Guess you don't read papers, watch the news or browse the net for things related to world news then? It's not just NYC, but other countries doing this as well, it's just not publicized as such.
My personal views vary. On one hand, it's something that probably should have been done a long time ago, but perhaps differently than just taking up space the way these people are doing it. In my opinion, most of the people are full of it, and are big ol' hypocrites. They stand there shouting about how big corporations have too much control etc all while sipping on Starbucks coffee, eating MacDonalds burgers and filming it all with their Blackberries, iPhones and Android wares.
If any of them were truly serious, they'd boycott purchasing or using anything that they're supposedly railing against. Sure, it would be hard to do, but don't stand there whining about "the man" all while standing in his living room!
That's just one point though, and far from my entire view of this very broad subject.
Doug