Changes in NY since Rudy has left office?????
 

Friends tell me that NY is changing for the worse since Rudy left office.<BR>Hookers are back in Times Square,people are jaywalking, spitting in the street, cleaning windshields again and begging on the street.<BR>I understand that the new mayor has not followed up on "quality of life" issues which Rudy Gulliani initiated and made the city a better place to live and visit.<BR>Any comments or opionions?

Just a thought but there might be just a few things of more importance on the new mayors mind these days than squeegie men and jaywalkers. 8 months is not much time to be able to make "quality of life" changes in a city that had a HUGE quality of life disaster.

I think quality of life issues in NY should be a very high priority for the new mayor. <BR>Without a good "quality of life" in the city it will be difficult to make a comeback after 9/ll IMO

Although Rudy came through big time on 9/11, most New Yorkers were tired of his divisive abusive political manner. The new mayor seems like a breath of fresh air. He doesn't personalize every attack, and he even lets groups express first amendment beliefs without having to resort to the courts! Imagine that. AS far as the specific things nyer mention, people have always jaywalked in NYC and even Rudy didn't crack down on that. I haven't seen any more beggars here recently than in the past few years. Overall, we were very grateful for the leadership Rudy showed on 9/11, wish him well, and are kind of relieved he's gone.

I would agree that NYC has changed for the worse slightly in the manner described. I have noticed more of the "nonsense" which Giuliani got rid of. I can remember walking through the city with my girlfriend and several times one of us looking at something going on and saying "never when Giuliani was mayor".

Begging is the same as it always was<BR>Jaywalking was a problem under Rudy and is still a problem - no better no worse<BR>I drive in the city every day of the week and have not come across anyone cleaning windshields.<BR>Some people spit in the street under Rudy and the same people are still spitting in the street.<BR>I have been in Times Square four times in the past 2 weeks. I haven't noticed hookers plying their trade

I hear it's almost as bad as San Jose already!

topper

I hope that the "quality of life" in New York continues as it has been in the last few years. It would be a shame after 9/11 to go backwards.

I've noticed in the past month that things have started going downhill...last week I encountered four sets of panhandlers in the subway, where I used to see one a week at the most. I also went to the movie theater in Times Square, where I go at least once a month, and there was a noticeable difference in the crowd...lots of loud urban youth, shady guys who looked like drug dealers, and beggars. (I really wouldn't be surprised if there was some prostitution going on.) My boyfriend and I turned to each other and gasped, "Wow-it's really going downhill here!"

Yep-definitely signs of going downhill.<BR>Just 8 months after 2 planes crashed into the World Trade Center and thousands of people were killed, we are working,living,traveling,welcoming tourists,ball games are being played,the theaters are full,summer programs in the parks and Lincoln Center are scheduled, buildings are being built,while 2 are still being cleared away, plans are being made...life is going on and New York is just fine.The "quality of life" in New York City will just get better and better,come visit and see for yourself.

The police do need to be more aggressive, especially with the recession/unemployment. Too many panhandlers & crazy people. <BR><BR>The West Village has gotten out of control. I can't leave my building at night without walking past a drug deal. It's very disconcerting. <BR><BR>And please save all the liberal whining unless you've walked in my shoes.

I've been to New York twice since 9/11: in November, for the Marathon, and for 3 days this past weekend. The changes I've noticed both times were in the cleanliness of the city, which has taken a severe downturn, with lots of garbage/trash in the streets and which I never noticed on visits in previous two years. I assume that this is due to increased expenditures for police/security and for recovery efforts at WTC; I don't think that these changes are necessarily tied to who's in charge, but more are fiscal/budget issues based on decisions about where the public money must be spent.<BR><BR>What I did notice on these past two visits is that New Yorkers continue to be friendly, helpful, gracious (at least 90% of the time.) Public transportation is excellent, culture is unequalled. Given the extent of the destruction, the recovery is truly remarkable, and a testimony to the fact that this city is, without question (at least IMHO) the capital of the world. Can't wait to go again! And yes, there are obnoxious thugs there, but no more than in any city, large or small, that I've ever visited or lived in. C'est la vie, metropolitan or not. ..

Sorry -- make that 'capitol' of the world!

It seems to me money has to be spent to clean the streets,stop the panhandlers,<BR>deal with drug dealers etc. <BR>If NY becomes known as unsafe and dirty, tourist will stop coming-spending money, keeping the theatre going, restaurants in business, people working in the tourist industry----and where will that leave the city??? Hopefully the new mayor will deal with this asap.

Rudy did what every politician has done since the beginning of time - spend money while the treasury is flush and never put anything aside for a rainy day. Well, the rainy day has arrived and the new mayor has been saddled with a 5 billion dollar deficit. Security costs have mounted since 9/11 and obviously shouldn't be cut. If this results in less funds to guard against "quality of life" issus so be it. I, however, have not noticed any appreciable decline in the quality of life in the city

I guess someone will have to decide which is more important,paying people to sweep the streets or pay the police to keep things a little more secure these days.<BR>I personally found Paris pretty dirty with papers flying around but never really let it bother me.I don't expect the biggest city in the world to be spic and span,especially after a huge terrorist attack.<BR>And since when did spitting in the street make it to the list of the Mayors problems to eliminate?

