Sounds like this will be a hot take, but I really like the Oculus.

I remember visiting the city for the second time around 2017 and not knowing the Oculus existed. I was in Brookfield Place and randomly took that long underground tunnel that leads into the Oculus. I remember being stunned, thinking that only in a city like New York could such a striking place not even be that well known.

Lol you are correct. If there was an 'expedited enforcement fee' of a few bucks, I'd budget for 20 or so per month.

1950s Chad Robert Moses: "Let's decimate entire neighborhoods with wide highways and ignore public outcry"

2023 Virgin Department of Transportation: "Let's do an eNvIrOnMeNtAl aSsEssMent "

What you’re saying echoes what a lot of people have been feeling. Glad that at least the issue is getting a lot of attention now.

There’s a lot of debate around the long term solution, whether that’s a more effective police force or more services for the mentally ill (or both).

Short term, I only see two solutions. Either move to a safer area, or be fully capable of defending yourself.

Regarding the former, if you can afford to move back, I can confirm Battery Park is still safe and quiet.

For the latter, this is always a controversial take on /r/nyc, but the only way to effectively defend yourself is to get a concealed carry permit and become proficient with a firearm.