The Friends of the High Line said it is just as frustrated as visitors are with regard to the panhandlers.
"While panhandling itself is legal in New York City-and therefore legal along the High Line-it crosses the line when our trusting park visitors are touched or their paths are blocked," the organization posted on its website.
Plenty of visitors have sounded off on social media about these people:
Hate to say it but there's a serious monk problem on the High Line. #notinterestedinbliss
— James P Othmer (@jamespothmer) April 19, 2016
ME (to a pushy high line monk approaching me WHILE I'M EATING): No! Stay FAR away from me.
— Paul Hagen (@MisterPaulHagen) May 19, 2016
And don't think that you're going to get a free blessing from them:
A monk blessed me on the high line and tried getting me to pay him for doing so, and after telling him no he literally un-blessed me. Tight
— bagel enthusiast (@caitlin_neumann) March 31, 2016
Some people have even posted their own warnings. Darren Fiorello wrote, "Don't take junk from the monk."
One person came up with her own theory on the people who talk with the panhandlers. Do you think there's some truth to it?
Every second a person spends talking to a monk on the High Line equals 50 miles of distance between their home and NY.
— Anna Peele (@bananapeele) May 27, 2015
The Friends of the High Line said the only way to combat the aggressive incidents is by reporting them. Flag down a Parks Enforcement Patrol officer in the park, or reach out directly to the group via email with detailed information about what happened: visitorservices@thehighline.org
