A reply to Paul Berger in today’s NY Metro
Dear Paul,
I’m sitting in our office in Chinatown* on Grand and Lafayette, next door is the excellent Thai Angel, across the street is a new French restaurant, opposite is the Landmark Pancake House and a stones throw away is that bastion of Little Italy, Ferrara’s Bakery. And, as one of the people responsible for creating the campaign in question, with a British father and a Dutch mother, it feels like I’m in a reasonably good position to address some of the other points you raised!
When we first started planning this campaign about a year ago, we sounded out the local business community and various levels of local and city government officials, not one person voiced anything other than support. Since the campaign went public ten days ago we have generated significant international media coverage, which benefits the whole city, just under three thousand people have taken the trouble to sign the petition, there are seventy posts on the blog, of which about half a dozen are negative and three of which are so vitriolic it’s hard to take them seriously. In fact many of the issues you raised are answered by the map at www.campaignforlittlebritain.com, which illustrates the fifteen British businesses in the area, or are being discussed in the campaign blog and we’d encourage you and your readers to contribute.
There is one point we would like to address here, your suspicion that this is a cheap advertising ploy. If we were proposing “Cheerio’s Little Britain” you’d have a point, but we are not.
Yes, two British businesses, Tea & Sympathy and Virgin Atlantic, are leading this campaign because it is relevant and authentic that they should. Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight was to New York, they even hatched their business plan in the White Horse pub, and now they fly about half a million people a year between the two cities. Tea & Sympathy has been a stalwart of the local business community for seventeen years, in which time it became known as the “unofficial British Embassy” which in many ways was the creative inspiration for the campaign.
Cheap advertising ploy’s are here today gone tomorrow, this campaign is about transparently creating an Anglophile destination in a country full of Anglophiles, in a city that will get 38 million domestic tourists this year, which is clearly going to benefit the whole business community in the neighborhood.
Of course we hoped this idea would generate some debate, and we did half expect some Brits to come out against it, as David Remnick said “…the British are the only culture to feel schadenfreude about themselves”. For all of us who created and support the campaign, we are proud to be entrepreneurs who live in the entrepreneurial capital of the world, and, proud to be British. We hope it inspires more Brits to follow suit, to start with they can sign the petition supporting Little Britain in the Big Apple!
Best
CFLB
*the Chinese are the second largest immigrant group in the city, 39% live in Queens, 33% Brooklyn, 24% Manhattan [source: nyc.gov]
The article in the Metro can be seen here
http://ny.metro.us/metro/blog/my_view/entry/My_View_Show_us_your_Brits/7750.html
I just think this campaign is silly… I’m sorry but the itish have not had an impact on New York since they were expelled; they are not a prominent minority, they do not work the city’s blue collar or white collar jobs, they are not a cultural force of the city. Little Britain makes about much sense as Little Holland: None. If anything gets renamed, it should be because it is a daily aspect ofthe city, a part of its life. Give me a little Mexico, give me a Little Korea, give me a little anything as long as it honors those that makes the city function day to day. The Brish don’t, so they don’t deserve the honor… and it is an honor when the city needs you and recognizes you.
Comment by 13 Streeter — April 2, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
A “silly” campaign is fine with me. In fact, there’s not enough “silly-ness” in the world. But, c’mon, there’s no doubt that the Campaign for Little Britain is a total wank-fest for Tea & Sympathy and Virgin Atlantic. Far more important to the West Village is the upcoming “Friends of the Highline Festival” founded by David Bowie and featuring the brilliant and hilarious Ricky Gervais. “Extras” teeny-tiny six-episode seasons are the best things on television…and are among the “favorite things” listed in my latest GRIPEWATER entry. (Scroll down past matzohs and gefilte fish..!!) http://gripewater.diaryland.com/070325_90.html
Comment by Gripewater — April 2, 2007 @ 8:33 pm
All the following local stores and British businesses in NYC support CFLB: Fiddlesticks, McQueen, Thomas Pink, Ben Sherman, Bumble and bumble, Stella McCartney, Myers, The Spotted Pig, Conran, Burberry,Paul Smith, Agent Provocateur, Paul Smith, Classic Car Club of Manhattan, Jo Malone, Anya Hindmarch, Lord Willys and Duncan Quinn.
