Liam Neeson has voiced concerns over the impact of pedicabs on the traditional horse-carriage business in New York City, highlighting the issue of tourists and locals being scammed by illegal vendors. With instances like Alec Baldwin’s family being scammed by illegal ticket sellers in Battery Park, Neeson points out the broader issue of tourist exploitation throughout NYC. Despite regulations, illegal vending and solicitation persist in areas like Times Square and Central Park, undermining licensed businesses and misleading tourists. Neeson notes that Central Park entrances are plagued by unauthorized hawkers and pedicabs, which interfere with the horse-carriage industry by soliciting tourists directly in front of carriage stands, often leading to confusion and disappointment for those looking forward to a carriage ride. Despite repeated complaints from carriage drivers to city agencies and the NYPD about illegal activities harming their business, there has been a lack of comprehensive enforcement from the city. The call is for Mayor de Blasio and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to take decisive action to protect both tourists and legitimate businesses from these practices, striving to make NYC the fairest big city in America by enforcing existing regulations against illegal vending and ensuring a fair competitive environment for all.
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