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Rockefeller Center Rink Gets #NewYorkTough Takeover


By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 20, 2020


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New York Tough on the Rock Center Rink

Scott Lynch / Gothamist

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By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 20, 2020


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The spot typically filled by the wintertime Rockefeller Center ice skating was taken over by a message from New York State this weekend. The rink area now reads: #NewYorkTough (next to an image of the state), a hashtag Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been promoting at his daily briefings since late March.

On March 24th Cuomo said, "We're going to get through it because we are New York and because we've dealt with a lot of things, and because we are smart. You have to be smart to make it in New York. And we are resourceful, and we are showing how resourceful we are. And because we are united, and when you are united, there is nothing you can't do. And because we are New York tough. We are tough. You have to be tough. This place makes you tough, but it makes you tough in a good way."

Since then he has expanded on that idea, drilling it in at each briefing and basically branding the phrase. He's explained in one way or another over the past few weeks that "tough is more complex than many people think it is. Within that word tough is smart, and united, and disciplined, and loving." Let's go to the PowerPoint:

We're told "the installation is open-ended," which really speaks to the uncertainty of our future in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

You can click through the gallery above to see it from the safety of your own isolation spot.

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rockefeller center

New York Tough


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


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