Los Angeles is the new Brooklyn, according to a provocative Sunday Styles piece that described ever fed-up New Yorkers packing their bags to head West. Quoting a transplant who said L.A. is like a “grown-up version of Williamsburg, without the gray cloud,” the article generated so much buzz on Twitter that it’s clear nobody had major plans this weekend. We’ve gathered the best reactions here for your pleasure.
Wait, haven’t we read this before?
Weird, @nytimes usually runs its annual “LA’s not so bad” story mid-winter. Wonder what took so long this year. http://t.co/VGJK1fHqcY
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) May 2, 2015
Wow, I’ve never read this story before http://t.co/v8UIh5hl5h
— Nick Riccardi (@NickRiccardi) May 2, 2015
A few tweets showcased the ongoing NYC v. LA feud.
I read in the New York Times today that Los Angeles is swell because New Yorkers are saying so. http://t.co/7EeOXdbgem
— Christopher Knight (@KnightLAT) May 4, 2015
They’ve got a name for people who ditch Brooklyn for LA: Dodgers. http://t.co/czQNJ1uLY5
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) May 2, 2015
This trend piece about dumb New Yorkers moving to/projecting their dreams on LA is 1) dumb, 2) totally true http://t.co/4S8WplpXjy
— Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) May 2, 2015
Moby, the once strong proponent of the gritty Lower East Side, relocated to an LA mansion last year. He was happy the Times had finally vindicated his decision.
nice new york times love letter to L.A: Los Angeles and Its Booming Creative Class Lures New Yorkers http://t.co/q7u3JEJRG8
— moby Ⓥ (@thelittleidiot) May 2, 2015
Others sent reminders of the more serious issues in California.
Los Angeles attracts wealthy New Yorkers AND experiences crippling drought — complex place, eh? http://t.co/P6CMJVWOmN
— Scott Timberg (@TheMisreadCity) May 4, 2015
lol it must be hard to quench your thirst in a drought… http://t.co/CxDwv13RlF
— Chris Osborn (@Chris_Osborn) May 2, 2015
Tons pointed to the shortcomings of the article.
http://t.co/8OPQggHg3J 2. http://t.co/vHChl9Ez8f pic.twitter.com/c8KnmW7NBf
— Jake Kastrenakes (@jake_k) May 4, 2015
When I hear the words “food scene,” I reach for my gun: “LA and Its Booming Creative Class Lures New Yorkers” http://t.co/1vt3Cqq2yU
— Mike Andrews (@mike_androoz) May 4, 2015
Here’s the NYT using “gritty urban backwater” as a euphemism for “where the black folk lived” http://t.co/zDXl9hCZPX pic.twitter.com/aKwthjKf1j
— pronounced bluhp-man (@blippoblappo) May 2, 2015
“Dubai with blizzards, basically” is a real NYT description of NYC: http://t.co/nXE9tJvduJ pic.twitter.com/dtU5Z2Ol3C
— Andrew Katz (@katz) May 2, 2015
Hahaha the girl who pays $1250 for a bungalow in echo park in the NYT story? That’s for HER HALF of the rent. https://t.co/qclaHluF3l
— Doree Shafrir (@doreeshafrir) May 3, 2015
The dumbest thing I’ve read in a long time, but also, another Manifest Destiny http://t.co/PaE9iRDJkJ @nytimes
— Sonia Reddy (@Sitaphul) May 4, 2015
The New York Times Style section has tracked down and interviewed all the white people living in Los Angeles. http://t.co/bnT8l5Sq7k
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) May 2, 2015
But — and we weren’t the only ones to wonder — was it all just a ploy?
It’s like NYT is trolling LA journalists. My Twitter feed is clogged with reporters losing their minds over this. pic.twitter.com/2VbKcodg0z
— Daniel Miller (@DanielNMiller) May 3, 2015
A very well-executed troll in @nytimes style section w/ that NYC v. LA article. Web’s all angry. http://t.co/2gWyIQcWQZ
— Adam Rosen (@adammmmmrosen) May 3, 2015
The NYT is good at trolling. This is a masterpiece. http://t.co/q9LH395JTn
— Nicholas Carlson (@nichcarlson) May 4, 2015
If so, well played New York Times. You almost broke the internet.