New York City is the cesspool of corruption, “jack-booted” political self-serving mandates and Union power bestowed on the residents who once enjoyed the liberties and freedoms most of us still enjoy (for now). Free markets simply don’t exist there due to the overbearing regulations, fees and downright quelling of competition for the “favorite ones.”
You can’t feel sorry for any of the residents however since, over the years, they voted every bit of this upon themselves.
Gee, jack-booted is a little strong! It’s a stupidly run city but I still feel pretty free. And the restaurants are great, the theatre can be magnificent and the museums - wow!