NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Some members of the Queens Tourism Council are pushing for a name change for a sometimes- misunderstood area of the city.
On Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, some businesses have “L.I.C.” written on their signs. Many people think everyone should call Long Island City by the initials to cut down on confusion, 1010 WINS’ Holli Haerr reported Wednesday.
Push On To Change Name Of Long Island City, Queens
“When I say, ‘I live in Long Island City,’ (people say), ‘Oh my God! You live on Long Island,’” said Ruth Cavallari. “(I say), ‘No, I live right next to Manhattan.”
Cavallari said she just tells people she lives across from the United Nations building.
Jeffrey Reich-Hale, manager at the Wyndham Garden Long Island City Hotel, said confusion costs money when tourists think they are far from Manhattan.
“It does cause a loss of revenue for the hotels out here,” he said.
But other residents, such as a woman named Jillian, said changing the name is silly.
“Why should we change it just because a couple of people are confused?” she said.
Long Island City was, in fact, an independent city at one time. It was created in 1870 from the union of the Village of Astoria and the hamlets of Ravenswood, Hunters Point and Steinway. Long Island City was annexed to New York City when the five boroughs united in 1898.
Do you think the name of Long Island City should be abbreviated to “L.I.C.?” Leave your comments below…
