Sign Of The Economic Times: Squeegee Men Return To New York Streets

As goes the New York City squeegee, so goes the nation?

Squeegee men haven't been seen in Gotham since the rough and tumble days of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as the city mayor from 1994 to 2001. That grittier New York City was littered with these panhandlers, who make their living by accosting halted cars to wash car windows in the hope of receiving a small amount of money. (The money is often handed out to shoo the squeegee men away.) The squeegee men sprung up in the wake of New York City's financial woes, which were at their worst in the 1970's and continued into the following decade.