Neighbors on Friday cheered this week’s massive Washington Square Park drug bust — saying it has swept out shameless dealers and junkies who put them on edge for years.
“It makes me feel safe,” said Lynn, a 35-year-old stay-at-home mom. “I am happy with what [the feds] are doing. We’ll see how long it lasts.”
Federal authorities on Thursday cracked down on the park’s round-the-clock, open-air drug market— nabbing nearly 20 dealers, including ones with links to fatal fentanyl overdoses, authorities said.
Federal authorities on Thursday cracked down on the park’s round-the-clock, open-air drug market— nabbing nearly 20 dealers, including ones with links to fatal fentanyl overdoses, authorities said. William FarringtonThe Greenwich Village green space now feels less dangerous for kids and dogs, neighbors said.
“I have a toddler and when she was very young, I used to use the baby playground in that quadrant of the park — and I’m not gonna lie, there were some scary moments,” Lynn said.
“A man walked into the playground while multiple people were playing with their babies. He clearly was on something and it was a little unsettling,” she said.
“This would be great if it sticks around,” she said of the current absence of druggies.
Parents said the seedy northwest section of the park has puts them on edge. Helayne Seidman
Neighbors say rampant drug use and vagrants make them scared to go in the park. Helayne Seidman
Officers arrested two who were openly smoking crack in the park. Stephen Yang for the New York PostThe dangerous corner of the was nearly empty on Friday morning, putting residents at ease.
Others said they’re sick of watching opioid-related tragedies unfold in the neighborhood’s backyard, and are hopeful the bust keeps them at bay.
“I saw someone overdosed a couple weeks ago in the middle of the park. I’m very supportive to prevent that,” said Trey, who works in finance and was walking his dog in the park Friday.
“When you are walking your dog, you don’t want them to pick up anything drug related on the ground like whether it’s needles or an edible or something…. baggies,” said another dog walker. “[The indictment] is terrific because the park is our only green space near here and improving it is very welcome.”
On Thursday, dealers and traffickers who peddle drugs in the park were hit with a sweeping Manhattan federal indictment.
The northwest corner of the park was nearly empty Friday morning. William FarringtonThe accused “prolific” narcotics traffickers had racked up a combined 80 drug arrests over the past five years but New York’s toothless laws allowed them back out to sell fentanyl, heroin and crack-cocaine in the green space, prosecutors said.
On Friday, some residents said they’ve been avoiding that area of the park for roughly half a decade.
“There are parts of the day when you don’t want to walk through the park,” said, Lindsey, who works at a non-profit.
