Text and Photographs by Daniel Krieger
Who is the mysterious man sitting all day long in the orange car surrounded by traffic safety cones on West End Avenue near West 83rd Street?
When someone on Nextdoor asked about it earlier this week, a lively discussion ensued. One commenter wrote: “This is yet another overzealous New Yorker who believes that this particular spot belongs to [them].”
Someone else speculated that it could be for a film or for Con Ed, but not everyone seemed to agree. The author of the query clarified that he didn’t care about the car but did want to know if it has some connection to the rundown townhouse at 471 West End that it’s parked in front of.
WSR sought to find out whether this was in fact a blatant case of parking-space hoarding or, if not, what exactly was going on.
On Wednesday afternoon, sure enough, the orange Dodge Caliber surrounded by safety cones was there. In the driver’s seat was a young man with earbuds on drinking coffee — George Bichikashvili, 30, from Tbilisi, Georgia (the country). Friendly and eager to chat, he emerged from the car, donning a yellow safety vest and helmet. He said he was hired to be a “spotter” for Con Edison. The job was to keep the area around his car and a nearby manhole cover clear.
This task, best executed by an in-place person, continues until maintenance crews arrive for routine work in the area, explained Valeria Mendoza, Con Edison’s media relations manager. “In this case,” she wrote in an email responding to a query about the job, “the person is holding the space so that crews have a designated spot to work from upon arrival.” Spotters do other things as well, she explained, such as keeping the public away from potential dangers until they get fixed, but there are no potential dangers at this spot.
When Bichikashvili was looking for a job recently, most temp listings offered only one or two days of work, eight hours a day, but a spotter gets paid 24 hours a day, possibly for weeks. He clocked in at noon on June 26th and ever since has been waiting to be relieved of his post, which could happen anytime. And that is fine with him. (He does leave to use the bathroom and get food, but he remains nearby and returns soon.)
“Maybe this week they will come,” he said, in a moment reminiscent of Waiting for Godot. “Or maybe next week. I don’t know.” (His first spotting gig was in the Bronx and lasted three weeks.)
One thing he does to pass the time is study English, and he also gets a lot of thinking done, especially dreaming of a future when he won’t be living in a car. Sleep is hard, with the mosquitoes and the heat, though he very much likes the idea of earning money while sleeping. The hardest part of the spotter lifestyle, he confessed, is spending so much time alone.
Bichikashvili came to New York from Tbilisi last year, which had always been his dream. “I can have a better and more interesting life here,” he said, especially when it comes to making money. Back home, he was a Georgian folk dancer and a chef.
In the future, he wants to work in a kitchen and one day open his own restaurant that fuses Georgian and European cuisine. But for now, he will be a spotter, he said. When this assignment ends, he will go on to the next.
Bichikashvili’s post came to a sudden end on Thursday, July 13 at 3:55 PM.
There’s got to be a better way.
No, there really isn’t.
Absent someone physically protecting a coned off area many if not most drivers would simply move cones and park in empty space. Pretty much same principles as why people sit in their vehicles for ASP.
Can’t they just park a car there & leave it empty?
It would have to be moved for ASP (if applicable) which means at least twice a week owner would have to return.
Pre-Covid, Spectrum came to repair our cable.
Really nice helpful Spectrum employee – but as he could not find a parking spot nearby, he was parked blocks away…
He had to go back and forth to get equipment which added significant time to the whole thing.
Now that’s news for real New Yorkers! Def caught my attention
The money wasted by companies like coned, and then you wonder why your bills are high.
Exactly, Josh. Why not just place those large plastic Yodock barriers?
They can’t follow alternate side parking times to claim a space? So basically he needs to sit in car because he has the only keys to move it when the time comes.
ConEd and affiliates way uptown they tow legally parked cars to get their space sometimes 3 or 4 cars in a row. Recently I saw them tow 3 cars. I asked them why they said they needed to remove dead gas lines. That is not emergency work to be able to tow cars. They do it anyway.
They pay a towing company to do if, how much does that cost per car.
Does have to sit in the car all day? Why doesn’t he dance in front of it? If he’s that talented, he can put a jar out and collect some extra cash?
what a waste of money and resources. another union scam.
