I Love New York
My thoughts on Jerry Seinfeld's op-ed called "So You Think New York Is ‘Dead’ (It’s not.)" - published today in The NY Times
Anyone who knows me understands how I feel about New York City. I've been a resident in the city since 1993. I've seen the end of the Dinkins era and the beginning of the Guliani era. I've seen the transition from the last of the bad Times Square to today's pedestrian mall on 45th and 7th.
Although I've been here for 27 years, I've been ready to leave since 2013. I discovered how beautiful California was, and I've wanted to live there ever since. The weather alone makes that state worth all of the taxes one might have to pay. I'd even deal with their ridiculous governor and radical liberal politics if I moved out there. I enjoy many parts of Northern California and the city of Berkeley, despite its reputation as "The People's Republic of Berkeley." The people are so lovely. And did I mention the weather?
But I'm not leaving NYC. Not now. Why? I have a shared parenting agreement with my ex-wife, and we are raising our kids here in NYC. I could leave them, but I am choosing not to. I love them too much. They need their father as much as their mother.
That's the only reason why I'm still here. It appears as if my job has been canceled indefinitely, and no one seems ever to want musicians to work in this city ever again, so I might have to change careers if Broadway and live music doesn’t return soon. I am okay with that. I'm proactive and resourceful. I will be fine.
So will NYC.
I've seen all of the doom and gloom posts from my "friends" on social media. Everyone is going to die!! Millions of cases! Stay locked down until Jesus comes back. Yeah, yeah, yeah. A lot of pessimism and little reality back it up. It's exhausting. I am an optimist at heart, and I see more good in life than bad.
The same applies to the predictions that NYC is dead "forever." The good outweighs the bad. As long as there are commerce and culture in this city, New York will survive. If government officials work on getting both of those essential ingredients back into the stew of the city, things might even be better than before. The folks leaving weren't the kind of people who would stick around anyway. There will always be people willing to take their place eventually. This city is too exciting for it to be abandoned altogether.
I can list several reasons why I'm not too fond of this city. It's dirty, crowded, expensive, people are rude, nasty, and mean. The cost of living is astronomical, there is very little sunlight, the parks are filled with too many people, who don't care about leaving you any space, most people are selfish, mass transit is inconsistent it's incredibly loud and noisy, we live on top of one another, and there is garbage everywhere. The list goes on and on.
But there is a lot to love about this place. Jerry Seinfeld sums it up in his New York Times op-ed published this morning:
There's some other stupid thing in the article about "bandwidth" and how New York is over because everybody will "remote everything." Guess what: Everyone hates to do this. Everyone. Hates.
You know why? There's no energy.
Energy, attitude and personality cannot be "remoted" through even the best fiber optic lines. That's the whole reason many of us moved to New York in the first place.
You ever wonder why Silicon Valley even exists? I have always wondered, why do these people all live and work in that location? They have all this insane technology; why don't they all just spread out wherever they want to be and connect with their devices? Because it doesn't work, that's why.
Real, live, inspiring human energy exists when we coagulate together in crazy places like New York City. Feeling sorry for yourself because you can't go to the theater for a while is not the essential element of character that made New York the brilliant diamond of activity it will one day be again.
You found a place in Florida? Fine. We know the sharp focus and restless, resilient creative spirit that Florida is all about. You think Rome is going away too? London? Tokyo? The East Village?
There are dozens of reasons why New York is one of the greatest cities in the world. I can list a few; Arthur Avenue, Wave Hill, The Bronx Zoo, The New York Botanical Garden, Yankee Stadium, and City Island. And that is just THE BRONX! I haven't even talked about Queens and Brooklyn's cultural landmarks. There is Staten Island too, but I can only tell you a few things about that borough. It really should be in NJ, but that is another discussion. Oh yeah, did I forget? There’s Manhattan.
New York City has The Rockettes, the theater district, Central Park, The Met, The Empire State Building, The New York City Ballet/Opera/Philharmonic, the hundreds of award-winning and innovative restaurants, and a one-of-a-kind shopping experience. New York City in the fall is stunning. In the winter, seeing the shops on 5th Avenue lit up with Christmas decorations in their windows is a sight that can only be seen here. Viewing the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center with the skaters having fun in the rink below can lighten up the mood of even the biggest scrooge.
The pizza and bagels - the best.
New York City will rebound. I am 100% certain of that. I see it already. Businesses are re-opening. Despite the clamor to shut them all down, restaurants are filled with outside dining. Broadway shows are already giving dates for opening night, and people are out and about enjoying the hustle and bustle.
However, it is less hustle and bustle-y. Things will take time to get back to the pre-COVID level of excitement.
I feel we need a cheerleader. I could easily be a tour guide for New York City. I'm quickly becoming one for New York State. There are so many great sites to see outside of the city. It's genuinely beautiful outside of the five boroughs.
Why is a person like me, someone who even after 27 years here still doesn't consider themselves a New Yorker, ready to raise pom-poms to lead the cheer for New York? Why do we have elected leaders discouraging people from coming and by default, telling folks to stay away? We need a 21st century “I Love New York” campaign.
New York, New York - big city of dreams. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. The "greatest city in the world.” All of that is true to a certain degree. I am ready to see what the next step is for the Big Apple. I'll be here for a few more years, so I'll be living through the next phase.
Jerry finishes his essay with:
You say New York will not bounce back this time.
You will not bounce back. In your enervated, pastel-filled new life in Florida. I hope you have a long, healthy run down there. I can't think of a more fitting retribution for your fine article.
This stupid virus will give up eventually. The same way you have.
We're going to keep going with New York City if that's all right with you. And it will sure as hell be back.
Because of all the real, tough New Yorkers who, unlike you, loved it and understood it, stayed and rebuilt it.
Clayton Craddock is an independent thinker, father of two beautiful children in New York City. He is the drummer of the hit broadway musical Ain't Too Proud. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Howard University's School of Business and is a 25 year veteran of the fast-paced New York City music scene. He has played drums in several hit broadway and off-broadway musicals, including "Tick, tick…BOOM!, Altar Boyz, Memphis The Musical and Lady Day At Emerson's Bar and Grill. Also, Clayton has worked on: Footloose, Motown, The Color Purple, Rent, Little Shop of Horrors, Evita, Cats, and Avenue Q.
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