New York City Has a Costumed Characters Problem

A Cookie Monster gone rogue may finally precipitate a crackdown on costumed characters in New York's Times Square, making the crossroads of the world safe for toddlers once more.

Dressing up as popular kid-friendly characters such as Dora the Explorer or Hello Kitty and posing for pictures has been a booming sub-sector of New York’s tourism industry for a couple of years now. Dozens of enterprising folks who make their living this way stroll around Times Square day and night, wearing low-quality knockoff outfits that often look a little deranged but nonetheless have a magnetic appeal for those under the age of five or so. After the parents snap a photo of their kids with the fuzzy creatures, the performers often demand payment. Sometimes things get ugly.