I’d just like to point out that the "cleaning up" of Times Square its not universally viewed as a win.

Sure, there were some crime problems, and 3 or 4 sex shops, but all three mayors particularly targeted queer establishments and queer people, with the presumption that we were bad for the city and for tourism.

Given the city belonged as much to us as to the cis/straight people who didn't want to have to see us or feel contaminated by us, we felt (unsurprisingly) like targeted vermin.

And, generally speaking, most New York City residents took in the new, highly commercial, Disney-fied square with a certain amount of scorn. (Lots of people used to joke about how we needed to "Run Mickey out of the city." And it wasn't entirely a joke. For people who appreciate genuine art and culture, Disney's cheap, plastic imitation is anathema.)

Sure, the business people raking in money from tourists were very pleased. But they were only a tiny, non-representative slice of the NYC population, and in many cases, they weren't New Yorkers at all.

Just a perspective to share.