If it’s through a temp agency, I doubt it is union
Actually, temporary workers are allowed to join unions, so…
No, most unions, including UWUA Local 1-2, don’t include temporary workers. The point of temp workers is that they’re beholden to management to work under conditions that are horrific. Unions strive to institute a safe and human working environment. Working a 24/7 schedule is more like slavery.
How like slavery? It suits him so he chooses it. He can quit at any time when it stops suiting him. That’s what at will hires mean.
I recently saw something similar on 93rd St! I wonder how many spotters they have out on amy given week.
Great reporting!
Maybe he read this…
https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780375506765
I would love to see some additional WSR reporting of another type of overzealous UWS’er that seems to believe parking spots belong to them: building staff that hold multiple spots with one car (sometimes multiple spots with multiple cars), roping off or putting cones in spaces to reserve them.. this is happening more often from what I observe and I’ll bet I’m not alone.
Actually some restaurant owners are blocking off a parking spot (for their use) next to their street shacks
Unfortunately this is ubiquitous across the city. Some businesses also do this to prevent illegal parking (including by “placard” vehicles) in truck loading zones.
Holding, blocking off parking spots by building staff for themselves or residents has been going on for ages. UWS, UES, Manhattan, parts of Brooklyn and Queens….
Buildings with doormen are famous for blocking off all or part of curb in front of building so residents or others have clear way to and from vehicles in and out.
Things have gotten worse over years as city has removed more and more street parking for host of reasons. Bike lanes, charging stations, car share zones, pedestrian plazas and now curbside dining have removed large amounts of on street parking. That’s all very well for certain persons who advocate such things but people who work, do business or otherwise need to be in city and drive to do so must have places to park.
Good number of building staff do not live in Manhattan or even city. Thus they drive to work and need someplace to park. Usual MO is to tag team a spot.
I have seen some buildings where the staff hood spots and move cars around for residents as well (for a monthly rate). They take up entire blocks.
Have to earn those nice holiday tips somehow!
Oh and there are people who do same by posting spots they’re holding on Internet or some sort of app.
Then you have this: https://nypost.com/2023/06/24/nyc-parking-pirate-john-mcintosh-will-give-up-his-space-for-booty/
And just wait until “congestion pricing” takes effect. New Jersey and Connecticut drivers will use the UWS as their parking lot and then take transit into the taxed zone, rather than driving there as they do now.
But how would they get around alternate side parking regs?
Same way many do already. Either leave keys with someone who will “sit” and if necessary move vehicle for ASP (then return to spot or close enough).
Or, simply don’t move vehicle and eat cost of ticket. Depending upon a few factors some drivers actually see getting a ticket for ASP violation cheaper than using a garage.
Can BB do a regular land-use “explainer” column for WSR?
What an intriguing little story! Best of luck to Bichikashvili!
right, everyone seems to be missing the point. i love the article too.
Also was one on 78th st a few weeks ago, who was there for 2wks.
Are you talking about the one that looked like an unmarked cop car or maybe some kind of private security service? Or perhaps just two differently intentioned stake-outs on 78
Just looking at the way the traffic cones are positioned in the picture, I do not see what their purpose is. Maybe they are props. He also would not seem to need a safety vest and a helmet.
Only one question for the author of this article: How much does this job pay?
I give the guy credit. (Amazing story—I had no idea.)
A common phenomenon. I had a similar car and driver parked outside my apartment for about three weeks last year.
Apparently these folks are referred to as “Cone Heads ” and they worked for a company called “No PARKING Today” back in the day
https:/k/www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20131230/greenwich-village/con-ed-pays-millions-reserve-parking-spaces-for-utility-trucks/
Thanks for the article
Georgians are nice people! I’m glad he found a job soon after arriving from tbilisi. Hopefully he’ll find a better job soon.
Why are people ragging on this job? They do serve a purpose. If they didn’t have a spotter, they would have to tow cars. Also, the other day, at another location, the spotter was holding half the block because of big work the next day. I needed to stay there just for a few hours. I knew I would be gone before the crews arrived.
The spotter was very nice and did let me stay. He was parked right in front of my basement apartment, so I let him use the bathroom.
Hope he saves up something — Georgian food is really terrific.
