Rich Folks Claim Public Street For Private Parade Watching

Apparently one of the frontlines against terrorism is the doorman at the super-swank 15 Central Park West condo! NY Times columnist Clyde Haberman discovered that West 61st between CPW and Broadway was closed off for the Thanksgiving Parade watching pleasure of 15 CPW residents only and asked a police sergeant what was up with that: "'It’s counterterrorism, sir,' the sergeant said. 'The doorman is a counterterror agent?' I asked. 'Yes sir,' he said." The NYPD says the street was "designated a viewing space for persons with disabilities," but apparently the qualifying disability was living in a posh address.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 1, 2009 11:19 AM

Comments [rss]

JacqueMehoff

any of the residents recently applied for a pistol permit?

Dead Himmler

I could be mistaken but doesn't Arod live there?

barryap

No, but Jeter and Matsui live in the Trump International.

NannyState

The owner of a penthouse, Osama Bin Laden, sublet it to A-Rod briefly while he was out of the country on extended business but has taken it off the market for the time being.

Snoopy

Is that true?

CubanB

This actually makes sense. I know someone that throws an annual Thanksgiving day breakfast at their place on Central Park West, and the NYPD won't let you onto the street (which is the staging area for the ballons) without showing your invitation. It's likely that this area was reserved, but due to the fact that you can't keep people from getting to their homes, the people from 15 CPW were allowed to hang around outside.

I'm sure they're still assholes though.

longacre

I don't know...I find it very hard to believe that of all the rich snobby buildings along the parade route that only one would be able to pull this off. Which leads me to think maybe this was legit. Why would people want to watch the parade from the middle of 61st St and not from the front of their building along CPW itself? Also, that is the garbage/service entrance side of the Trump hotel. There's also a police precinct in the train station...maybe they were using it as a staging area.

brooklynmouthoff

assholes.

Wza

Someone's got to look out and protect Muffy.

harrisgraber

What pigs! They've got no conscience and no shame.

felixthecat2

They aren't pigs. Pigs are sweet and intelligent. They are rich upper asshole humans.

thewildpansy

You IDIOT, he doesn't literally think they are pigs. Shut the fuck up yo.

felixthecat2

now, you STFU. You insulted pigs by referencing them to these people.

pastaboy12

eat the rich. slow roast over an open flame

Kojak

Fucking snobs. The State should designate all sidewalks around 15 Central Park West as a 'shelter for the homeless' and a legal zone for prostitution.

Snoopy

Terrorists please take note of the address and put it on your hit list.

NannyState

The architect did and Homeland Security is still seeking his whereabouts.

MT

Not for nothing, but this is kind of funny. I'm sure there will be plenty of outrage to follow because this happened on CPW. However, the city is completely hypocritical when it comes to sidewalks (i.e. they are city owned, but the private people whose houses they are in front of have to maintain them and are responsible if there is a problem). These people are just having a say in how their sidewalk is used. If they city wants them to be truly public property they should take the burden (along with all those potential slip and fall lawsuits) off resident's hands.