Times Square's Pedestrian Plazas Will Stay: Report

Times Square’s pedestrian plazas, widely hailed by urban planners as an innovation in city design, will remain in place, according to a published report.

The City Hall task force charged with finding solutions for the aggressive panhandling by topless women and costumed characters at Times Square has decided that construction of the plazas will continue, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The plazas, a signature achievement of Mayor de Blasio's predecessor Michael Bloomberg, have become a popular congregating spot for the topless ladies and de Blasio had previously not dismissed the idea that they could be removed.

The task force has agreed on several proposed solutions for Times Square, including keeping the topless and costumed panhandlers in a designated area, says the Journal citing a city memo.

Among the proposals reportedly outlined in the memo is eliminating street vending on 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth avenues to make it easier for pedestrians to walk through the crowds.

The city will add traffic-enforcement agents and crossing guards, as well as limit activities such as street fairs, the Journal reports. The area will also get its own NYPD unit to patrol the area.

Thursday is the deadline for the task force to submit recommendations.

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