One in five New Yorkers say they've been 'inappropriately touched' by costumed performers in the popular tourist attraction.
Toy StoryCostumed performers in Times Square are increasingly coming under fire for harassing and touching passersby, leading to renewed calls they be banned.To deal with the issue, the New York City Council enacted"designated activity zones" in 2016. Performers in Times Square are required to stay within these demarcated areas if they wanted keep busking.
Former New York City council member Dan Garodnick, who authored the measure creating the designated activity zones, estimates 120,000 to 160,000 people are touched nonconsensually in Times Square each year."Assume my assumptions are off slightly, or a lot—cut the numbers in half," Garodnick asked in a statement."Is 60,000 to 80,000 acceptable? We envisioned having areas in Times Square where you can engage with the characters, or avoid them, as you wish.
"An Elmo character tried to touch my breast during a photo op," recalled one 68-year-old woman in the report."Then became very agitated and hostile because I did not offer him money right away."
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