It’s the talk of the city these days, I’ve heard it multiple times within the past week and I was hesitant to give into that kind of accusation at first, but then it kept coming around. The statement that so utterly and effectively left their lips, a statement that so easily made its way out onto paper or in the form of an Instagram-worthy post. “New York City is Dead.”

I tried to look past the bias of the way New York City is presented in everyones minds except for the people that call this city home. “Dead,” I thought to myself, how about “Alive?” This city has taken on so much since being founded, how is global pandemic going to knock it out? Then I thought further. What about London, Paris, or Milan are they considered dead too? Absolutely not and neither is New York.

Sure, since the pandemic started travel has eased and the city isn’t filled with tourist everywhere you go, but you know what hasn’t changed? The people that call this incredible city home. Yes, some have departed from NYC, but those that love it, those that dreamed about being in this city, those that hold this city together still walk the streets of it. The glue of the city remains in tact by the people that call this wonderful place home.

In fact, I would go as far to say New York City has never been better. The pandemic did a clean sweep in reality checks for a lot of people. Where they want to be in life, if they want to spend the next year or so living in a shoe box apartment and not being able to breath in the ‘fresh air.’ This kicked out the hesitant, “I really don’t love New York City as much as I thought I did” people an left room for the people who truly love New York.

So the media can say all the want that New York is Dead, but I say it’s still alive. It will always be alive. They don’t call it the greatest city in the world for no reason. Sure we’ve hit a road block with tourism and we still can’t dine indoors, but you know what we do have now? A deeper love for the city we call home.