Meanwhile we’re supposed to pretend that NYC is as awesome as ever and nothing has changed. I adore New York and have lived there on and off my whole life. In many ways it’s better than ever, beautiful new parks and cleaned up waterfronts. Since the pandemic there’s been a shift though. The city is dirty, people are doing drugs on the streets, the subway feels dirtier and unpleasant. (I’d still move back in a heartbeat.)