New York City, January 2023

Fifty years ago, New York City faced bankruptcy as manufacturing jobs moved offshore and the middle class fled to the suburbs. Crime rates skyrocketed, schools deteriorated, housing and storefronts were abandoned, and neighborhoods burned. Civic leaders from business, labor, and the diverse communities of the five boroughs came together to tackle problems that the government could not handle on its own.

The original I❤️NY campaign was launched in 1977 in the midst of an urban crisis. Its aim was to reignite the can-do optimism of New Yorkers, to mobilize volunteer action to build a safer, cleaner, more prosperous city, and to ensure that New York City would remain a great place to live, work, and visit.

“WE❤️NYC” is a 21st Century version of the 70's campaign. In many ways, the challenges facing the city today are more complex than in the past. We are recovering from the complex impacts of a global pandemic. The technology revolution has widened the skills gap, enabled remote work, and disrupted basic patterns of urban life. Public safety has re-emerged as the top concern of New Yorkers, but with overlays of mental health, homelessness, and racial justice issues that make solutions difficult. Whereas the city was a bargain in the 80’s, today it is unaffordable for many current and would-be New Yorkers. Together, “WE” can tackle these challenges, as we celebrate the people and institutions that define our vitality and resilience and demonstrate, once again, that this is the greatest city in the world.

With leadership from Governor Kathy Hochul, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and their respective agencies and authorities, the campaign is a public-private endeavor that intends to continue through 2024, which marks 400 years since the Dutch colonial settlement on Manhattan Island.

The Partnership for New York City is providing initial funding for the campaign (with no taxpayer dollars used) and inviting all who love the city and are committed to supporting its resurgence to become partners and contribute to this important effort.