At the dawn of the 1990s, New York City was in an unremittingly bleak state. It brought yet another all-time record high in violent crime.By the mid 1990s, crime rates started to drop dramatically due to revised police strategies, improving economic opportunities, gentrification, and new residents, both American transplants and new immigrants from Asia and Latin America. Important new sectors, such as Silicon Alley, emerged in the city’s economy.By the time the 1990s ended, the city was pulling in 7 million more tourists a year while the city’s population began to grow for the first time in decades.French illustrator and photographer Watchman took these fascinating photographs that show  scenes of New York City in May 1990. Initiation, Downtown NYC, USA8th avenue at night, Downtown, NYC, USAAvenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USAAvenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USAAvenue of the Americas (6th av), Downtown NYC, USABattery Park City, NYC, USABattery Park City, NYC, USABattery Park Underpass, NYC, USABattery Park, Lower Manhattan, NYC, USABattery Park, NYC, USABattery Park, NYC, USABleecker St (and the Pink Pussy Cat Boutique!), The Village, Downtown NYC, USABroadway, Downtown NYC, USABroadway, Downtown NYC, USABroadway, Downtown NYC, USABroadway, Downtown NYC, USACity Hall, NYC, USACity Hall, NYC, USACity Hall, NYC, USACity Hall, NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USADowntown NYC, USAEmpire State, view by my window, 8th avenue, Downtown NYC, USAFigure of the Empire State, Downtown NYC, USA.jpgFinancial district, World Trade Center, Downtown NYC, USALa dispute, Downtown NYC, USAMuseum For American Indian, NYC, USANeighborhood of the World Trade Center, Downtown NYC, USANew York skyline, NYC, USANYC view from Twin Towers, NYC, USANYC view from Twin Towers, NYC, USANYC view from Twin Towers, NYC, USANYC view from Twin Towers, NYC, USANYC view from Twin Towers, NYC, USARadio City Music Hall, 6th avenue, Downtown NYC, USARadio City Music Hall, 6th avenue, Downtown NYC, USARockefeller Center, 5th avenue, NYC, USARockefeller Center, 5th avenue, NYC, USASt. Nicolas Church, Downtown NYC, USAThe Village, Downtown NYC, USAThe Village, Downtown NYC, USATribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street), Downtown NYC, USATriBeCa, Downtown NYC, USATwin Towers & Battery Park City, NYC, USATwin Towers, NYC, USATwin Towers, NYC, USAView by my window, 8th avenue, Downtown, NYC, USAView by my window, 8th avenue, Downtown, NYC, USAView by my window, 8th avenue, Downtown, NYC, USAView from Columbus Circle, Downtown NYC, USAWashington Square, Downtown NYC, USA