Living outside Manhattan, I’ve been concerned watching the city deteriorate. Wondering if it’s as safe as it used to be and what kind of precautions I should have our daughter take. I commuted for years through Penn Station…but we were heckled and harassed by some sketchy looking guys a few blocks away last week.
Anyone else concerned?
It is currently a little sketchier than it was. Family in Manhattan have commented on this and attribute it to the challenges of caring for the mentally ill during the pandemic. I suspect things will return to normal as more people return to work and services are resumed. I would not avoid NYC for this reason but would counsel a higher level of awareness around personal safety than may have been needed prepandemic.
agree. It reminds me what it was in the 80s! Before a young adult goes there for the first time, I would have conversation that homeless does not necessarily mean they are unsafe, recognizing when someone is inebriated, and empathy for mental health. What would they do if asked for money? Would they look away if a veteran without legs is wheeling through their subway car? etc. While I don’t feel comfortable to walk through the 14th St/Union Sq area sometimes, I could easily cross the street and walk on the other side. Further, my elderly mother loves Washington Square Park, but she has not visited during the pandemic citing safety concerns. I cannot wait to see NYC return to “normal.”