Shred Fest Part Two

A New York woman is relieved and happy as she disposes of some bad news from the past year at last December’s `Good Riddance Day` ceremony on Times Square. (Edward Dai/The Epoch Times)

Shred Fest identity theft

NEW YORK—New Yorkers who missed the huge shredders in Times Square last year will have another chance to dispose of important documents at the upcoming 2nd Annual Shred Fest.

Last year the event let people get rid of their worst memories—throwing everything from unkind bank statements to heartbreaking love letters into large metal shredders.

This year Shred Fest has a more solid focus and aims to tackle identity theft, in concern of the 12,000 victims of identity theft last year. The event will be held on May 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be held at several locations throughout the five boroughs. Everyone is free to bring documents to shred discreetly.

In a press release John Feinblatt, the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator “Identity theft has become the most common financial crime in America.”

Information on how to guard against identity theft will also be given away and to keep the event green, all shredded paper will be recycled.

Hard-core shredders will be happy to know that the first five Shred Fest participants at each of the 11 locations will get to bring home a free personal shredder and television monitors mounted on each shredder will let you watch your personal documents disappear from the eyes of would-be identity thieves.

To boot, the event will be held at local parks, allowing for a pleasant outdoor experience with the company of huge, industrial shredders.

 “Don’t be a victim of identity theft! Your private documents are better shred than read, so bring your personal documents to be shredded and recycled, all while enjoying our public parks,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe in a press release.

“Public parks are accessible gathering places and we are pleased that many of them are hosting Shred Fest NYC,” he said.

New Yorkers can take their documents to one of the following 11 locations to be shredded:

           Bronx:

           Bronx Park (Corner of Boston Road and Bronx Park East; near Ben Abrams Playground) Franz Sigel Park (Corner of East 158th Street and Grand Concourse)

           Brooklyn:

           Bensonhurst Park (Cropsey Avenue and Bay 29th Street)

           Cadman Plaza (Cadman Plaza West; opposite Clark Street)

           Prospect Park (Prospect Park West and 5th Street)

           Manhattan:

           Central Park (Merchant’s Gate/Columbus Circle; Corner of Central Park South and Central Park West)

           St. Nicholas Park (Corner of West 135th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue)

           Union Square (North Plaza; East 16th Street and Union Square West)

           Queens:

           Doughboy Plaza (52nd Street and Woodside Avenue)

           Flushing Meadows Corona Park (parking lot at 111th Street and 54th Avenue)

           Staten Island:

           Richmond County Flea Market (454 New Dorp Lane, Opposite New Dorp High School)