There use to be a group of police called the TNT squad and they were busy rounding up the crack dealers on my corner back in the ’80s…Although the upper west side was giving in to gentrification like most neighborhoods, there were always a few blocks which resisted the trend…
All Photos © Matt Weber
Black and White Street Photographs of New York City by Matt Weber 
Ah, those crazy 80s. I taught high school at two different schools on the west side during that decade. In one, a girl on crack walked up to my desk while I was lecturing, picked up my books, slammed them down on my desk, and then, thankfully, walked out of class. I never saw her again.
In another school, a kid I didn’t know threw a beer bottle at me as I was leaving the building at the end of the day. I reported the incident, but nothing was done because the kid was already in a class for the emotionally disturbed. He was probably high on crack too.
I don’t recognize any of my students in this photo, but the graffiti tags look familiar.
great pic.just love it.plz reply.want to know how much for a copy
That was an every day thing in “Washington Heights”. As soon as the 5-0 rounded up the dealers another crew would come right out a few minutes later and set up shop.
Yeah, I had a friend who lived on 158th east of B’way and he needed ID to get permission from the cops to enter his own block at one point! The corner in this picture was active for at least 30 years. Someone was getting paid…
Hey is this 88th st and amsterdam ave
yes it is 88 street & Amsterdam