Blog

We thank The Brian Lehrer Show and WNYC for spotlighting the plight of laid-off sightseeing bus guides.

Listen here: The Future of NYC Tour Bus Guides

Patrick Casey, the chair of our Government Relations Committee, spoke on the segment about the need for live guides, and the crucial role they play in a safe environment for these buses. And, of course, live guides create a personal experience that best sells our great city.

We urge the NYC City Council to swiftly pass bill 289-A to keep our double-decker buses safe, and a worthwhile value to visitors from across the world.

The NYC government has a regular video series, named "inform NYC", that provides New Yorkers with useful information about city services by answering the most frequently asked questions.

The latest episode-- 'Why are Queens streets so confusing?'-- features two GANYC Members, Ibrahima Diallo and Jack Eichenbaum (who is the official Queens Borough Historian). It is no surprise to us that the city knows that when you want your questions about the city answered, you seek out a licensed guide!

This past week, GANYC member Jeremy Wilcox was interviewed by Elis James and John Robins on their BBC radio program. Each week they do a segment called “Unsung Heroes”, where they talk to various people who have played a big part in something well known to the public, but also not very recognized. This week, they featured NYC tourism (one our city’s top industries!) and interviewed Wilcox from his perspective on this industry as a professional guide.

You can listen to the episode here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001092g

The segment starts at 34:34

In late August and early September, GANYC organized a series of events in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, and their impact on New York.

Our first series of events were for members only. This included a series of 9/11 Memorial walks for our members led by 9/11 Memorial Museum docent and trainer, Ed Welter. Our big event was held at 3 World Trade Center. The program began with a talk by Mike Marcucci, the host of this special class event and personal filmmaker to Larry Silverstein. Mr. Marcucci took members and other invited guests through the newly opened marketing center of the World Trade Center. Next we were joined 9/11 Memorial Museum docent and trainer, Ed Welter for a class on “How the World Trade Center was built and why did it collapse.” We thank them for these wonderful events.

This was followed up in the past week with our "New York City Remembers" initiative, a series of free events that our members volunteered to give to the public. The initiative consisted of live walking tours, and a series of virtual webinars. The live tours included a look at the former immigrant neighborhood that existed downtown before the World Trade Center, a look at the new World Trade Center, and an exploration of Staten Island's 9/11 memorial. The webinars explored the following topics: the origins and urban planning of the original World Trade Center, how Broadway responded to 9/11, the impact on Chinatown, the 9/11 memorial in Jerusalem, and the fascinating origin of Bayonne's memorial.

The webinars were all recorded and you can find the videos archived HERE.

Thank you all to our volunteers for helping GANYC commemorate this tragic anniversary.