By Richard Schaefer

Growing up in Brooklyn, it seemed like everyone around me was a native-born New Yorker. We all knew what a cannoli and a Manhattan Special was. We all knew the best pizza place and the best spots at Jones Beach. Things sure have changed since then, and I would say drastically. Today, I’m usually the only guy at the party or on the job who can actually say that I am New York born and raised, and proudly as hell. No, I didn’t arrive 3 months ago, renting a bathroom in Williamsburg for $1,500 a month. Within the last 10-15 years, NYC has seen a huge influx of people from such states as Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and of course California. Why? What’s wrong out west? Too dry? Ironically, after 9/11, people started pouring into NYC in even greater numbers.

I can’t help but feel that the city is losing its “hard edges” due to the heavy west coast influx and the mentality it brings: laid back, soft and un-driven. Native New Yorkers are typically not easygoing, slow-paced, mushy, over-sensitive, fun loving hipsters. We are more known for being hardworking, streetwise, frank, fast, inpatient, loud-talking, in-your-face hustlers. That’s what has traditionally made New Yorkers…New Yorkers. Say what you will about our manner, but we are the movers ‘n’ shakers of the world.

I tend to make it a habit to ask people where they are from these days. I can usually figure it out from their clothes – probably my OCD – but nonetheless, I like to test myself. Most of the time, I’m right, especially when it comes to sleuthing out Californians. They all have this orange sorta glow around them…hard to explain. I can’t count how many times I’ve been asked, “Hey, Brooklyn is great! So when did you arrive in New York?” This question gets old really fast. Hmmm, how should I answer? Well, let’s see. I’ve said everything from, “Say what?” to “I AM Brooklyn, you dumb fucker!” And if you go hang out with them, be prepared to stop for every homeless person begging for a cigarette or money along the way. By the time you get to the club, they’re broke and you’re paying for their cover and their smokes, too!

But most interestingly, after only a few months of NYC livin’ they’re transformed into chic, posh, hip, stylin’ New Yorkers. Amazing! Well, in their mind. And the arrogance that grows along with it is frightening.

New Yorkers are a special breed of people. There is nobody quite like us. We are a microcosm of not only America, but the world. Take Italy out of the Italian, China out of Chinese, and what do you have? Homogenized, pasteurized, processed, boring, flavorless people. We see this happening throughout towns across the U.S., as they’re all now cookie cutter locations with the four or five major big box stores, a McDonald’s and a Starbucks. But I digress. Conclusion? I don’t think there is one.

New York City has more people entering its borders per day than Cher has wigs. OK, that’s always been the case. But today, we have younger, left coast/Midwest people moving into NYC and older, wealthier New Yorkers moving out. So where are we now? Well, let’s see… about 80% of my own family now lives in Florida, as do most of my friends’ families. It seems like everyone that was born here is leaving for palm trees and sunshine. Truth is, there really aren’t many of us native New Yorkers left. We’re a dying breed. So I ask: what does this mean for the next generation? Our kids are in school with peers and teachers from seemingly every place but New York. Is this a bad thing? In my eyes, it matters to keep our loud, impatient, in-your-face hustle alive. There, I said it and I feel better. Now where’s my knish?