Compared to the 1970-ies 1980‑e years were a time of cautious optimism in new York. Boom on wall street fueled the speculative real estate market, the unemployment rate has decreased significantly. However, street crime and drugs were still part of everyday life of new Yorkers.
The drug trade has flourished, leading to an increase in the number of murders and the division of the city into districts ruled by different gangs. Metro new York was the victim of an epidemic of crime, which in the subway each year were committed more crimes than any other metro system in the world. The increase in the number of homeless has also become a serious problem in the 1980‑ies.
These incredible photos were taken in 1987, Peter Anderson, they show everyday life on the streets of new York.