Costumed panhandlers have police beefing up patrols in Manhattan's Times Square, but the effort may expand to the Coney Island boardwalk as well.
Mayor Bill de Blasio created a task force in response to an influx of aggressive panhandlers, and Borough President Eric Adams says a subgroup of that task force will focus on the boardwalk.
Coney Island is a hotspot for tourists in the summer, making the boardwalk an attractive place for people to pose for pictures in exchange for tips.
Officials add that the Coney Island boardwalk is also park land, so the new task force will work closely with the Parks Department on the issue.