Minimus, I am late to the conversation, I apologize for responding late, but I gotta say, as a New Yorker living in mid-town Manhattan, I am very offended by your comment.
NYC remains a wonderful place. Several weeks ago I saw a few peaceful marches, but never what you describe. I tried to find the videos about the "fires." Maybe I missed something, but I did not see anything that comes close to the mayhem you suggest.
Yes, NYC is suffering a severe economic disaster. And, yes, you can find pockets of idiots (including our mayor). But, never forget that NYC will survive. It is actually far more pleasant without all those damn tourists walking at 3 miles an hour.