Story

A woman's eerie scream penetrates the Meat packing district while busy New Yorker's question their consciences about taking action.

Every day in urban and non-urban environments people find themselves in emergency situations. Every day there are murders, rapes, assaults and accidents.

Witnesses whether eye or within earshot and other bystanders are increasingly apathetic. So much so that the phrase, urban apathy was coined many years ago because of The Kitty Genovese murder in 1964, an historic case.

You may find yourself in this situation in the city or not. It's 50 years later and it still happens.

You could be driving along a familiar large suburban road when you come upon a huge accident on the other side. Two cars, a bicycle, another vehicle crashed and a car stopped to help ... but, where were the police? The first responder's? ... and you thought to yourself, I hope someone called the police ... as you passed and drove to your destination late to work. Why didn't you call? You aren't sure. You thought for certain the police were on their way. You had your cell phone. But, you figured it was already taken care of. Was it?

Or, you could be a witness (as there were) when a gas explosion leaves an East village building in flames in the heat of summer and is about to collapse. News footage records images of bystanders with their cell phones taking selfies and walking calmly by while several stranded occupants are not sure of how to get out of the building to safety.  On Feb 11, 2016 those responsible were indicted and charged with 2nd degree manslaughter in the 2 deaths that occurred.