Leap Day cash giveaway turns into free-for-all at Manhattan park

NEW YORK - Even giving away something for free can turn into a hassle in New York.

Take the case of a video-sharing website which set out to observe Leap Day by handing out prizes worth up to $29 on Feb. 29 outside Union Square Park.

As the clock ticked toward the event's scheduled time - 2:29 p.m. - people began shouting "Make it rain!" and "Give me my money!" as they trampled one another and mobbed the costumed representatives of CashTomato.com

Jason Buzi, who identified himself as CashTomato's senior vice-president, says some people even wrested bags of cash-stuffed envelopes and other items from company workers.

Buzi said CashTomato has staged relatively uneventful giveaways in other cities, and he was startled by the Manhattan mayhem.

Police didn't have any information Saturday on whether anyone was injured or arrested.

The prize givers weren't the only ones feeling overwhelmed.

"Before I knew it, I was on the floor" and under a pile of people, said Anabel DeJesus, 17.

"It's not worth it," added DeJesus, who left empty handed.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/080301/K030108AU.html

And so Jesus stays poor yet again...

Leap Day cash giveaway turns into free-for-all at Manhattan park

Leap Day cash giveaway turns into free-for-all at Manhattan park

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