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NY Post
New York Post
19 Aug 2023


NextImg:Union Square nonprofit slammed for asking locals to cover $55K in repairs after Twitch streamer’s riot

A nonprofit organization is fishing for donations to cover the costs to replace plants destroyed in the Union Square riot sparked by Twitch streamer Kai Cenat — but hasn’t asked the 21-year-old millionaire who cops say incited the chaos to pony up the dough.

Instead, the Union Square Partnership cast a net on social media for local residents and supporters to pay the whopping $55,000 price tag.

“Union Square made headlines last week when a crowd descended on the park to see a famous influencer. Unfortunately, in the aftermath, a substantial amount of plantings were destroyed,” reads its Aug. 11 post to its Facebook page alongside before and after snaps showing the destruction.

The ravaged plantings, including a rose garden surrounding the statue of George Washington, were originally paid for by the group, which hauled in $633,747 in revenue according to their most recent 2021 tax filing. The group, which promotes business in the tony neighborhood, would not say what it paid for the landscaping.

The group said it would “welcome” Cenat’s money — but won’t directly ask him.

The Union Square Partnership posted before and after shots of the damage on its Facebook page.
Nextdoor

Thousands turned out for the planned gaming giveaway.

The “giveaway” chaos left at least seven people hurt and 66 in handcuffs. Twitch influencer Kai Cenat was also arrested and charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly.
Getty Images

Chairs were thrown during the melee

Thousands of teens turned out and ran rampant — hurling bottles and chairs, climbing on top of the subway pavilion,and even assaulting NYPD officers. 
MediaPunch / BACKGRID

“Union Square Partnership is grateful for the outpouring of support that the district has received after the events of Aug. 4,” said spokeswoman Jordyn Leon. “With more than $55,000 dollars of damages to USP’s landscaping in the park, we would gladly welcome any support from Kai’s team to meet our fundraising needs.”

Residents were galled that the non-profit was coming to them with hat-in-hand — and not simply asking Cenat for the dough.

“How about we ask the influencer to pay something towards this?” resident Danawyn Sherman told The Post. “He [Cenat] was not remorseful. If there was a flood in the neighborhood, you wouldn’t be asked to donate to fix the sewer.”

Cenat poses with a sportscar

Some ticked-off residents believe Cenat should pick up the tab for the park damage.
kaicenat/Instagram

“Why are law abiding citizens asked to pay for unruly behavior. I am sorry to be old school, but I am not paying for bad behavior that goes unpunished!!!!” echoed Chelsea resident Debra Beard on a discussion of the donation request on the Nextdoor app.

Many called for Cenat to pay the bill.

“The partnership can publicly pressure him,” reasoned Adna Karns of Chelsea, who added, “[But] Let’s just have locals residents shoulder the responsibility. This is why quality of life is going downhill in New York.”

The aftermath of the melee

The Union Square Partnership said it would “gladly welcome any support from Kai’s team to meet our fundraising needs.”
TheNews2/INSTARimages

People climbed the statue in the park

Multiple people climbed on top of the statue in Union Square Park during the riot.
Getty Images

As of Friday, Union Square Partnership had raised $12,000 in donations.

The city Parks Department said it wasn’t aware of the solicitation.

“The Union Square disturbance was unprecedented and concerning. We commend the NYPD for its quick crowd dispersal, and our partners at DSNY [Sanitation] and the Union Square Partnership for their assistance in cleaning up the debris left in the park,” said Parks department spokesman Dan Kastanis.

Cops escort Cenat

Cenat, 21, urged his online fans to come out for a PS5 giveaway.

Cenat, 21, urged his 20 million online fans to come out for a PS5 giveaway on August 4, proclaiming in a video that, “We’re gonna go crazy, bro!”

Union Square then erupted in chaos when thousands of teens turned out and ran rampant — hurling bottles and chairs, climbing on top of the subway pavilion, and even assaulting NYPD officers.

The commotion left at least seven people hurt and 66 in handcuffs. Cenat was also arrested and charged with inciting a riot and unlawful assembly.

Additional reporting by Rich Calder