Imagine walking through Midtown Manhattan at noon—and being groped on the sidewalk. That’s exactly what happened to actor Michael Rapaport’s wife. Twice. In broad daylight.
She wasn’t mugged in a dark alley or targeted at night. These assaults unfolded between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on busy streets. A homeless man hurled a shoe at her. Another spat racial slurs. A third simply lunged and touched her without warning.
Rapaport laid it out bluntly: “She’s a tough broad—she shouldn’t have to watch her back at lunchtime in the greatest city on earth.” His disgust was palpable. “Don’t touch my wife. Lock him up. Keep him locked up.”
Comedian Bill Maher, known for his sharp tongue, sat speechless. Even he couldn’t ignore the glaring truth: New York’s streets are no longer safe, even under the midday sun.
This isn’t isolated. Violent and brazen assaults have skyrocketed. Once-proud neighborhoods reel under the weight of progressive “reforms” that tie law enforcement hands behind their backs.
Bail reform that frees repeat offenders. Lenient sentencing that treats violent crime like a traffic violation. The result? Criminals emboldened, citizens terrorized.
Make no mistake: protecting law-abiding New Yorkers is non-negotiable. We must demand immediate rollback of dangerous policies. Restore meaningful bail requirements. Impose strict sentences for unprovoked assaults.
City officials can no longer look away. Every mother, wife and daughter deserves the right to walk Midtown without fear of being groped, harassed or worse.
The time for half-measures has passed. It’s time to reassert the rule of law. Because a city that allows daylight assaults is a city that has lost its way. New York must choose safety over softness—now.
