The owner of one of New York City’s most famous cheesecake restaurants says life in the Big Apple has gotten really shitty.
Alan Rosen, 55, who runs Junior’s Restaurant at three locations in Times Square, Manhattan and Brooklyn, places the blame squarely on those responsible, though he charitably does not mention Mayor Eric Adams by name.
Rosen’s family has run the famous eatery for three generations and says the city is becoming an increasingly challenging place to live.
He believes a general decline in quality of life, coupled with rising crime rates, is to blame.
Additionally, Rosen said that woke policies like cashless bail, which allows suspects to roam the streets within hours of their arrest, along with the city’s designation as a “sanctuary city,” which has allowed large numbers of immigrants to flood the streets, are all 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 a decline in quality of life
Rosen operates Junior’s Restaurant in three locations in Times Square, Manhattan and Brooklyn
Rosen believes a general decline in quality of life, coupled with rising crime rates, is to blame
For Rosen, who lives out of town in Westchester, his concerns extend beyond those of a mere observer.
He says the bad feelings affect him daily, with staff telling him they feel “uncomfortable and unsafe,” while his own daughter was the victim of a random attack 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 running a city, as long as management is proactive.
‘This isn’t cheesecake. The product of New York City needs polishing. It needs to be ironed out. It needs some polish,” Rosen told the newspaper New York Post. ‘You have to change the story. You have to change reality. We need the city to deliver a better product.”
Rosen isn’t a fan of policies like cashless bail and its designation as a “sanctuary city” policy, all of which he says contribute to the city’s problems.
Crime statistics for assaults, robberies and shoplifting are all up this time last year
The city’s designation as a ‘sanctuary city’ has led to large amounts of immigrants flooding the streets, all of which have contributed to the city’s decline
Immigrants who cannot find work and struggle to survive selling clothes and other used goods on the streets of Queens in New York City
The restauranteur believes cashless bail and New York’s “sanctuary” for immigrants have only exacerbated the city’s problems.
“(Cashless bail) gives judges the freedom to put people back in jail. We let a few bad apples spoil things.
‘When was it allowed to steal 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 unsafe. We want our city back,” he added.
He says a perceived lack of support and respect for law enforcement has only emboldened criminals and contributed to the city’s deteriorating safety.
Rosen places the blame squarely on those responsible, though he charitably does not mention Mayor Eric Adams by name or Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who introduced the bail reform policy.
Cashless bail allows suspects to roam the streets within hours of their arrest. Michael Thomas, left, was arrested for punching a cop in the face and breaking the officer’s nose in Times Square in early February. He was released on bail but was arrested again for also punching his probation officer in the face. That’s right, Rudell Faulkner has ’47 priors and 28 convictions for preying on New Yorkers’ with six arrests so far this year
Migrants accused of beating two NYPD officers in Times Square were released without bail by woke Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg
Surveillance footage shows a fight between NYPD officers and migrants in Times Square in February
Rosen says New York’s role as a “sanctuary city” has made the city’s real residents feel like second-class citizens.
‘It can’t be free for everyone. I don’t know what else you would call it. Look how much we spend on housing migrants in hotels who have no jobs, instead of receiving visitors. It doesn’t help anyone. We have to take care of the people who have been here first. People who have been here longer don’t feel recognized.’
Looking to the future, Rosen says plans to implement a $15 congestion toll to enter Midtown will further harm residents and visitors alike.
“Do you want to charge people to drive to the theater? That is ridiculous. It’s expensive enough to come to New York. We should want more traffic in the city, people traffic,” he says.
Rosen believes things were at their best during the 12 years Mike Bloomberg was mayor of New York
Many stores in New York City now have shelves behind a plastic enclosure to prevent theft
Migrants sent from the southern border to New York City continue to arrive
Rosen remains ever the optimist when it comes to the city’s potential, highlighting its vibrant cultural scene and diverse range of attractions. In 2022, the city saw 56 million visitors as tourism recovered from the depths of the pandemic.
Rosen says he wants a more agile and responsive approach when it comes to governing. While he doesn’t blame current Mayor Eric Adams for the city’s decline, he believes things were at their best during the 12 years Mike Bloomberg was mayor.
‘We have to face the problem. If there is a problem in my restaurant, we deal with it on the spot,” Rosen said. ‘The city must be governed for ordinary people. It’s clear we’re not doing our best. We can do better.’
Ultimately, he wants city leaders to prioritize the needs of everyday residents while continuing to improve and revitalize the city.
“I want to encourage people to come here. I like to see the positives going up. The trend now is downward in New York City,” he said.