Times Square Task Force To Release Final Report On Painted Ladies, Characters
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Costumed characters and topless painted ladies will not get the boot from Times Square, but there will be some changes, according to recommendations by the Times Square Task Force expected to be released Thursday.
While costumed characters like Mario and Woody walk freely through Times Square, there may soon be more restrictions in place.
City Councilman Corey Johnson says the Times Square Task Force is recommending the Department of Transportation put limits on exactly where and when the costume characters, topless painted ladies and people selling CDs can operate on the pedestrian plazas.
"We want to ensure that the plazas have specific spots where people who want to engage in commercial activity can be there, but they cannot be all over Times Square," he told CBS2's Andrea Grymes.
First Amendment rights and quality of life demands came to a head this summer in the Crossroads of the World. Many complained the naked ladies, characters and others continuously harass people and demand tips, which in fact are optional.
They argued back they have the constitutional right to be here and try to make a living.
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, who co-chairs the task force, had suggested possibly ripping up the pedestrian plazas where they congregated.
Instead, the new plan also includes doubling the number of police officers in Times Square to about 100.
Thursday morning, none of the costume characters who were walking around spoke English and the naked ladies weren't out, but the women did have some support, Grymes reported.
"When it's this time of day, no I don't think they should be out here," said Kimball Hinton, who works in the area. "But when it gets dark out, why not?"
"As a mom, I guess any inappropriate characters would be great to keep in one specific area, but New York is pretty crazy, so we know what we're getting when we come here," said tourist Pam Brunskill.
Mayor Bill de Blasio formed the task force with local businesses and government agencies in August to get a handle on what the city called "serious concerns."
The mayor's office would only say the full report will be released sometime later Thursday. Bratton is also expected to discuss it at a news conference later in the day.
