New York City Mayor Eric Adams is launching an ad campaign to soon run in Florida’s busiest media markets to tempt people into moving to New York. Well, not all people — just gay people. Of course, it’s a direct affront to Republican Governor Ron DeSantis and the recent passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act legislation — which ideological LBGTQ political opponents have nicknamed Don’t Say Gay.
In a city renowned for having the best of the best marketing minds on Madison Avenue, how does that work? Can you imagine the slogan? “Calling all gay people living it up in the Sunshine State! Buy a snow shovel, parka, and beanie and move to a crime-ridden city with poor weather, twice the rent, and deliriously high taxes. And if you survive, we will prove to you we love everyone.” It practically sells itself.
This is the gist of the plan. But with much catchier messages such as: “New York City Is Alive, And So Is Free Speech.” Or “Loud, Proud, Still Allowed.” All in multi-colored palettes.
This bluster and fuss from the Big Apple arose because the Florida state legislature voted to prohibit teaching K-3 students about sexual orientation and gender identity. That’s children the tender age of 5 to 8 years old. In brief, the law ambiguously defines content “that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” But it does not – in any way — ban a teacher from answering a child’s question on sexuality if asked.
But besides spending taxpayers’ money for a publicity stunt, what’s the point?
It’s the Weather, Stupid
Not that it matters, but let’s look at real oppression. Overall, New York City is 96.5% more expensive than Florida. The median home price is 279% more expensive. Food, utilities, transportation, rent – all are significantly higher in Gotham. And should we mention the weather? It’s balmy in Florida and gritty, grimy, with cold winters in NYC.
Mayor Eric Adams (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
New York is one of the most progressive states in the nation on LGBTQ rights. It checks all the equality boxes – marriage, employment, hate crime and anti-conversion therapy intolerance, healthcare, and housing. Florida is in the process of achieving those markers. In New York, the total LGBTQ population is 5.1% of all residents – or 800,000. Meanwhile, Florida is home to 4.6% LGBTQ people, or roughly 772,000. So Mayor Adams has met his quota.
So, what is this nonsense all about? In a word: deflection.
Deflect or Eject?
A few weeks ago, Mayor Adams met with Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to talk crime-fighting strategies. It sounds ridiculous, but maybe, just maybe, Adams learned a little trick: paint rainbow crosswalks when the bullets are flying. No one can tell you it’s wrong, or there will be a public flogging. This meeting took place just days after Adams walked out of a new anti-gun task force. He may have Freudian-slipped the next comment, but he told a reporter his police would start arresting low-level offenders: “If we start saying it’s all right for you to jump the turnstile, we are creating an environment where any and everything goes.” And that one comment sent chills up the spines of the defund-the-police progressives.
A new poll from Fontas Advisors/Core Decision Analytics, presented a statement to New Yorkers: “My family would have a better future if we left New York City permanently.” A startling 59% responded that they either agreed strongly or somewhat with that proposition. When the majority of residents feel they would be better off hitting the road, it seems that Mayor Adams has plenty of other things to worry about without pandering to the alt-left wing of the Democratic Party and poaching gay people from a state a thousand miles away.
