Collect Pond is, for the most part, an unremarkable little park in Chinatown, near the bottom of Manhattan. As some signs explain by the grass, it got its name from the body of water that once occupied the space.
In the late 18th century, it was declared “stagnant and foul”, and residents were encouraged to dump rubbish in it to fill it up. By 1808, the site had become home to a large mound of rubbish and mud, which ruined the neighbourhood for decades by releasing noxious, putrid gases.
It now sits opposite the New York County Criminal Court, where Donald Trump is currently spending his weekdays. On the Monday when the Trump trial began, the park was full of protesters and counter-protesters, waving flags and banners, arguing with each other and trying to catch the attention of some of the many journalists milling around.
A week later, the jury was picked and the trial began in earnest. Collect Pond, on the other hand, has since returned to normal. There are no MAGA hats here, or people calling Trump an orange criminal. Only New Yorkers who happen to live or work in the neighbourhood remain. Are they keeping an eye on what is happening in the courtroom?
“A little bit,” says Deborah, 73, who is enjoying a morning coffee in the sun. “It’s difficult to avoid. You turn on the news and it’s always in your face. In my opinion, they’re giving him too much oxygen, and he doesn’t deserve it.”
Still, she adds, “it has to be done and it all has to be heard in court and I hope he gets his just reward.” It is always “he”. She would rather not have to say his name out loud.
“I think that, if he’s found guilty, we may see some very unpleasant activities in this city and around the country,” she says. “I hope there will be some change and people will stop watching Fox News and really tune in to what’s important and what’s the truth, and realise we can’t have a person like that running our country.” It is a commendable wish, but she doesn’t sound especially convinced it will happen.
Tim, who is 40, sounds even gloomier. On a day off from work, he had to run errands nearby and decided to stop by the courthouse to see what was going on. He has been following the trial “almost obsessively”.
“I’m genuinely fearful that this and all the other trials will make the legal system ask itself and us ask ourselves very difficult questions,” he says. “Because you’ve got the former president of the United States and his legal team essentially saying ‘is this even a crime? Who says this is a crime?’”
“We’re in a lot of trouble, ethically, with what’s at stake in this trial. It feels foreboding and dangerous.”
On a brief brighter note, he then admits that he is about to get married to his long-term partner, who happens to have an Irish passport. The couple’s plan is to move to Europe as soon as they can.
Paul, 58, is likely to stay put. He is grumpy because the trial has shut down the usual route he takes when walking his dog, and he finds it “hard not to” follow the proceedings.
“He’s not above the law,” he says, “although he’s acted like that for 20-odd years in Manhattan.”
If Trump does end up being found guilty, Paul believes it may influence the outcome of the election. “The polls tell us that there are people who say ‘yeah, if he’s a convicted felon then we won’t vote for him’. So it could make a significant difference,” he adds. He confesses that he still feels nervous about it all.
“Like most New Yorkers – probably – I’d like it to be over quickly and nothing would be better than a very quick guilty verdict.”
This seems to be the mood in the city; Manhattan did not vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020 and it is unlikely to do so in 2024. This trial, happening in a place where they live, shop and work, is a constant reminder of a greater, national tension. All they can do is keep going about their lives, and hope they can rely on the rest of the country in November.
Marie Le Conte is a French author and journalist living in London
