Sidewalks are private property?
Depends on location and local laws. There are areas where private property extends all the way to the street. Not sure how it is in NY.
Tangentially related: had a homeless guy start screaming at me and the kids yesterday while we were walking to jiu jitsu and waiting at a crosswalk. "WHERE THE freak IS MY MONEY, NIGGA? lover of the older lady GOT YOUR WHOLE FAMILY HERE. I'M GONNA KILL YOUR WHOLE FAMILY IF YOU DON'T PAY ME MY freaking MONEY, NIGGA." First time I've had a homeless guy brazen enough to scream at my kids like that. He realized as soon as the light changed that it was actually the Asian guy who had just crossed toward us who owed him the money.