Some believe Long Island City should change its official name to LIC
Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens Both the NY Post and the Village Voice have written about a desire among some to change the name of Long Island City to LIC permanently. Apparently, the name “Long Island City” is bad for real estate, hotels, and morale, according to some in the community….
Gantry Plaza State Park in Long Island City, Queens
Both the NY Post and the Village Voice have written about a desire among some to change the name of Long Island City to LIC permanently. Apparently, the name “Long Island City” is bad for real estate, hotels, and morale, according to some in the community. Rob MacKay, head of the Queens Economic Development Corp. Tourism Council (and who also lives in Long Island City), says says, “It puts us out on Long Island, and that’s inaccurate – we are urban and hip.”
It is also confusing to some – people hear “Long Island City” and they only hear “Long Island” and expect that it is out in Nassau or Suffolk Counties, far away from Manhattan, AKA too far (a reasonable concern if a traveler is looking to work and play in the city). LIC is actually only one stop from Manhattan (Vernon-Jackson on the 7, Queensboro Plaza on the N/Q and Queens Plaza on the E/M/R). In the words of the Village Voice, “Long Island City is one of the closest neighborhoods to the island fortress.”
An opposing view comes from architectural historian Francis Morrone, “I think that’s really stupid. It’s like changing the name of New York City to NYC because people may confuse it with upstate New York.”
What do you think? Would you like to see the name of Long Island City officially changed to LIC? Let us know in the comments or via twitter at @queensnycity.
‘Island’ nabe: Call us LIC! [NY Post]
LOL At The Plan To Officially Change Long Island City’s Name To ‘LIC’ [Village Voice]
LIC vs Long Island City [We Heart Astoria]
Business officials want to change Long Island City to LIC [LIC Post]
The fact that someone even bothered to propose this in a way that’s legitimate enough to prompt a response from someone as serious as Francis Morrone makes me nauseous. If this is the level of thinking happening at the QEDC, they’re overdue for some housecleaning.
Do NOT change the name to LIC. It is a proud area that needs full recognition. If people are too stupid to realize the it is not “out on the Island”, then they should educate themselves…especially before moving there. Besides, it’s historical and as stated above, should we change New York City to NYC?