New York is alive and well. Yeah, there's little things, but nothing to be alarmed about. Haven't seen a squeegie guy and haven't seen any hookers in Times Square (despite what Letterman has been saying). Jaywalking and spitting don't count.

We need Rudy to come to San Francisco! We could sure use his help here. He's an amazing guy who's talent shouldn't be put on the shelf. Mark

Your mayor has been critized for not attending fireman's funerals and for never being around on the weekend.<BR>I think you folks have gotten a LAZY mayor.

When there are more than two funerals sometimes three a day and a huge city to run,it can be difficult.<BR>Stay in your little town with your little mayor who may or may not manage things, we are doing just fine here in NYC.

RUDY FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!!!!!

TOPPER FOR NYER

I am looking forward to my first trip to New York in July so obviously this post has peaked my interest. I must say though that all the New Yorkers on this board are most friendly and so helpful. That in itself will make up for a bit of trash on the streets...Safety and security are another issue altogether...

crime is down, but shootings are up slightly. streets same, i still have the same one singer/beggar in the subway and crazy guy cursing me off on my way to work. no newcomers. trash is always worse as it gets warmer because (1) people are out more and (2) you notice it more cause it gets smellier in the summer.<BR>times sq i do think is changing, but more due to the movie theater, wwf, arcade, etc. becoming hang-outs for groups of the youngings. for the most part, there not drug dealers or hookers, even if they dress like it.

topper for nyer

Come on people! Things like crime and homicide rates have been directly tied to the economy. The NY Times ran series of articles a few years ago on this. Rudy happened to enjoy one of the best economies this city has ever seen. Bloomberg does not have such luck. <BR><BR>In addition, Giuliani was not called "Giulinazi" by some New Yorkers for no reason...he had a severe way of getting what he wanted, and is not the most pleasant person to deal with when he doesn't get his way. And while I, too, enjoy the nicer, cleaner city, I cringe everytime I walk through the branch of Disneyland formerly known as Times Square.<BR><BR>I read this post yesterday before going for a walk. While I was outside, I started thinking about all the things that were said here. I don't live in the best part of town and I have not heard gunshots, seen a prostitute, or a drug deal since Bloombger became mayor.

How can you cringe when you walk in Times Square.<BR>The Disneyland look is certainly better than what was there before.

I would rather cringe from bad taste than the sight of the drag queens and hookers that were there before.<BR>

Right on!!

In Jan. I noticed a large rat strolling down Broadway in Times sq. in daylight. Very scary, and a new one for me. We visit there often. Last week I noticed alot more beggars on the street then usual. No, I'm not a New Yorker, so I don't know what it was like to live under Rudy's rule, but I sure liked visiting Rudy's town!

There have been some interesting comments posted on this board.<BR>But a rat walking down Broadway is<BR>beyond belief!!!!!!

Unfortunately, people don't seem to want anything better. The last election, we had Mark Green, who no one likes and can't win anything other than Public Advocate because we don't know what that is anyway (just give Mark a job) and a billionaire who pays for votes with no history of running anything but a company (would you vote for your boss as mayor?). <BR>Eight million people and all we can get is Mark Green who many people wouldn't vote for PTA President and an obnoxious billionaire who now want to close the libraries one to two days per week (talk about quality of life and of my future kids) and whose plan to date is to get change from meters only on the Upper East Side on Sundays (except for his neighbors on Madison Ave. of course) and to vacation on weekends but refuse to tell anyone where he went!! I hope he didn't spend his weekends reading up on City management in the libraries because they may already be closed.<BR>-people don't ask for better from their political parties anyway.

Why is it that in a city of 8 million people we can only come up with Mark Green and Bloomberg?<BR>That is such a sad commentary.<BR>I agree Mark Green is just there and Bloomberg ain't never there.<BR>What a pity that the City, which now more than ever, needs quality leadership.

didn't quit finish my last statement. I was going to say it is such a pity that the city, now more than ever, doesn't have the quality leadership it needs.

Rudy saddled the cfity with a $5 billion dollar deficit by spending spending spending when times were good instead of setting some money aside for less prosperous times. If you want to blame anyone for the cut in library hous blame Rudy. The sentence on parking meters is confusing. If you are complaining about meters being in effect on Sunday then blame Rudy. That rule came into being during Rudy's tenure.

RE Parking meters:<BR><BR>City space is a precious and limited resource and must be allocated to those demanding use of it in an efficient manner. So why not charge parking fees?<BR><BR>What OTHER piece of privately owned property gets the FREE RIDE that automobiles do? Can I put quarters into the meter and put my patio furniture out there (not enough room for it in my apartment) to enjoy the sun today? Of course not. Those who don't have the private space to store their car shouldn't expect John Q Public to have to furnish, for free, a space to keep it anymore than paying for a place for my patio set.<BR><BR>Cities are for PEOPLE not cars! Hurray for "Metrocard Mike", one of the few who "get it".<BR><BR>

Anyone from Chicago should find that last post (about patio furniture) hilarious. In Chicago, when it snows, people dig out their cars and then put their lawn chairs (or patio chairs, saw horses, etc) in the space to hold it.

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