Discussion
  • Read More
    SteveInWIBrendan O'Connor
    5/19/16 1:43pm

    So scamming people is cool as long as the victims are privileged and the con artists aren’t?

    Also, one of the sources you cited in this very article points out that a tourist was assaulted and left with a skull fracture by one of these scammers. I guess he deserved that too.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Quasar FunkSteveInWI
      5/19/16 1:47pm

      How in the world did you reach these conclusions?

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      20 Shades of Grey including PorpoiseQuasar Funk
      5/19/16 1:50pm

      Well the tone of the article, especially the title, suggests the NYPD should be doing something else, does it not?

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Dave Brendan O'Connor
    5/19/16 1:46pm

    Getting scammed is part of the genuine New York Experience! That is why I always tell my visitors to take an unmarked cab from the airport and when you knock a man’s glasses out of his hand and break them, pay the man his hundred bucks! Welcome to New York Mom!

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      XrdsAlumDave
      5/19/16 1:54pm

      I hope you remind them about the interactive entertainment options

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      GlitterbombFartsDave
      5/19/16 2:08pm

      Ugh, don’t even get me started. Had a buddy over from Holland and he didn’t understand that you don’t support the local artists that only need a $10 donation for their 2 track demo.

      We came home with enough CD’s to start our own HSN special.

      Random street dude: “Yoooo you look like a WuTang kinda guy!”
      My buddy who has no idea what WuTang is: “What’s a WuTang, is it that CD?”
      Me: “I hate everything”

      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    EvanrudeJohnsonBrendan O'Connor
    5/19/16 1:38pm

    Yet they let this guy roam free

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Armin TamzarianEvanrudeJohnson
      5/19/16 1:42pm

      this will not get enough stars.

      Reply
      <
    • Read More
      Jujymonkey3EvanrudeJohnson
      5/19/16 1:43pm
      Reply
      <
  • Read More
    Brendan O'ConnorBrendan O'Connor
    5/19/16 3:41pm

    This post has been updated to clarify that it is Statue Cruises, under contract with the National Park Service, that sells the legitimate ferry tickets. The post originally stated that the National Park Service sold the tickets.

    Reply
    <
    • Read More
      Wayward ApologyBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 1:46pm

      It’s still a better deal than actually visiting the statue.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Sean BrodyWayward Apology
        5/19/16 1:55pm

        It’s still a better deal than actually visiting the statue.

        Huh?
        The best restaurant in New York is there.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        N64commentorSean Brody
        5/19/16 2:10pm

        I crie evry tiem

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      Sid and FinancyBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 1:41pm

      What, the Staten Island ferry is too good for these cowpokes?

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        XrdsAlumSid and Financy
        5/19/16 1:42pm

        It’s too expensive for a lot of tourists at $200 a round trip.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        GlitterbombFartsXrdsAlum
        5/19/16 1:52pm

        Just did it with a friend from Europe back in October. It was $39 a piece? But that was just to get to the Statue of Liberty.

        The Statue Of Libertier, maybe that costs $200?

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      CommonVicesBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 2:23pm

      Honestly, I’m fine with the NYPD cracking down on these assholes. Tourism in NYC accounts for $60 billion in spending, and as much as I hate dealing with the sidewalk traffic caused by slack-jawed Wisconsonites on a daily basis, I recognize their importance to the city. I worked by Battery Park for seven years, and you couldn’t get off the Bowling Green subway without a gang of sketchy ticket sellers accosting you. They were no better than the “gypsy cab” drivers ambushing people at the airport by the baggage claim or the pedi-cab drivers charging $7 per fucking minute in Central Park.

      This crap is an embarrassment, and as much as I “get” the argument that the NYPD’s time and resources would be better spent nailing murderers, rapists and would-be terrorists, I’m completely on board with the police stepping in to curb “quality-of-life” threats when the perpetrators are legitimately shady (as opposed to just poor or minorities).

