POLL: Should We Rip Out Times Square’s Pedestrian Plazas?
New Yorkers can’t stop talking about Mayor de Blasio’s idea to rip out Times Square’s pedestrian plazas, just six years after they were put in place under the Bloomberg administration. As a way to rid the tourist destination of “jiggly panhandlers,” both the Mayor and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton have suggested opening Times Square back up to vehicular traffic. But are they remembering the years when the Midtown intersection was a car-filled hellscape? In fact, city data shows that traffic accidents and casualties are down since the plazas were implemented in 2009. And while these statistics speak volumes to some, others feel that a few more fender benders and a little gridlock are a small price to pay for an improved quality of life. Which side are you on?
