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Events Newsletters

costumed characters

A body painted woman poses with a tourist in Times Square.
Apr 7

Council Votes to Crack Down on Naked Ladies and Costumed Characters in Times Square

Muppets, desnudas and superheroes will have to limit their activities to special zones in Times Square and other pedestrian plazas.
By Will Bredderman
NYPD Backs bill to regulate costume characters in Times Square. (Photo:Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Mar 28

Times Square Alliance (and the Naked Cowboy) Call for New Regulation in Plaza

"If I have to give up some of my own little freedom to run around, so be it. I think it'll increase the quality of the performers," Robert John Burck, otherwise known as the Naked Cowboy, said.
By Janaki Chadha
The Times Square pedestrian plaza.
Mar 9

Council Aims to Regulate Pedestrian Plazas Overrun by Elmos and Desnudas

The City Council introduced a bill giving the Department of Transportation authority over pedestrian plazas—step one to regulating densudas.
By Jillian Jorgensen
Costumed street performers pose with tourists for tips in Times Square on July 28, 2014 in New York City. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Aug 24

Times Square Business Leader: Panhandling, Not Toplessness, Is the Real Problem

By Will Bredderman
Topless performers in Times Square. (Photo: Ross Barkan for Observer)
Aug 19

Topless Women Are Bringing Back the ‘Bad Old Times Square,’ Cuomo Says

By Jillian Jorgensen
Councilman Andy King and Councilman Rafael Espinal hold their composure as Keith Albahae, also known as the Joker, arrives at the hearing (Photo: Will Bredderman).
Nov 19

Council Committee Considers Costumed Character Crackdown

By Will Bredderman
Costumed characters, with NYAUFAS, unite against new legislation (Photo by Daniel Cole)
Sep 9

New Law Supports Licensed Costume Characters in Times Square, for a Price

By Nicole Puglise
Aug 20

Costumed Characters Ally With Immigrant Rights Organization, Demand Fair Treatment

By Steffi Feldman
Elmo Bad: A costumed Elmo wanders Times Square. (Getty)
Aug 11

4 More Costumed Characters Arrested in Times Square

By Steffi Feldman
Watch out for Cookie Monster
Apr 11

Poetic License? Why Cops Can’t Control Times Square’s Creepy Characters

By Jordyn Taylor
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