I got arrested Friday night for having an "open container", i.e., drinking a beer in public, in the park near Houston and Chrystie streets in lower Manhattan. I was in the "system" for about 21 and one half hours, meaning I had to sit/sleep/piss/shit in various holding pens with anywhere from two to about thirty other unfortunate souls for this duration. Almost everyone I spoke to while "inside" was arrested for either 1) drinking beer in public, 2) sleeping outside or 3) urinating in public. While in the holding pen at Union Square there was a ruckus at the station due to a stabbing in the vicinity. Most of the officers rushed out in search of the perpetrator to no avail. Though they failed in capturing this violent felon, they were, over the course of the evening, evidently quite successful in apprehending a substantial number of public urinators, outdoor beer enthusiasts and homeless people.
This kind of "quality of life" crackdown was rampant under the Giuliani regime, but had recently eased up under Bloomberg. Until now. I believe the "cleaning up" of the rotten Apple has commenced so that the Republicans can have a new improved shiny NYC to receive their idiotic pronouncements. So watch your back New Yorkers and visitors while figuring out how to respond to these fucking jackasses.