Gothamist: To the Fountains! NYPD Says Coins are Up for Grabs

NannyState

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:03:40 -0500

I just fish out the Euros.

Snoopy

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:12:01 -0500

I threw twelve lira (a ten spot and two ones) in the Trevi fountain back in 1971 and sure as shit I went back there three years later. I guess it works.

escherichia

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:06:42 -0500

i never dump anything more valuable than a nickel in fountains, pennies mostly. if they want to jump in for that, i have absolutely no problem with it.

Snoopy

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:59:45 -0500

How does this "professional" make any money if he keeps tossing his own coins in the fountain and retrieve them. By volume of transactions?

robingee

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 16:33:52 -0500

Do people pee in the fountains?

tmedina1

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:14:28 -0500

The guy in this picture is at the fountain near city hall. Me and my friend watched him shoot coins he fetched out the fountain for about an hour, and found it so hilarious because he did it as if he was shooting a basketball in the NBA finals. Contrary to the post's stupid claim, he is NOT stealing coins out of the fountain but simply playing some crazy game he invented. I wish I was having as much fun as him.

jenspellnogood

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:05:26 -0500

i see an obama ad in the future. seriously though - i am shocked, there's still hope in bloombergville.

mattcarman

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:39:38 -0500

It is strange that you're allowed to go into a fountain if you're taking coins, but not if you're just having a good time.

Fritzdecat

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:34:03 -0500

toss in a bar of ivory soap so the bums can get a real bath while they are at it

Snoopy

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:44:56 -0500

What the city should do, and probably will do, is post a NYPD or Parks department employee, who will cost the city $75,000 a year, at the fountain to make sure no one dives in to collect the coins thrown into the fountain. The officer will catch suspicious divers and hold their heads underwater until they confess that they were going for that rare near mint state quarter in the deep end of the fountain.

MatthewJC

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:34:47 -0500

I [heart] you, Neil, for quoting the Goonies.

schadenfreudian mensch

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:27:01 -0500

@Neil Epstein Seriously, that sounds like the beginning of a poem.

esquared

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:25:10 -0500

I bet you that if someone gets injured or does catch hepatitis or whatever disease when submerging oneself in the city's fountains to gather change, they'll sue the city for not posting a warning sign.

r1b2

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:21:31 -0500

I think the coins are open territory, but that people are not permitted to enter the fountains. I believe there's some concern around liability, drowning, etc. that prohibits people entering fountians, to cool off or otherwise. That said, where's my snorkel gear? I'm short for lunch money.

Neil Epstein

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:10:05 -0500

1) You can't just take these. They're somebody else's wishes, someone else's dreams. 2.) Oh yeah? Well this one, this one right here- this was my dream, MY WISH. And it didn't come true, so I'm taking it back. I'm taking them all back.

edEx

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:08:30 -0500

the Giant fountain (and by giant i mean mostly concrete and very little water) fountain at World Wide Plaza in Midtown, is chlorinated.

dandeluca

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:05:10 -0500

This is great. It's very New York to let them jump in if they want for the coins. I'm glad the law-and-order types haven't gone so far as to ban stuff like this. We have to preserve a bit of the free-for-all that gives NYC its vitality.

Snoopy

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:58:41 -0500

Stock them with Piranha and earn some revenue for the city.

edEx

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 10:52:25 -0500

the Giant fountain (and by giant i mean mostly concrete and very little water) fountain at World Wide Plaza in Midtown, is chlorinated.