During a regular Sunday shift at a tourist boutique in Times Square, Asiff Hossai was overseeing a sunglasses stand when an unexpected event transpired. A stranger strolled into the shop, snatched a pair of sunglasses, and aggressively hurled them onto the floor. The spectacle shattered upon impact. Lost for words, Hossai exchanged a somber glance with his colleague. ‘Such is life in this place,’ he commented softly, stooping to collect the fragments. The stranger had already vanished, and Hossai found himself awkwardly trying to reassemble the damaged eyewear. Hossai confided that he’s growing increasingly concerned about the escalating disorder and perceived risk in Times Square.
Hossai’s discomfort is shared by many and is substantiated by a significant increase in reported grievances concerning criminal activity, homelessness, and sanitation in Times Square. In fact, records of such complaints have surged to heights not observed for more than ten years. From the start of 2022 through May 2025, sanitation referrals to 311 pertaining to ZIP code 10036 – encompassing Times Square – exceeded 2,800. This figure represents a more than twofold increase from the approximately 880 complaints noted during a comparable timeframe from January 2016 to May 2019, prior to the pandemic.
During the same period, reports made to the Department of Homeless Services via the 311 hotline saw a 92% increase. Meanwhile, grievances directed to the NYPD, which encompass issues such as noise disturbances, makeshift camps, drug-related activities, begging, defacement, and ‘non-urgent police affairs,’ experienced a 73% surge. These increases stand in comparison to the figures reported during the equivalent period prior to the global health crisis.
However, such an increase in concerns regarding sanitation, vagrancy, and security is not confined solely to Times Square. Similar patterns are observed across the city, as per the 311 data records. Recognized as the city’s emblematic core, Times Square is often viewed as a gauge of New York’s overall state. Manhattan’s local historian, Robert Snyder, holds this opinion too.
Times Square encompasses not only Broadway theaters but also hosts a plethora of corporate offices, hotels, and more, making it simultaneously showcase the city’s accomplishments and challenges. The district, stretching from 7th to 9th Avenue and between 40th and 53rd street, is a microcosm of both achievements and growing difficulties. The Times Square Alliance officially identifies these boundaries as the scope of Times Square.
Despite claims from many stakeholders in Times Square, like the Broadway League and numerous business figures, asserting that the district is at its safest in years, as evidenced by the area’s homicide statistics, anxiety amongst locals is palpable. Many who work there express that they feel increasingly uncomfortable. A part of this surge in discomfort might be attributed to a phenomenon referred to as ‘disorder.’
This concept of ‘disorder’ involves visible demonstrations of illicit, alarming, or desperate conduct that subsequently breed a climate of apprehension. More and more, people perceive Times Square as becoming less safe, grimier, and more unseemly. Increased amounts of litter, overt drug usage, minor crimes, and homeless individuals are commonly observed.
Speculations amongst experts suggest that perceived ‘disorder’ is a reaction to both the gradual recovery following the pandemic and developments in legislations, like the decriminalization of certain forms of substance abuse in public spaces. To confront these escalating issues effectively, a concerted effort is critical.
The approach to resolving these challenges must involve investments into social services and acknowledging and addressing the city’s deep-rooted problems, beyond merely policing. While cleaning up the visible mess is important, dealing with fundamental societal issues is crucial to ensure a genuinely safe and clean environment.
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