Who Counts as a New Yorker?

**Brian Lehrer** (0:08)
So our little tag to the debate last night, or at debate coverage, is a call in for you for a few minutes on one question Bridget asked the candidates as a lightning round question last night, and that is what makes someone a real New Yorker?
Now the reason that Bridget asked is that Jennifer Lopez made news on this topic recently. Jennifer Lopez, otherwise known as J. Lo or Jenny from the Block, caused a stir with her appearance on the short form show Subway Takes, hosted by Kareem Rama. Let's take a list, and this runs about a minute.

**Kareem Rama** (0:46)
So what's your take?

**Jennifer Lopez** (0:46)
You have to be born in New York to be a New Yorker.

**Kareem Rama** (0:50)
No!

**Jennifer Lopez** (0:51)
Yes! I know everybody wants to claim the city.

**Kareem Rama** (0:55)
No, I know.

**Jennifer Lopez** (0:56)
Everybody wants to claim our city, but you have to be born in New York. You have to be born in one of the five boroughs to be a New Yorker.

**Kareem Rama** (1:04)
Well, here's the thing. When I moved here in 2012, everyone was like, in 10 years, you can call yourself a New Yorker.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:10)
Oh, is that what they said?

**Kareem Rama** (1:11)
Yeah, and then I stayed 10 years.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:13)
They said no New Yorker ever.

**Kareem Rama** (1:15)
No, the New Yorkers used to have this as a rule.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:18)
That was a rule?

**Kareem Rama** (1:18)
Yes. You didn't know about this? No.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:20)
I didn't get the memo. I did not sign the petition.

**Kareem Rama** (1:23)
And you're the official big dog in this. I'm serious. Here's my question. Okay. Let's say I've been here for 50 years. I mean, 90 years old. And you go, are you a New Yorker? And I go, no.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:39)
I have to say, no.
You live in New York. You take on characteristics of New Yorkers, probably by that time. You have a New York sensibility.

**Kareem Rama** (1:49)
I pay New York taxes.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:52)
You pay New York taxes.

**Kareem Rama** (1:54)
But I can't call it.

**Jennifer Lopez** (1:55)
When you're born in New York is when you're born in New York.

**Brian Lehrer** (1:58)
All right. Jay Lo with Kareem Rama on Subway Takes. So listeners, we're going to play what the candidate said in response to that same question at the debate last night. But we are opening up the phones for your take on that divisive debate facing New York City always, right? 212-433-WNYC. What's your standard for calling somebody a real New Yorker? 212-433-9692.
Is it what J.Lo said? Is it what any of the candidates you're about to hear say? What's your own standard? Has this question come up for you whether you were born here or not? 212-433-WNYC. Call or text right now and say, what makes somebody a real New Yorker according to you?
212-433-WNYC. 433-9692. Here's how Bridget brought it up in a lightning round question at the debate.

**Bridget** (2:57)
How long do you have to live in New York City to be considered a New Yorker? Mr. Boris will start.

**SPEAKER_8** (3:02)
It's all about your attitude. The second you have a consistent breakfast cart order and that you would never stand for across on the sidewalk, you're a New Yorker.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:13)
I think the first time he gets stuck in an elevator in your office building in New York during a power failure. The day you move here, we're a city of newcomers.

**SPEAKER_8** (3:25)
We always have been and we should always stay that way.

**SPEAKER_5** (3:30)
New York State of mind, all over the world.

**SPEAKER_9** (3:34)
When you realize when somebody is yelling at you on the street, they're not actually yelling at you.

**Brian Lehrer** (3:41)
All right. How about for across on the subway?
I mean on the street, don't stand for across on the street. How about when somebody yells at you and you're realizing that they're not actually yelling at you? You just think they're yelling at you because they're just yelling. How about the first time you get stuck in an elevator? How about that one answer? The day you move here because that's what New York is, right? It's a city that attracts people from all over the world, from all over the Midwest and the South who want to come here and live this culture. What is it for you? 212-433-WNYC. What's your standard for what makes someone a real New Yorker? We'll take your calls and texts right after this.
Brian Lehrer on WNYC. All right, let's get some quick takes on what you think it takes to be a real New Yorker. Lisa in Manhattan, you're on WNYC. Hi, Lisa.