s happened at all levels. Okay, not everyone is robbed or slashed in midtown, but there’s more of it happening than before 2020.
Migrant crisis? It exists. That’ll be the kids I have to step over on the welcome mat of the Row Hotel. The Catholic school on Staten Island being used as a migrant center.
And trust, the people saying it’s no different from before will be the first to scream “It shouldn’t have been allowed to get this way!” when they find themselves in a sticky situation.
You can always count on me 🎶