The Patriot Post® · New York City Mulls Visitor Safe Spaces

For the hundreds of masqueraders roaming the streets of New York City, there’s a new villain to contend with. And its name is the Nanny State. Council members there are working on a new ordinance, which they hope to implement this summer, that would create “safe spaces” for visitors by relegating costumed actors to certain designated areas of the city. According to the Associated Press, “The legislation to allow the city’s Department of Transportation to create regulations for plazas comes after scores of complaints in recent years over aggressive panhandling behavior, primarily from the costumed characters pushing onlookers for tips.” The AP also says “the zones would each allow for about 50 to 55 people” and “would cover all 53 pedestrian plazas in the city, as well as the 20 more that are planned.”

Wow. Of all the problems the Big Apple faces, the council ranks restrictions on constitutionally protected rights near the top. Councilman Daniel Garodnick wondered, “Come to New York, duke it out with a superhero! Is that really what we want to be known for?” But Keith Albahae, an actor who opposes the bill, countered by testifying to the council, “The only people who are upset basically are people who want free pictures. Otherwise, you just don’t get the pictures. Nobody forces you to take pictures and if somebody does then that’s on them.”

“If the characters were going into stores or restaurants to solicit money, that’d be one thing,” writes Taylor Millard, “but they’re on a public square which is open to everyone. This doesn’t excuse assault on anyone, but if it’s really a select few making it a problem for the rest, then maybe it’s better to go after the ones breaking current laws instead of creating a whole new law. New York City is giving in to the notion it’s up to the government to make sure people have a ‘safe space’ instead of going for individual responsibility.”

Here’s an idea: If visitors to the city don’t like what these actors are offering, then don’t accept it. The market will dictate where business is welcome. Besides, it’s quite rich that New York is telling masqueraders what to do given the sheer number of political con artists that state has put in public office.