Some of this was just theft by violence too. With a secy dinosaur.

Extremely struck by the number of poor illiterate immigrants who apparently end up owning extremely valuable buildings in New York! Is this just property being incredibly cheap during the 70s and 80s, or what?

I was struck by that as well - and had to remind myself that the city was not looking so great in 1981.

The first time I was in New York was about 1984. Central Park had lots of people who looked like they were living there and no I've rescue ladders. But maybe it doesn't have ice rescue ladders out in August even now.

Has Moby's phone's autocorrect been drinking already?

Ice rescue. Sorry.

At night, the I've weasels come.

That's plagiarism.

I think that's a stoat.

And I said, hey Senorita, that's a stoat
I said, why don't we get together
And call ourselves an institoat

I'm too parochial to bother reading the link, but was reminded of this place, which I am very pleased to see retains, despite the passage of decades, both its liquor license and its elephant.

The lesson I draw is that NYC has been a banana republic since before it was cool.

Brooklyn wasn't cool until well after Manhattan was cool.