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New York City Boob Committee Aims To Crack Down On Topless Times Square Panhandlers

Kerry Picket Political Reporter
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In an effort to keep Times Square from returning to the days of triple-X theaters and cheap peep shows, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday his administration formed a task force to “curb” topless individuals and costumed characters at the crossroads of the world.

The multiagency task force convened, the mayor’s office said in a statement, to discuss the spreading issue of topless individuals and costume characters in Times Square. Local New York newspapers raised concerns about both the appropriateness of topless individuals in Times Square, and the the problem of aggressive solicitation by these performers and costumed characters is often accompanied with aggressive harassment of residents and tourists.

Long time and well known Time Square performer Robert Burck A.K.A. “The Naked Cowboy” wore a men’s bra or a “manzier” along with his usual white briefs Wednesday to show that he believes the topless women in body paint should cover up.

“I just put a bra on, what’s the big deal?” Burck told D.N.A. Info. “If everybody is pissed about it you should comply,” he said. “I don’t care if they got their boobs flapping around [and] you may have a legal right to do it…[but] it’s about Times Square.”

Police Commissioner William Bratton and City Planning Commissioner Carl Weisbrod will co-chair the task force and members from other agencies will be represented as well. The group is researching  legal and oversight issues related to regulating the topless individuals and costumed characters and report back findings by October 1.

“Millions of families and visitors come to Times Square every year to see and experience the bustling metropolis of New York City – the Crossroads of the World,” de Blasio said in his statement. “Yet that experience has been diminished by the proliferation of topless individuals and costumed characters who too often harass people and expose families to inappropriate acts. To ensure all are welcome, and to continue the great success that is Times Square, the City will aggressively pursue every avenue for regulating these behaviors. This task force will identify the best legal and regulatory ways to move forward and keep Times Square the popular destination site for visitors and families from New York City and across the world.”