The 70's were tough decade for almost every major city. By the Late 70's NYC was pretty rough.
https://flashbak.com/welcome-to-fear...enties-385119/
Some gritty NYC movies if you haven't seen them yet.
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
The French Connection (1971)
Klute (1971)
The Panic in Needle Park (1971)
Super Fly (1972)
Serpico (1973)
Mean Streets (1973)
Death Wish (1974)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Taxi Driver (1976)
The Warriors (1979)
Fort Apache the Bronx (1981)