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Environmental Concerns Raised Over NYC Holiday Bazaars

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Generator at the Columbus Circle holiday bazaar - New York, NY - Dec 21, 2011 (credit: Marla Diamond / WCBS 880)

Generator at the Columbus Circle holiday bazaar – New York, NY – Dec 21, 2011 (credit: Marla Diamond / WCBS 880)

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) - The bright lights and holiday music that complement the candy cane striped booths at the holiday bazaars in Columbus Circle and Union Square are run by noisy diesel fuel generators that one Upper West Sider complained represent environmental hazards.

WCBS 880′s Marla Diamond On The Story


“I’m not saying they should be closed down, but it’s almost Third World to put up with them” Jeffrey Brodsky told the New York Times.

RELATED: CBSNewYork – NYC’s 5 Best Holiday Markets

Jewelry vendor Maria Negulescu can’t say that he is off base.

“The booth is covered absolutely in gray dust by the end of the day. I mean, you really have to go home and, like, totally shower and scrub all the dust out of your hair and face,” Negulescu told WCBS 880 reporter Marla Diamond.

She also said she has to yell in order for people to hear her.

But vendor Mike DeMello says he’s just trying to make a buck.

“I don’t think we’re harming anybody. There’s always going to be people that are not happy,” he said.

The markets generate a lot of money for the city – $1 million in Union Square alone last year.

What do you have to say? Sound off in the comments section below!

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  • sk

    if we don’t allow vendors to bring in revenue to our sinking economy you will have people complain they don’t hav ejobs! people are always lo0king to complain!

    • stt

      Why should the vendors have to suffer from poor health and air circulation just to make a living? If these diesel generators are harmful, then the city should not allow them no matter what. It is possible to use clean power and have commerce at the same time–it just takes creativity.

  • Simply Sid

    Definitely need to get cars, trucks, busses, airplanes and trains out of the city. Then, go back to horses and horse drawn vehicles -or- is it possible that the equanimity of “upper westsiders” would be disturbed by flatulated methane and colon clearing detritus. Ah, well, ya gotta love it.

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