I was one of the few who had doubts that Rudy Giuliani’s march on Times Square was a great thing.  While the porn biz, drug dealing and general seediness left much to be desired, this was Times Square.  This place had history.  Around the world, everybody knew that Times Square was ground zero of porn.  And New York was a rough and tumble place.  It was part of our charm.

Of course, others disagreed.  Now Times Square has Disney and American Girl and Pokemon stores.  But try to find a topless bar.  It’s like being in Anaheim.

Mayor Bloomberg, far wealthier than Rudy, has now eviscerated another New York landmark.  Canal Street.  If you’re not a New Yorker, you may know a song about the place but you have no idea what it really represents.  This short piece from the  New York Times City Room tells the story.

City investigators raided dozens of storefronts on a triangular block in Chinatown this morning in what officials described as a major seizing of counterfeit goods — including fake Rolex, Coach, Prada and Gucci products — with an estimated street value of more than $1 million. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, who announced the raids, also said that the city had obtained a temporary restraining order to shut the storefronts.

In a strongly worded news release, the officials called the block, which is bounded by Canal Street, Walker Street and Centre Street, Counterfeit Triangle.

We love to come up with odd names for our neighborhoods in New York.  No doubt the “counterfeit triangle” will be showing up in condo adds by next Sunday.

So the secret is out.  This is where New Yorkers go to pick up top quality counterfeit designer goods.  Chanel bags for $45.  Rolex watches for $100.  Of course they aren’t real, but they look terrific and you can’t tell the difference without a magnifying glass and really knowing your designer details.  When out-of-towners see every woman on the street, from 90 year olds to 6 year olds, with a Louis Vuitton on their arm, do they think they are all willing to throw away $800 on a bag?  Come on!  Get serious!

As part of the investigation, 42 undercover purchases were made in various storefronts. The investigation uncovered counterfeits of such brands as Coach, Gucci, Dolce & Gabbanna, Dior, Prada, Rolex, Fendi, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Dora the Explorer and Oakley. The building addresses in the “Counterfeit Triangle” that were raided today are 224–230 Canal Street; 232 Canal Street; 234–238 Canal Street; 106 Baxter Street; 112–116 Walker Street; 118 Walker Street; 120-124 Walker Street; and 152-156 Centre Street.

All about a block from the criminal courthouse.  And all those judges carrying designer handbags and wearing expensive watches.  I wonder…

Everybody in New York knows that Canal Street is the place to go for counterfeits.  This was no secret.  It used to be completely out in the open, though it’s gone somewhat underground in recent years, so that you have to ask and pass scrutiny before they will show you the good stuff.  I found out about this when I asked a shopkeeper once if he had any Louis Vuitton bags.  He looked me up and down, and told me to take a hike.  Maybe he thought I was a tourist.  Tourists ask for refunds when they’re unhappy.  They don’t get the idea of buying counterfeit goods. 

I know, I know.  This was all terribly illegal.  It devalues a brand that a designer and manufacturer has worked very hard to establish.   It kills the cache when the poor walk around with the same watch as the rich.  Of course, the people buying on Canal Street were never in the market for the real McCoy.  If they were going to buy the real thing, they would have.  They were on Canal Street because they had no plan to spend more than pocket change.  Rolex did not lose any sales on their account.

From many perspectives, I can’t question the City’s efforts to shut down this illegal activity.  It’s wrong, it hurts legitimate (albeit ridiculously expensive) businesses.  But it was one of those things that made New York City special.  There was character in the seediness of Times Square.  There was character in the seediness of Canal Street.  Pretty soon, there will be no character left.  Then New York City might as well be anywhere else, because you won’t be able to tell the difference.