The lawn in Tompkins Square Park today... photo by Derek Berg...
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Masks are way down and social distancing has been reduced to a hashtag. The park extremely crowded because there are no brunch spots open. The skateboarders were no worse than the casual socials and not as bad as the day drinkers. Science better get it together because our society gets annoyed when the local Applebees closes (yes I know the nearest is on 42nd street it's just funnier than "local sports bro bar cool brunch spot")
ReplyDeleteI thought the city was under a lockdown and people were only permitted out to buy essential items or go to essential work. Either way...damn, people are so unbelievably selfish.
ReplyDeletePeople are allowed to go out for reasons other than essential purchases or work. If these groups all consist of people who live together, they look to be doing an ok job of distancing. The likelihood of infection in outdoor situations is very low, but seeing as they are not just passing each other outdoors, but sitting next to each other for long periods of time, it would be better if they were wearing masks.
ReplyDeleteThe lawn didn't bother me as much but Avenue A etc. on Saturday was the worst/most crowded with young, entitled annoying people than I've ever seen before, even before lockdown, aside from when they made the dog parade a "cool brunchtime activity".
ReplyDeleteMasks all down, drinking and crowding on the streets especially outside bars.
Nauseating. Thought these annoying people fled the city.
I couldn't believe the behavior.
@Jess I thought the Tompkins Sq. Park lawn was a bit worse than the outdoor bars, but for the most part people are trying to keep their distance. The problem is that there just isn’t enough space in this city to do so when people come back outside, and nobody wants to be stuck indoors at home when its 80 degrees outside. The last couple of nights on St Marks Place near and along Avenue A has been an outdoor drinking festival. That said, at least they are outdoors where the risk of spread is lower depending on the amount of crowding, but people still need to keep their distance and the group sizes small. And someone needs to invent a mask that still allows you to drink.
ReplyDeleteThe worst behavior I saw was in Washington Sq Park, where dozens of skateboarders and teens were hunkered down together inside the fountain. No cops or park police were there to disperse the crowds, just a squad car sitting on the edge of the park with the lights flashing.
I think the novelty of buying drinks curbside and drinking outdoors is part of the issue, but it’s also also people wanting to support their local restaurants which is a good thing. The good news is we see better behavior in East River Park, with many joggers wearing masks, none of the usual giant 50 people barbecue parties, and people spacing themselves out. I have no idea wehere all these people will go if they shut down the park in the Fall for, bit that is one project that
I was in and around the park all day and it truly felt like the first day of summer. People were drinking outside on the sidewalks and in the park but everyone was being responsible (no fights or drunken brawls). Kids around 20yo were in tight crowds of course. I've never seen them socially distance anyway, they just don't care at their age. Otherwise 95% of people were standing and sitting socially distant with masks on or under their chin while they drank. I thought it was great. Perhaps the people complaining here thinks socially distance means 10 ft and are probably the same people who give me the evil eye when I'm running.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fine, folks just need to be more aware on corners and certain choke points. When you're not in the act of drinking, keep it on.
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