The transformation of Times Square was no accident; it was a massive redevelopment project, fueled by business interests and New York City’s government, aiming to clean up its seedy image.
The ball drop itself became a cornerstone of this campaign, reimagined in 1993 as a dazzling spectacle complete with fireworks and global fanfare, signaling that Times Square was back.
But the clean-up came at a cost, pushing out hundreds of businesses and displacing vulnerable residents who relied on Times Square's underground economy.
Critics say the BID efforts skewed toward big corporations and tourists rather than benefiting local residents, raising questions about who truly benefits from urban redevelopment.
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