Best story of the week….or possibly month. Check out 70th and Broadway where our enterprising newly arrived refugees are cutting hair under the one tree. Want to send them a case of cold water to relieve them a bit from the heat. Immigrants will help save the city and it’s uniqueness as they always have.
He should check out Eat Offbeat. They have immigrant chefs cooking food from their cultures. I used to get different things I had read about but never tried from them. They started out catering, then selling a week’s worth of themed food to individuals, and now I think they have a spot in Chelsea Market.
My understanding is they are staying at the Stratford Arms – free shelter per City’s obligation to provide….
Jean,
What happens to actual barbershops?
Businesses that pay rent and taxes.
Anyone who wants to open up a business on the sidewalk should do so?
BTW check out Washington Square Park that is now an open air pot and other “business” area….
Movie crews have the advantage of being able to get the NYPD to put up signs…
They don’t take advantage of anything! They pay for a permit. NYPD has a special Department that handles that and only that! Please tell me how they are taking advantage?
Income and shelter! Great gig. But necessary? Con Ed, really? For weeks?.
WSR, Georgia on My Mind…hey you got to start somewhere..
Reading your headline, I immediately thought of journalist/humorist Calvin Trillin’s wonderful short novel “Tepper Isn’t Going Out.” If you see this message, George from Tbilisi, Georgia, stop by the nearest branch of the public library (maybe at Amsterdam and 82nd or so) and see if they will lend you a copy of the book. It might give you some ideas about what you can do while waiting in your car. Dance, give advice, pass out handbills for a local business, trade dance lessons for English lessons, who knows what else? Good luck!
Fantastic article! An immigrant story that goes to the heart of NYC.
Same red car was on W/77/St a few weeks ago, using cones to keep parking spaces
Omg yes he was in front of my building for weeks when I needed to park he was very kind and would just ask me to leave my number in case he needed the car to be moved but we never had an issue with him he doesn’t speak English or Spanish
My per peeve is people who take up waaaay more room than necessary.
I don’t understand these people. Are they not aware they take up two spots? On every block i see this, it’s constant. If people parked right, we’d have 30% more parking.
And i am aware people need enough room, and the but the ones i am thinking if it’s beyond question. They’re either obviously parked in the middle of what would be 2 spots, or have 3 feet in front and back. I bet these same people them complain about lack of parking.
To me this is a far bigger problem than coned off spots.
Parallel parking is an art form if not a skill and huge number of drivers simply don’t know how.
They park with extra room about them because it’s far easier than parallel parking into a proper sized spot.
Leaving all that extra room in front and rear same persons assume will give them a buffer so can easily pull out. If parallel parking challenges some drivers, so does getting their vehicle out of confined space.
In a delicious bit of schadenfreude what often happens is vehicles parked in front or behind of one that left huge space leave. They are replaced by drivers who do know how to park and often that extra buffer space is now gone. Thus driver who left all that extra space around his/her parked vehicle is now squeezed between the two.
Aren’t Georgian folk dances the ones where men in shiny black boots dance on their toes?
We had this on my block on West 86th Street for weeks! A guy essentially living in a mini-van (there was a mattress inside) with no airconditioning and no dedicated bathroom or washing facilities in the heat working 24/7, it was unsanitary and unsafe. Why is this legal under our labor laws? To make someone live in their car on the street, under the auspices of a big utility? This seems cruel and against the spirit of every labor law.
I don’t understand why so much hate towards this man and his job!
Sure we could place barricades or wait for ASP and stuff, but wouldn’t you prefer to create a position where someone can actually benefit from?
What if all of you were replaced by machines just so companies don’t have to pay your salary?
I’m actually glad this guy can make some extra money. Good for him!
They go in 12 hour shifts some go 24 hour shifts at $30 + an hour!
One guy I spoke to actually lives in his car working with Con Edison. He goes to one job after another.
he also is a cone man for movie and TV companies. The reason why he chose the spot is that where Con Edison needs to get into. He has no choice than what Con Edison tells him to do.
Once you go above 40 hours in a week you must receive time and a half pay.
