Times Square cartoon characters a headache for New York authorities
Incidents involving 'superheroes' at Times Square, including assault on a policeman by Spider-Man, trigger calls for greater controls
These are tough times for Batman. His fellow comic book characters hustling for tips in Times Square are giving superheroes a bad name. Spider-Man even punched a policeman last week.
And there's a new mayor with an attitude that does not bode well for the caped crusader, or for the Minnie Mouses, Mickey Mouses, Hello Kittys, Cats in Hats, Cookie Monsters, Elmos and other masked creatures who mill about area.
"Absolutely, I think this has gone too far," Mayor Bill de Blasio said last week when asked whether it was time to rein in the colourful characters. "It needs to be regulated."
This isn't the first time city officials have discussed imposing restrictions on the costumed hordes, who number in the dozens in Times Square. Each time one of them is accused of acting more creepy than cute, there are demands for legislation.
In 2012, an Elmo was captured on video in an anti-Semitic rant. Last year, a Cookie Monster was arrested after allegedly pushing a toddler and yelling at his mother for failing to tip him generously. In January, a man dressed as Woody from Toy Story was charged with sex abuse for allegedly touching young girls.
City officials have been hesitant to act, citing freedom-of-speech issues that give street performers the right to work for tips, but last Saturday's assault on the police officer has given new energy to leaders who want to control what police chief William Bratton has called "the Elmo craze".