They once were seen as a symbol of a city in decline, and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani drove them from the streets, but NY1's Ruschell Boone found a squeegee guy once again cleaning windshields, trying to earn some money. 

To some New Yorkers, it's a jarring sight, at the at the foot of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge: a man washing windshields, hoping for tips, what New Yorkers call a squeegee man.

Richard Hayes works this stretch of pavement several times a week. He says his job as a part-time cook does not pay enough to make ends meet.

"By the time I come home with that, I pay my aunt my rent, pay half of the cable, but food, I just might have enough carfare and maybe $30, $40 left out of that check. So I got to come out here anyway," he said.

Hayes averages about $10 an hour washing windows. He accepts whatever the drivers give him. 

"Slow money is better than no money," he said.

Squeegee guys were common at bridge and tunnel entrances in the 1980s and '90s. But some were aggressive, intimidating drivers.

When he took office, Mayor Rudolph Giuliani launched a crackdown, calling them symbols of a city in decay.

Hayes was on the streets on and off during that time as well. Back then, he was arrested dozens of times, but since he's been back, the police have left him alone..

"I do it respectfully, so no one would have a reason to call the police on me," he said.

He also says police are not as aggressive as they used to be, but he has to leave when they come around. If another squeegee person shows up, there is an agreement, he says, to try to keep drivers from complaining.

"Only two people in the street at one time," he said. "Sometimes, we're each like, I'll do a light, like, this light here, I'll wash windows on this light and the next guy will do the next light. 

Some residents don't like the idea of the squeegee people but most people NY1 spoke with say he has become a fixture here.  A few were concerned that our attention would bring him unwanted trouble, but Hayes says he wanted to tell his story.

"Because then it brings an awareness to people. Because a lot of people criticize us," he said.

Hayes is hoping to leave the block, and the city, one day soon. He says New York has gotten too expensive for him, so his ultimate goal is to save up enough money to move down south.

But with the cash coming in slowly, he's not sure when that will happen.