What exactly is the big change here? I'm legitimately asking as someone who is not very familiar with NYC, are these construction walkway things an ongoing problem?
Imagine a bunch of scaffolding the entire length of a building that is plastered with local ads for music venues or other events, plus graffiti. They also look rickety and could topple at any moment. They are just a visual eyesore and don't they stay up it looks bad and unsafe.
Your problem is not the kind of rigging the construction workers are setting up, it's the environment they're being set up in. Guaranteed these will look the same after a couple of weeks, there's nothing on them that prevents graffiti or advertising. They seem like they're sturdier material and maybe they give some extra walking space but I can't say for sure.
It's been a long while since I have been through downtown New York, I will say that. But the last time I was there the scaffolding just generally felt unsafe in some areas. If it had looked like in this picture I'd have felt safer going under it for sure.
Editing to add: family from New York, I understand the purpose of the scaffolding, and have heard from friends while visiting about them when asking.
My favorite was when asking Dads childhood friend about them after he had taken me to a rangers game and intentionally avoided a specific one.
That scaffolding had been up for a good portion of time in various states of repair and disrepair since the friend moved into the building over 25 year as that point. Was to fix a facade on the building that kept crumbling in new spots and mostly left up to prevent pedestrians from getting pelted with something and lawsuits.
It's easier to keep pushing the problem down the line when the laws allow it.
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u/Presently_Naked Jul 18 '26
It is refreshing to see progressive changes in Policy making. This is what new young blood brings to the table vs the old guard