The owner of one of New York City’s most famous cheesecake restaurants says life in the Big Apple has gotten truly rotten.
Alan Rosen, 55, who runs Junior’s restaurant in three locations in Times Square, Manhattan and Brooklyn, puts the blame squarely on those responsible, although he charitably does not mention Mayor Eric Adams by name.
Rosen’s family has run the famous restaurant for three generations and says the city is becoming an increasingly challenging place to live.
He believes a general decline in the quality of life, along with rising crime levels, is to blame.
Rosen said that on top of that, woke policies such as cashless bail that allow suspects to roam the streets within hours of their arrest, along with the city’s “sanctuary city” designation that has seen Hordes of immigrants flooding the streets are contributing to the deterioration.
Alan Rosen, 55, owner of Junior’s restaurant, says life in New York City is becoming increasingly challenging due to rising crime and declining quality of life.
Rosen runs Junior’s restaurant at three locations in Times Square, Manhattan and Brooklyn.
Rosen believes a general deterioration in living conditions, along with rising crime levels, is to blame.
For Rosen, who lives outside the city of Westchester, his concerns go beyond those of a simple observer.
He says bad feelings affect him daily, with staff telling him they feel “uneasy and unsafe” while his own daughter was the victim of a random assault in Bushwick, Brooklyn, last summer.
Rosen says substantial changes need to be made and city officials need to take the lead on the most pressing issues.
As a long-time member of the business community, he believes parallels can be drawn between running a successful restaurant and governing a city, as long as the management is proactive.
‘This is not a cheesecake. The New York City product needs to be polished. It needs to be smoothed out. It needs a little shine,” Rosen said. New York Post. ‘It is necessary to change the narrative. You need to change reality. We need the city to offer a better product.”
Rosen is not a fan of woke policies, such as cashless bail and their designation as “sanctuary city” policies, which he believes contribute to the city’s problems.
Crime statistics for assaults, robberies and retail thefts increased at this time last year.
The city’s designation as a “sanctuary city” has seen hordes of immigrants flood the streets, all of which has contributed to the city’s deterioration.
Immigrants who cannot find work and struggle to survive by selling used clothing and other items on the streets of Queens in New York City.
The restaurateur believes cashless bail and New York’s “sanctuary” for immigrants have only served to exacerbate the city’s problems.
‘(Cashless bail) gives judges the discretion to re-incarcerate people. We’re letting a few bad apples ruin the group.
‘When is it allowed to steal from a pharmacy? In what society is that okay? People shouldn’t be able to shoplift at CVS,” Rosen told The Post. ‘Enough! There are no consequences. That’s part of the problem.
‘We feel uncomfortable. We feel insecure. “We want to get our city back,” he added.
He says the perceived lack of support and respect for law enforcement has only served to embolden criminals and contributed to the deterioration of the city’s security.
Rosen is placing the blame squarely on those in charge, although he charitably does not mention Mayor Eric Adams by name or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who introduced bail reform policies.
Cashless bail allows suspects to roam the streets within hours of their arrest. On the left, Michael Thomas was arrested for punching a police officer in the face in Times Square in early February, breaking his nose. He was released on bail, but was also rearrested for punching his probation officer in the face. Right, Rudell Faulkner has “47 priors and 28 convictions for preying on New Yorkers” with six arrests so far this year.
Immigrants accused of beating two NYPD cops in Times Square were released without bail by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Surveillance footage shows a fight between NYPD officers and immigrants in Times Square in February
Rosen says New York’s role as a “sanctuary city” has only made the city’s true residents feel like second-class citizens.
“It can’t be a pitched battle. I don’t know what else you would call it. Look how much we are spending to house immigrants in hotels who have no work instead of receiving visitors. It doesn’t help anyone. We must first take care of the people who have been here. People who have been here longer don’t feel recognized.’
Looking ahead, Rosen says plans to introduce a $15 congestion toll to enter Midtown will be even more detrimental to residents and visitors alike.
—Do you want to charge people to drive to the theater? That’s ridiculous. It’s quite expensive to come to New York. “We should want more traffic in the city: human traffic,” she says.
Rosen believes things were at their best during Mike Bloomberg’s 12 years as mayor of New York.
Many stores in New York City now have stocked shelves behind a plastic cover to prevent theft.
Migrants who have been sent to New York City from the southern border continue to arrive.
Rosen remains ever-optimistic when it comes to the city’s potential, highlighting its vibrant cultural scene and diverse range of attractions. In 2022, the city welcomed 56 million visitors as tourism numbers recovered from pandemic lows.
Rosen says he wants to see a more agile and responsive approach when it comes to governing, and while he doesn’t blame current Mayor Eric Adams for the city’s crisis, he believes things were at their best during the 12 years Mike Bloomberg was. mayor.
‘We need to face the problem. If there is a problem in my restaurant, we solve it on the spot,” says Rosen. ‘The city needs to be run for ordinary people. It’s obvious that we are not doing the best we can. We can do better.’
Ultimately, he wants city leaders to prioritize the needs of everyday residents as they continue to improve and revitalize the city.
‘I want to encourage people to come here. I like to see the positives increase. The trend is down now in New York City,” she said.