He’s a Con-ed spotter… he’s waiting on his supervisor to give him the OK to reserve a stretch of the street for the Con Edison truck come in and start working on the site. This can go on for two weeks or more because Con Edison being so behind in their work orders, very common and makes very good money at $30 an hour. Anybody can apply for the job it’s long hours as long as you have your own car, cones and safety gear. They leave after Con Edison arrives. This gentleman most likely is waiting for the Con Edison vacuum to come in. They vacuum underneath the street so the next crew can come in and replace the wiring that may have been burnt out or about to be burnt out. Pre-maintenance is very important for Con Edison.
Thank you for explaining this properly!
That’s right! Con edison has been doing lots of work — they are replacing old wiring etc. This is needed if you want your city — your safety and the work to be updated . They are working long hours .. I stopped to talk to several and could actually see what they are doing .. They are for sure working ! Let’s be grateful
Maybe I’m missing something, but why does it have to be the same guy, 24 hours a day, for as many days as it takes? Why can’t they have different people take 8 hour shifts?
I’m sure they have that option, but if he’s making $30 an hour for just sitting in his car. I’m sure he doesn’t want to split up his shift! And obviously he needs the job and the money! I really don’t know why people are giving this guy a hard time? He’s obviously performing a service that is needed! It seems like everybody on this page is a transportation engineer or expert! There is no other way for Con Edison to do this and it is very important to New York City that this gets done! End of story!!
Do the sums….
One person doing entire job makes more money than dividing things up between two, four or more people. Compensation isn’t worth bothering with for many just to sit someplace for eight hours then leave. But for a gig that lasts a few days Mr. Bichikashvili can earn enough to take some time off before next job and relax.
From employer side of things it is pretty much same reasons hospital nurses work largely 12 hour shifts.
Instead of three nurses working 8 hour shifts you have two each working 12 hour shifts. Productivity is increased as well as savings in labor costs by eliminating one entire shift of nursing staff.
I have seen people doing this before and stay for a while till Con Edison or filming crew shows up.
A related issue:
Over the past few months (in two cases that I am aware of) Con Ed needed to do work – but the work could not be done because there were restaurant sheds on the street-site.
Pretty incredible….
On 72nd St. the restaurants sheds were all torn down so con ed could put in new pipes.
Great story! We had a spotter in front of our building on West 86th for the better part of a week, following a transformer explosion in the street. A nice enough fella, but not as chatty as your George. For sure, keeping a machine as big and complicated as Manhattan is no small John!
some may want to do a foia request. I could not find a work permit.
https://nycstreets.net/public/permit/search
wait until congestion pricing. Thos will look tame
Buckle up and put on your tinfoil hat kids. It’s not a Con (Ed) it’s a Con (Spiracy). Obviously this guy is CIA, NSA, FSB, GRU or TWA. He is likely monitoring communications from Zabar’s and is planning to sabotage the lox supply for the upcoming holidays (he’s starting early). As for the “studying english” story, it’s obviously BS, the man is an epic polyglot and has a PhD in computer science.
And don’t go thinking for one minute those orange cones are even a little bit what they seem to be.
Amazing! I was the OP on Reddit and had to take a deep back seat as the crazies took over the thread. I must admit it was more than entertaining to read from people blasting me for writing such trivial inconsequential thoughts while Rome is burning.
I greatly appreciate knowing the truth, thanks for taking the TIME!
I hope he doesn’t let his car idle all day!
edit to my last post. OP on NextDoor,, not Reddit
Thank you very much for all the good wishes🥰🥰🙏🙏
Hey good job George! I’m happy to hear you’re making money and doing well! I’m sorry that some New Yorkers have nothing better to do than aggravate you! And try to take away your job! We are all not like that some of us actually mind our business! We are busy minding our business so we cannot mind anyone else’s business! Good luck to you sir!
All the best, and I look forward to trying your food some day.
Of course 🙏🙏🥰🥰
Just amazing how some people can get worked up over something so innocuous, and at its root, a joyful story. Thanks for the piece and best wishes to him!
jane, its a nyc cultural thing, possibly even specifically an upper west side thing—people have to b—tch about everything….often in a self righteous and derogatory way. its really odd. there are real problems in the city and the world–perhaps some of that energy could be channeled towards fighting true injustices. i love this little story and the gentleman who is starring in it.