The topless painted women of Times Square have become a major issue in New York City as of late, with Mayor Bill de Blasio actually announcing that he’s looking to find a way to cut down on topless individuals and even costumed characters.
In a statement on Thursday, he called the abundance of topless individuals and costumed characters a “growing problem.”
“Over the past several months, serious concerns have been raised about both the appropriateness of topless individuals in Times Square, as well as aggressive solicitation by topless individuals and costumed characters that oftentimes becomes harassment of New Yorkers and visitors alike,” the mayor’s office said.
De Blasio set up a task force co-chaired by Police commissioner William Bratton and City Planning Commissioner Carl Weisbrod to come up with a report on how to fiz the problem by Oct. 1.
“Millions of families and visitors come to Times Square every year to see and experience the bustling metropolis of New York City – the Crossroads of the World,” de Blasio said Thursday. “Yet that experience has been diminished by the proliferation of topless individuals and costumed characters who too often harass people and expose families to inappropriate acts. To ensure all are welcome, and to continue the great success that is Times Square, the City will aggressively pursue every avenue for regulating these behaviors. This task force will identify the best legal and regulatory ways to move forward and keep Times Square the popular destination site for visitors and families from New York City and across the world.”
During a press conference on Wednesday, Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance said that a recent survey of people in Times Square showed that 45 percent either saw or had a bad experience with a costumed character or another person asking for payment from tourists, reports The New York Times. Tompkins also said that these characters will often want $5 or more from tourists and will yell insults if they don’t.
During the same press conference, de Blasio said that he could have issues trying to limit the topless women, or desnudas, because of the First Amendment. Toplessness is also legal in the city.
photo by Daniel S Levine
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