In a similar vein, to the cops knowing what's going on but ignoring it, I was in Flushing couple of times in past weeks (2 Modernas plus 2 weeks wait —done — yeah!) and on every corner there were two remarkable sights: 1st there were 2 cops (standing next to each other) on every corner (I saw them between 38th and 40th rd along Main st) and 2nd there were Asian women actively soliciting any guy who gave them a glance, right nearby to the cops. It was obvious what was going on, both the soliciting and the ignoring of it.
So you may think that LE is not enforcing any laws — Nope! I drove along the service road on either side of I678 and there was big time gathering in Corona Park. Lots of concessions selling food, people out enjoying the park, BBQing, playing games etc. The traffic enforcers were out in the dozens, writing a blizzard of tickets to anyone not parked correctly. Gotta teach those criminals a lesson!