Virgin and T&S are leading it for good reasons, have finanacially committed to it, and, in doing so are creating an opportunity for themselves and others. What’s wrong with that?
Comment by The Joneses — April 3, 2007 @ 5:29 am
you’d enjoy this!
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_bt/episode/0,2857,FOOD_26696_49736,00.html
Comment by CFLB — April 3, 2007 @ 7:51 am
Yes you are absolutely correct some of the stores are not in the neighborhood, hence “…British businesses in NYC”
the point was, and is, they support it. Cheers!
Comment by CFLB — April 3, 2007 @ 7:59 am
LB-LBR? LR= Little Britain I savvy.
But wotz LBR?
London & Birmingham Railway?
http://encycl.opentopia.com/term/London_and_Birmingham_Railway
I hope that my favest champion chef Jamie Oliver can support the Little Britain campaign when he’s next in NYC. GOOD ON YA!
Comment by Matt — April 3, 2007 @ 8:55 pm
Matt, its LB to LHR….Heathrow
Cheers!
Comment by CFLB — April 4, 2007 @ 7:13 am
*yawn* I thought Tea & Sympathy was just a Visa office for the importation of hot British guys? Great mac & cheese too. Not quite worth renaming a neighborhood for. The village has suffered more than a British invasion… so how about ‘Little Filled-to-the-brim-with-millionaire-douchebags-that’s-why-i-had-to-move-to-Queens-after-living-on-Horatio-for-20-years’? or ‘Little Take-Your-Richard-Meier-buildings-and-stuff-em-you-stroller-pushing-nightmare’?
Comment by ebeth — April 4, 2007 @ 8:41 am
do you mean “silly” like ministry of silly walks and python in general, mr bean, the tv show ‘little britain’ and lots of brit comedy…all hugely popular …silliness is an essential part of being british, 13 streeter, which you seemed to have missed. the brits love making a serious point in a silly way! vote for little brit in the big apple!!
Comment by nick — April 11, 2007 @ 4:03 am
Apparently us Brits are so silly that we even allow Americans in a certaiin part of Easy Anglia in Britain to drive on the wrong side of the road in what is known as ‘Little America’…. ans all we’re asking for is recognition and a st sign, hardly a lot to ask is it.
And if so many other nationalities get their own ‘Little’, what good reason can’t their be a Little Britain, given the history of Brits in New York, from Hanover Square to Greenwich village, which apparently used to be land worked by British farmers.. where else would you suggest it goes Streeter?
Comment by Fiona — April 15, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Streeter, so you think a campaign for a “Little 51st State” silly, back in ‘47, America gave Britain the choice,
stay in Europe,or,become the 51st State of the U.S.A.
I wonder,did we make the right choice……you could have ended up with T.Blair as President! Jeez,what a thought
I’ll settle for a “Little Britain” in NY. come on Streeter,give us a smile and STOP SHOUTING!
Comment by Trish — April 16, 2007 @ 10:07 am
Come on, whats all the fuss about? All they are talking about is co-naming one section of a street! I read in the NYT the other day that a bill for *53* co-names is currently being considered. What’s different about this one? And its no different in principle to how Koreatown was created so there is a precedent. Publicity stunt? Well, if they were proposing re-naming it Branson Bvld or Tea & Sympathy Way you’d have a point, but they are not. I live round the corner and I support it, guess I’ll have to go and see the Pres of the Block Assoc too!!
http://empirezone.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/whats-in-a-street-name/
Comment by a resident supporter — April 22, 2007 @ 12:54 pm
blimey, sense of humor failure or what?
