Police Commissioner William Bratton acknowledges he is targeting subway acrobats as part of his embrace of the "broken windows" theory of policing — that low-grade lawlessness can cultivate a greater sense of disorder and embolden more dangerous offenders.
"Is it a significant crime? Certainly not," Bratton said recently. But the question is, he added, "Does it have the potential both for creating a level of fear as well as a level of risk that you want to deal with?"
The subway acrobats say they're just out to entertain, make a living and put a little communal levity in New York's no-eye-contact commuting. (read more)
Unconfirmed rumors say that the roundups began after a 'dancer' landed on Trooper York ;-)
21 comments:
And Troop took off his bra, put down his doughnut, and thrashed the malefactor.
Back when I lived in San Francisco, in the 70s, street performers were everywhere.
But, they were all white college educated kids living out their hippie dream.
The pictures in the referenced article suggest that the NY subway acrobats are quite a bit more "diverse."
In such situations in NY, there is often a question of whether specific performances require a fee from all passengers present, perhaps under threat of some unpleasantness.
I'm guessing that it would be unwelcome to pay a subway acrobat with a banana.
I'm guessing that it would be unwelcome to pay a subway acrobat with a banana.
RACISSSSSSS!
Crack's gonna kick your ass!
As usual the problem is not the yutes, godawful as they are, the problem is the enablers who reward them with "donations" for their acts of in-your-face vibrancy.
Heres the thing. It can be very intimidating to some people to be in a close confined space with someone screaming and bouncing off the walls and then asking you for money. Older people. Women alone. Women with young children.
The subway is for transportation not entertainment.
Of course this is a very temporary thing. It will last a few months and then back to the same old thing.
I do have to admit that I have not been on the subway for about five years.
I work five blocks from where I live so I have no reason to ride the train.
"... a 'dancer' landed on Trooper York."
I think the quote marks should be around "landed". If you want to discourage this kind of thing, you have to resist the urge to go right into mouth kissing the dude. I mean come on. He wants money not an afternoon quickie.
"And Troop took off his bra, put down his doughnut, and thrashed the malefactor."
Lovers' quarrel?
The absolute best explanation of what this is about happened to me sometime in the 1980's.
I was sitting on the train half in the bag going home about three in the morning and this guy rolled onto the train when it stopped at West 4th Street. He was on a rolling platform because he had no legs. He gave a heart rending speech that he was a Vietnam Vet who was homeless and needed to put together a few bucks to survive. I felt really bad and gave him a sawbuck. He rolled down the train and collected some nice change. When he got to the end of the car....he stood up...picked up his rolly platform and got off on the Delancy Street stop.
That is what begging in the Subway is all about.
I only pay for services rendered by street performers, but never for simple lazy begging. If they are entertaining and not a pain in the ass, I give a little something. Last month I gave away 3 Lamborghinis, a slightly used Pocket Fisherman, and a Magic Bullet with a little spiced rum still in it. The cost of living is high in L.A, and nobody carries cash.
Excellent story Troop.
Criminally, I've never been to NY City. I have no idea what any of this feels like.
I have been to the top of a 14er, and I'm off to conquer Mt Democrat. (and possibly Lincoln and Bross)
"He was on a rolling platform because he had no legs."
"When he got to the end of the car....he stood up...picked up his rolly platform and got off on the Delancy Street stop."
The power of generosity. Jesus would have been proud.
NYC, fine, but don't go trying any of that phony rolling beggar crap in Philly, and we mean it.
That guy became pretty well known. He seems he stole the idea from an Eddie Murphy movie that was popular at the time.
Once they publicized it TV and he couldn't do it anymore.
Yah, I was about to say that scenario seems awfully familiar. "Trading Places."
I Can See!
I always figured that would be impossible to fake.
This is like kids who wash your windshield with a dirty gritty rag and demand payment when you are stopped at a stop light. When I lived in DC, kids would offer to watch your car for a fee, when you parked on the street. If you did not agree, they broke your mirrors and antennae. When this same thing came up in the Philippines, I knew the right answer. DC is a third world place. But the Philippines is cheaper.
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