If I had the inclination, time on my hands, and the willingness to fork out lots of $$$, I could go to the city armed with modest, tasteful, plus sized clothing and a ladder. If these statue ladies are going to be on display, they may as well look good! Maybe a little spray paint make-up could help the pouty ones to improve their moods.
Of course, I’d probably get arrested and the charges would stick. I wouldn’t be able to make bail, unlike the people who steal $999.99 worth of merchandise, make a desk appearance, and walk free.
New York has long been a refuge for artists of dubious talent and taste. Anyone remember the cow statues or the “gates” in Central Park?
Let’s be honest. Most New Yorkers ignore these sorts of things after a very short while. Nobody pays any attention to a number of other statues that have gone up in the last few decades.
As for Mother Anne Seton, last time I checked, there’s still a statue outside of her shrine. The US is not a Catholic country, so there won’t be specifically Catholic statues in public places. If a statute of a Catholic is on public property, the person’s Catholicism is secondary to the reason for displaying the statue.