Wife tells me that she won't walk uptown from Penn Station via 8th Avenue because of the homeless (she arrives around 7:00 AM).
I was just speaking with a friend a few weeks back about the number of homeless on the streets now vs ten or so years ago. You want to give them their freedoms, but when half the sidewalk is blocked by them laying down on the ground with their box (for money donations), it is easy to get perturbed.
There's a 68 year old woman (or so her sign says) that hangs out on 8th and 35th-ish. I'm curious about her story, but I'm sure it's sad as all the rest.
I usually get in around 8:20 if she needs protection. My wife goes up 7th, 8th ave is a different ball game.
I was hopeful that the cold turn would cause some to seek warmer climes, but doesn't seem to be the case yet. It's not a pleasant walk.