Comment by jim — April 22, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
Hi, certainly a lively debate! As I understand it Koreatown was initiated by a bookstore and a couple of restuarants, that’s where the similarity lies. In terms of what Britain has done recently for NYC, they are the USA’s largest investor and based on geography and type of business e.g. finance/media I would suspect a disproportionate amount goes to NYC. More broadly one million Americans go to work for British companies, so they are a big employer of Americans. As posted on this blog Apr 9, the area in question was once referred to as the “British Quarter”, as reported by the NYT in 1902, so there is a history of Britain having something to do with the identity of the neighborhood, which continues. I guess 25 years ago they didn’t lobby for a destination as there was already Spanish Harlem. As for Branson, according to other posts I have read here, Virgin’s inaugral flight was to NYC and their vision was about connecting the two great cities, London and NYC, he is a big
employer of NYC residents and his first office was round the corner on Perry St, I suppose you can’t blame him for being successful and outgrowing the building. I think Tea & Sympathy have done a lot for the neighborhood, they’ve built a successful business, they attract alot of tourists to the area [38 million domestic tourists a year come to NYC] and they are a huge supporter and friend of all the different nationalities in the community, many of whom are their customers. I’m guessing you are not one, but that’s fair enough
Comment by a resident supporter — April 22, 2007 @ 2:50 pm
Dear 13 Streeter,
You write, “Tell me what have Tea or Sympathy, Branson, or the British for that matter, done for NYC lately?”
I’m a New Yorker, and longtime Perry Street resident. T/S and all the British merchants are great neighbors (can’t speak for Branson. He doesn’t call…doesn’t write…) who make the Village more unique by just being here, as I am sure your block president would attest to.
I believe we would have more horrible chain stores around here if not for the Brits’ endeavors. Let’s celebrate THAT with a simple added street sign…
And how can you not agree that the Brits match everyone in ethic, drive, and pride in this neighborhood’s history AND future. I look forward to strolling around the Village with friends from out of town, pointing out why we ALSO call that small stretch of Greenwich Ave, “Little Britain.”
Really, I’m sure you enjoy the “points of interest” portions of your own tours for out-of-towners (Chumley’s, Gwynneth, Agee, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Whitehorse/Dylan Thomas, etc??).
also: Good one, Trish! I didn’t know about Battery Park/London Blitz. Thanks!
VOTE!!!
Comment by daniel — April 23, 2007 @ 9:10 am
nICE TO SEE MY POSTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED. Guess they hit to close to the truth that this is a publicity campaign just as disgusting as anything a McDonalds or a Jamba Juice moving into the neighborhood could come up with. That block is part of the Village. That name is just fine.
Comment by 13 STREETER — June 22, 2007 @ 8:20 pm
Dear 13 Streeter
Some of your posts were removed because you used a derogatory term for gay people and we won’t tolerate offensive, inappropriate or impolite language on this blog.
CFLB
Comment by CFLB — June 23, 2007 @ 3:16 am
One other thing, dear 13 streeter, your disagreement with the campaign is well documented on this blog, specifically addressed by us and other people in numerous posts, and, in a letter distributed to the community this week and posted here on June 12, which you clearly have not read.
Furthermore, this blog is provided for the community as a forum for reasonable and polite debate where each position is considered and responsed too in kind, not through personal invective.
Cheers
CFLB
Comment by CFLB — June 23, 2007 @ 7:06 am
hi…
great…
Trackback by link — November 28, 2007 @ 9:10 pm
buy soma online without prescription
Comment by buy soma online without prescription — April 13, 2008 @ 6:34 pm
Cheap International Flight Ticket…
If only God would give me some clear sign! Like making a large deposit in my name in a Swiss bank. Woody Allen…
Trackback by Cheap International Flight Ticket — April 14, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
Gay Incest Gay Cumshots Gay Jock…
I can not agree with you in 100% regarding some thoughts, but you got good point of view…
Trackback by Gay Incest Gay Cumshots Gay Jock — April 18, 2008 @ 6:54 am
cheap flight rome…
…
Trackback by cheap flight rome — April 26, 2008 @ 2:53 am