By: Hal C Clarke

Business owners and residents along Midtown Manhattan’s notorious “Strip of Despair” are besieged by rampant crime and harassment from drug-addled individuals, leaving them feeling powerless and despondent, the NY Post detailed.

This troubled stretch, known as the “8th Avenue Corridor,” spans from the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Penn Station, a hotspot for open drug use and volatile encounters with emotionally disturbed individuals.

Arun Kumar, the 45-year-old owner of A’s Coffee Spot on W. 39th St. and 8th Avenue, recounts the daily thefts that plague his store, to the NY Post.

“Almost every day someone comes into my store to steal,” he laments, noting that beer is the most frequently stolen item. After being slashed in the face two years ago while trying to stop a shoplifter, Kumar no longer intervenes, deeming it too dangerous.

The corridor has become a symbol of urban decay, with public urination and defecation a common sight. The area’s issues are compounded by the concentration of homeless shelters and addiction treatment centers, drawing more troublemakers. Residents and business owners feel the neighborhood has deteriorated post-COVID, with many expressing fear and frustration.

Charles Pellegrino, 71, who has lived in the area for nearly three decades, describes the neighborhood as a war zone.

He recalls to the NY Post being attacked in November 2022, resulting in a dislocated shoulder and shattered glasses. “You never used to have the feeling you have now,” he says, emphasizing the pervasive sense of danger.

Recent NYPD data for the Midtown South Precinct reveals a complex picture. While robberies have decreased by 24%, felony assaults have risen nearly 12%, and drug arrests are up more than 25%.

Despite these statistics, public safety remains a major concern. Incidents of violence, such as a brutal knife fight in April and a woman’s stabbing near Port Authority, highlight the ongoing lawlessness.

Ying Luo, manager of a grocery store near Kumar’s coffee shop, shares similar frustrations. He no longer tries to stop shoplifters, fearing for his safety. “I ask them to put it back but if they don’t, you just have to let them go,” he says. Luo points out that the neighborhood’s high tourist traffic attracts beggars and thieves, further exacerbating the problem.

Tourists, too, are wary. Hilaria Rutini and her husband Philippo Paradiso, visiting from Italy, avoid walking around at night due to safety concerns. “At night, this area is full of drug addicts,” Rutini notes, expressing their intention to stay elsewhere if they return to New York City.

Longtime residents, however, don’t have the option to leave. John Pormigiano, a building superintendent, recalls an incident where tenants were trapped in their building lobby by a man smoking crack. Despite numerous 911 calls, the police never responded. Pormigiano and others have stopped calling the police, frustrated by the lack of action.

Mayor Eric Adams insists that improvements are being made, attributing the challenges to legal constraints on arresting individuals for public intoxication. “We’re doing a good job,” he claims, though residents remain skeptical. Pormigiano describes the frequent fights and disorderly behavior as reminiscent of gladiatorial combat. “They’re like Gladiators,” he says, recounting a violent confrontation that left one man gravely injured.

On a recent Monday morning, tourists and commuters exiting Port Authority were greeted by scenes of squalor, including puddles of vomit and public urination. A homeless woman on the corner greeted passersby with hostile remarks.