Amid Terrorist Threats, It’s Business as Usual for Times Square Vendors

“You gotta be focused, you gotta be prepared, you gotta be vigilant.” This is how Times Square street vendor, Ron Robinson feels about the threat of terrorism.

Robinson is one of many street vendors that earn their keep from tourists visiting Manhattan mega-attraction Times Square.

Following the Paris terrorist attacks last week, Times Square was shown in footage from a recently released video from ISIS, who took responsibility for the attacks. The video cuts between scenes of a man making a bomb which he straps under his clothing, scenes of pedestrians and shoppers in crowded Times Square, and nearby Herald Square.

The video is being seen by many as a direct threat to the more than 300,000 daily pedestrian visitors and the 170,000 workers who are employed in the area, although New York City Mayor, Bill de Blasio said in a press conference Thursday that “there is no credible and specific threat against New York City.”

Robinson, who goes by the name Styles, has been making and selling custom spray-painted hats, steps from the door of megastore Forever 21, in the heart of Times Square, almost every day for the past eight years.

“People don’t spend as much money,” he says of the effect of potential terrorist activity on consumers.

Perhaps this is why, just days after the release of ISIS’s video, Times Square street vendors protested along with vendors from other parts of the city, against the city’s antiquated limits on the number of vendor permits. The Times Square march was part of a series of protests to “lift the caps,” organized by the Street Vendor Project interest group.

Robinson did not take part in the protests. He only focuses on getting through each day, and does not spend time dwelling on a possible terrorist attack, he said, “I don’t have a crystal ball.”

A few blocks away from the heart of the square is a halal cart staffed by Sam Kauser. A group of tourists stopping to buy Gatorade and water ask him if Times Square is, or will be closed to deter an attack. “You cannot close Times Square,” he told them several times, “Everyone in the world knows Times Square.”

Kauser says he is not fearful for his life or livelihood because even after an attack, he thinks Time Square’s fame and the money it brings to the city’s coffers will prevent it from being closed for any significant period of time.

Like Robinson, despite the very real threats from ISIS, Kauser seems to be keeping positive and focusing on his daily work routine, saying that the threats will not change his attitude, work, or the expected sales at the hallal cart.

“As you can see, New Yorkers are going about their business,” de Blasio said in the news conference “ I want to encourage all New Yorkers to go about their business normally.” He outlined a plan to expand the new anti- terrorism police task force to 500 NYPD officers, which will be in place before New Years Eve.

“Whatever’s going on with ISIS is trying to affect peoples morale, trying to get into peoples heads and affect [them],” Robinson says. “I got bills to pay, I have to focus on my business,you need to be focused. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that,” he says motioning to the other street vendors in the area.

A scan of the vendors hocking their wares, street performers, food vendors, and ticket sellers calling out to passersby, confirms that in Times Square, it is business as usual.