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        anotherKinjauserCommonVices
        5/20/16 12:06am

        Also, the downtown hustlers have no radar for locals vs. tourists. I work next to Times Square, so I go past plenty of hawkers every day. They don't even look at me because they know not to waste their time. But get off the train at Bowling Green or Whitehall and suddenly I have a bunch of aggressive guys up in my face asking me if I want to buy tickets. No, fuck you very much, asshole.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        CommonVicesanotherKinjauser
        5/20/16 9:23am

        Haha, that’s true, though I’ve noticed that the guys pitching those open-air bus tours by the hotels in Midtown East don’t seem to recognize the distinction either.

        “Dude, c’mon, I’m wearing a suit and carrying a briefcase. Do you really think I’m in the market for someone to point at the Chrysler Building for me?”

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      ShqiptarBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 1:37pm

      Yeah fuck people who try to see other parts of the world. They should be like the rest of Americans and never leave their hometowns to visit any place.

      Of course I am sure that all of the New Yorkers who do go and visit other cities and countries are totally great people right? Not like the assholes who visit their city. Give me a damn break.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        TheBurnersMyDestinationShqiptar
        5/19/16 1:45pm

        Yea, New Yorker’s are legendary for being polite, quiet, respectful people, both at home and abroad. /s

        I get that the NYPD needs to step up and do a better job on....pretty much everything, actually. But come on. Tons of small businesses make their money off tourism, and they are going to suffer if people feel like they are better off going to DC or Boston or Philly for their vacation instead. These people are breaking the law and scamming people, they should be arrested. There is no need to turn this into some zero-sum game, as if the NYPD cannot both stop scammers and do a better job of protecting and serving the locals.

        Reply
        <
      • Read More
        darkrothkoShqiptar
        5/19/16 2:55pm

        Yes, agreed. I do live in NYC, but I don’t think that I’m especially cool for knowing how things work here or that someone visiting is an idiot if they get taken (or, at the least, accosted) by these assholes. People’s eyes are filled with the sights, they’re taking it easy, and it’s in their nature to trust people, as often where they come from, you can. I am hardly ever in Times Square or Battery Park, but I’m glad they’re being cleaned up (my parents visit too!). The tone of this piece is the worst park of Gawker.

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      XrdsAlumBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 1:37pm

      The Financial District is the major league for rip-off artists (Times Square is the farm league). But the all-time Hall of Fame MVP remains the guy selling dirty-water hot dogs to tourists near the WTC memorial at $30 each.

      http://gawker.com/the-30-hot-dog…

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Ed SpockXrdsAlum
        5/19/16 1:52pm

        That wasn’t just a hot dog. It was a genuine 100% certified Freedom Dog.

        Reply
        <
    • Read More
      thundercatsaregoBrendan O'Connor
      5/19/16 1:55pm

      These guys tried to fool us last year when I took my mom to see NYC for the first time. We were going to the park to buy tickets to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and getting from the subway into Battery Park was really difficult and a bit scary because of these guys. We were approached by at least four of these vultures, and they each tried to convince us to buy their charter’s tickets because tickets through the Park Service were sold out. Ummmm it was like a random Tuesday in March, so I doubt it.

      We tried to walk past without engaging. They stepped into our path. We said no thanks and excuse us, they moved closer. It was ntimidating. Finally I looked him square in the eye, raised my voice and said leave us alone now. That worked. For us, I think it was relatively easy to see their scam, but I can see how less savvy travelers and those without a grasp of the language could very easily be taken in. I’m glad they’re trying to crack down on it.

      Reply
      <
      • Read More
        Nicothundercatsarego
        5/19/16 3:40pm

        I’ve purchased items I didn’t want to for the sake of leaving a situation I didn’t want to be in... I remember trying to haggle a dress down in Mexico and, when I couldn’t get him lower than $40 for a $2 piece of material I wanted to leave but he blocked my path and started saying "come on, I have to feed my kids, they're waiting for lunch right now......", so I bought it, never wore it. I also once purchased a $60 jar of dead sea salt cleanser from a mall kiosk because the guy was so persistent; though to be fair, it was partially because he was handsome and smooth, and, it was also an amazing product and was the only thing that could clean up my hands after scrapping metal.

        Reply
        <