Sidewalk Chapter Summary

Sidewalk by Mitchell Duneier investigates a complex social ecology of a three block span of New York’s Greenwich Village. The Book offers a look at a community and public life. In the book Duneier takes on a stretch of lower sixth ave that is very much frequented by scavengers and panhandlers. Duneier worked for months at different vendor table’s on the street, thus aiding in gaining insight from the streets. In the book he talks about run ins with small local business owners, as well as their opinions on panhandlers.
In the first part of chapter four, duneier talks about a convenient store owner named Jose Torres. Torres managed a convenient store located on Greenwich Ave right near Sixth Ave. According to the book, Duneier states “Aside from the nuisance they create, they sometimes don’t look presentable. They sometimes smell bad. They sometimes smoke drugs or urinate. Right in front! Without any regards for law or anything!” (Duneier). In this part of the chapter, the author, Mitchell Duneier ties …show more content…
This is where panhandling gets tied in with the “broken windows” theory. Manshel stated that the groups policies were influenced by the “broken windows” Theory. In addition to arguing against panhandlers and scavengers, Manshel also argued against that of the book vendors on the street. He asked “why is it that these people choose to be on the street?” Manshel continued by asking “Is it a legitimate lifestyle choice for these people to operate your business in the public way?” (Duneier). Personally, I do not agree with the argument Manshel made at all. I believe that people do not simply chose to be on the streets whether it be living on the street, or operating a business in the “public way”. There are many factors behind said choices. For most, they do not choose to live on the streets and panhandle for a