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NY Post Exclusive: Homeless People LOVE Grand Central!
By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 3, 2013
Modified Feb 3, 2013
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By
Ben Yakas
Published Feb 3, 2013
Modified Feb 3, 2013
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It's been a big weekend for Grand Central, which is currently celebrating its 100th birthday—there have been 1913 deals, beautiful photography, vintage videos and gala events. The NY Post decided to get in on the fun with a SHOCKING report that is sure to blow your mind: homeless people love hanging out at Grand Central. Talk about dumping a bucket of cold water into a frozen lake.
Using the same scientific research methods they deployed in their landmark Subway footlong investigation of 2013, the Post (presumably) sent over a crack team of interns to scan the terminal for any homeless-looking people last Wednesday. And they spotted 40 of them! And they smell! “It’s nauseating,” said Yvette Molina, a Tarrytown resident, who was dining in the concourse area. “It’s really disgusting. It makes you lose your appetite.” Whereas normally, eating in the Grand Central concourse area is the height of exquisite cuisine. Who among us haven't turned to a loved one on a frigid Saturday evening and whispered, "Let's go check out that romantic little Cafe Spice tonight."
“Every day you see new homeless. Sometimes they smell — a bad smell,” said Hafiza Supti, who works at a Hudson News stand. “I have to move from one place to the other place.” Police told them they were unwilling to do anything about the vagrants, probably because they are on the payroll of Big Homeless: “Our hands are tied,” one MTA cop told them. “We can’t really make them do anything. We can’t just throw them in the cold.” How dare they show any compassion for their fellow man.
But maybe there's hope yet for the Post—maybe if they could just get to know one of these disgusting, smelly, god-forsaken homeless people, they could find some compassion. Enter one James Patrick McGrath: it seems the 59-year-old man stole their hearts "through rheumy blue eyes...dressed in two ratty winter coats." “I’ve got an officer who accuses me of begging,” the Flatbush native told them. “He calls me a skell. I call him a schmuck.” Sounds like love to us.
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exclusives
grand central
grand central terminal
homeless
ny post
shocking reports
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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