| Amid Cold
and 2d COVID Wave Grand Central Barricades
Out Homeless As Apple Still Sells
By Matthew
Russell Lee, Patreon
BBC
- Guardian
UK - Honduras
- ESPN
SDNY COURTHOUSE,
Dec 6 – As winter descends on
New York, the daily lives of
homeless people not in
institutions become ever-more
difficult - in some cases,
intentionally so.
Take for example
Grand Central Station. Since
March, with restaurants and
coffee shops closed, the
station's two sets of men's
and women's bathrooms on the
lower level have been ever
more central.
First, the set of
bathrooms to the west were
roped off. Then those to the
east were subject to more
frequently cleanings, or at
least closings.
Upstairs in
the large room with
constellations on the ceiling,
people ranging from those
waiting for trains to the
homeless have been able to use
the counters facing what used
to be the ticket windows.
But suddenly in
December, police barricades
were installed in front of the
counters so no one can use
them.
This comes
after the Apple Store took
over not only the second level
but the stairs leading to it
and the walls leading to the
stairs where customers wait
and are signed in. They are
not subject to police sweeps,
nor are most commuters.
Likewise on the
lower level, where cupcake
shops and hotdog chains still
make money catering to
commuters, not only the tables
with seats but even the stand
up counters have been roped
off.
Likewise many of
the hallway entrances to the
station are now closed, by
police, at 7 pm.
There are
homeless people, many of them
elderly, who use such spots as
places of quiet dignity and
respite: to read the
newspaper, or shuffle through
mementos. Now there is no
where to do that, and the
libraries are still closed.
Grab and go,
indeed.
While probably
rationalized as enforcing
social distance, why not just
put the ever-present 6-feet
foot stickers on the floor?
Who got notice or
an opportunity to be heard? As
the weather grows cold, other
changes are sure to follow.
And where will people go?
And where is the
claimed progressive politics
of Gracie Mansion and the City
Council? Watch this site.
***
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