!!!!!!!

I’m sitting here reading this with my AC on because the radiator is literally hotter than hell

That’s not an option for me and I don’t want it to be. I shouldn’t need to have a large dog with me to feel safe in my city. Plus, I have girl friends with dobermans and german shepherds, and they say they draw more attention when they’re walking them rather than when they’re alone.

I definitely always try to walk in crowds or around other people. Luckily my block is fairly lively at night so I feel pretty safe once i’m on the block - I still am super vigilant though.

I actually work in the building you’re talking about with all of the security guards. I feel safe on that block but I live further west by the river. My job pays for cars home after 8pm, but I never take them up on it as my puppy’s day care is closed by then. So I always try to leave at least 30 minutes before sunset and finish my work at home.

First, I am allowed to have my own thoughts and fears regarding my livelihood. While being hit by a car may be more common here than being stabbed, it doesn’t completely eradicate the possibility of being assaulted, nor does it make anyone’s fear of such less legitimate.

Second, I am scared because there have been countless random stabbings, slashings, and assaults in my neighborhood this summer. Just last month, two people were brutally stabbed in front of the deli I go to every day, and two people were slashed in front of the target two blocks away in a highly populated area in broad daylight. The EMS worker story is scary because the woman was simply doing her job and administering aid when a random person decided she needed to die. So even if these incidents are “rare,” they still occur and they should be viewed as frightening to everyone in the city.

Third, I think it is insensitive and obnoxious for you to compare your above listed scenarios when the woman who’s comment thread you responded to openly stated that someone attempted to push her into traffic. Please be more compassionate.

I adore Battery Park and would love to move back there when i’m a little older. I watch my friends son down there once a week and it will forever be my favorite neighborhood/home.

Right now, and especially in this market, it’s not really an option for me to move back there. I really really love the building and apartment i’m in - there’s only 20 apartments in the building, I know everyone, my dogs babysitter lives in the building, and my super (the best person in the world who makes me feel so safe) lives on my floor. Plus, my monthly rent is crazy cheap for a 1br with tons of light, and I wouldn’t be able to find anything downtown (or maybe in manhattan) for the price i’m paying. I will definitely move back to BPC one day, though.

I’m fairly well trained with firearms but the process is incredibly long to get a concealed permit and i’m not 100% comfortable carrying a piece around and being responsible for life altering decisions that have to be made in a split second.

This is so true. Other than all the craziness going on recently, the one true downside of living here is how far away the trains are. However, if there was a train line going up 12th or 11th, there would be far more incidents, too. Ugh.

Thank you. I would move but just resigned my lease right around when the above incidents happened. I really do love my building and apartment, and with all of my puppy’s expenses (daycare, training, etc.) it would be really hard to afford something in this market right now. I seldom take the train and often citi bike around!

Thank you. I work in biglaw and work long hours, but it’s the same amount of work/stress as I experienced in college and I was never anxious because of it. I will definitely look into seeing a therapist, but i’m a little skeptical about what they would be able to do/say to make me feel better, especially as I can’t avoid walking/leaving my house.

I have pepper spray on my keys which I carry in my palm to be ready in case anything happens. I unfortunately misplaced it this week and can’t find a replacement

He’s actually just a guy that approaches cars at the red light when they’re about to turn to go to the tunnel. He doesn’t offer any services or anything. After I saw him hit the car, I asked my super about him - he said the guy has been here for 20 years and my super has never heard of him attacking or hurting anyone.

I didn’t spend much time in HK growing up, but had one friend who lived here and he never complained. I work 5 blocks away and walk to work and can’t find a route that lowers my anxiety. I know the city gave homeless people rooms in hotels in the neighborhood during the pandemic, but i’ve never had a problem at all until recently.

I’ll look into this! I have pepper spray on my keychain and always have it in my palm when walking. However, I misplaced it 5 days ago and am having trouble buying a new one.

This!!! The EMS worker story scared the shit out of me because there was absolutely no motive. The thing that freaks me out the most is that a lot of these attacks seem to be random.

The day I moved in, I saw the homeless man mentioned above (who basically lives on the corner) violently start punching a car window at a red light because the driver wouldn’t give him money. The next day, I saw a naked man pooping on the side walk a block downtown from my apartment - I saw him again this past May skipping down the street naked in a rainstorm. Those things didn’t freak me out though. I feel like i’ve started hearing about violent crimes far more often starting in June.

Thank you. I hadn’t thought about seeing someone until this afternoon actually. That’s why I posted - I wanted to see if I was potentially blowing things our of proportion or if others have been feeling the same way.

That’s so scary… I’ve been extra cautious taking the train after asian people were being targeted and killed in 2020. I only take the train to and from battery park once a week and am super vigilant.

This is true but I live closer to 11th avenue on a pretty lively/safe block. Generally I feel like anything west of 10th is safer because it’s further from the hubs.

This is so good to know. Thank you.

I luckily only take the train once a week to and from battery park. After the incidents this summer I started citi biking there and back, but now that it’s cold I will have to take the train again.

It sucks to be so scared of even taking the train.. I went to hs in Jamaica, Queens and took the E/F trains 1.5 hours each way every day. I was never scared until this year.

I think her clothes get a lot of attention, but unfortunately it’s getting cold and she will have to wear jackets when we go outside. I try to have her wear only solid color clothes when we’re out, rather than flashier clothes, because i’m worried someone will have a problem with it.

I am SO sorry that happened to you. That must have been so terrifying. I agree about being frustrated - I also feel helpless for the first time in my life.

Thank you. I have a 6 pound Italian Greyhound who always wears clothes (she barely has fur and gets very cold). No matter where we go, we get comments and questions. I get so scared that someone will randomly kick her while walking ever since the two comments about kicking her this summer. I often pick her up while walking past shady people but then fear that someone will attack me and I’ll drop her and she will be hurt or get off the leash.