I once met a Brooklynite who insisted that Brooklyn was a city. The central defense of his argument was a sign on the Belt Parkway that proclaimed, “Welcome to Brooklyn 4th Largest City in America.” I explained to him that the sign was meant to say that IF Brooklyn was an independent municipality (which it was until 1898), it WOULD be the 4th largest, but that Brooklyn was a borough of New York City. Unfortunately, my words fell on deaf ears. The individual’s belief was resolute and like the fundamentalist Christian, he was taking a literal interpretation of the words. Metaphors were apparently not part of this man’s world, particularly in this case of civic pride which clouded all reason and his ability to see Brooklyn as anything other than the greatest place on earth.

However, his pride is understandable. Brooklyn has some of the richest history in New York City and many of its most enduring icons, notable history, and contributions to American culture, whether film, TV, literature, music, art, or architecture. Coney Island, the waterfront, Brooklyn Heights, the Dodgers, the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Academy of Music, DUMBO, Prospect Park, Green-Wood Cemetery, Pratt Institute. Brooklyn is also a badge of honor for many who have achieved worldly success and risen from inner city working-class roots. It’s a place that many are proud to be from.
The legendary sign, which greeted motorists on the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn in the 1970s, achieved its iconic status in the opening title sequence of the popular TV series Welcome Back, Kotter. The show also launched the career of John Travolta, later to star in Saturday Night Fever, based in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. The last remaining of the three versions of this sign found a home in Gargiulo’s restaurant after the retirement of Brooklyn Borough President Sebastian Leone. Gargiulo’s owner Nino Russo was persuaded by Borough President Marty Markowitz to donate the sign to the city. It now hangs in Brooklyn Borough Hall.

I have seen street performers cleverly play on this borough pride and rivalry. While taking a contribution, the performer would ask and announce the borough from which the audience member was from, the amount, and also brandish the currency, taunting the audience and challenging someone from a rival borough to make a greater contribution. This would escalate to a virtual bidding war with single contributions going to $5, $10, or more. Some may say this is all in good fun, and certainly all participants are willing victims. However, I find this aggressive money pitch highly manipulative, akin to creating a bidding frenzy like that found in an auction, where bidders lose control. Nonetheless, it certainly illustrates the civic pride in the boroughs of New York City and that some are willing to pay hard cash for one-upmanship.

Recently, I spotted the vanity license plate shown in today’s photo. I’ve got the KNGOFQNS here. Certainly there is someone from Brooklyn who can do better than that. Isn’t there anyone from the 4th Largest City in America who wants to Up the Ante?