Four New Yorkers will win trip to Topeka and spending money after Eric Adams' punchline

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly says New York City Mayor Eric Adams owes the Sunflower State an apology.

Meanwhile, four Big Apple residents will get a free taste of Topeka because of their mayor's snub.

Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism announced Friday they were giving away the trips as part of a sweepstakes created in response to comments Adams made Tuesday belittling the position of Topeka's mayor.

Gov. Laura Kelly: 'You owe Kansas an apology'

Adams said at a prayer breakfast Tuesday that he strongly believed God decided to take "the most broken person" and elevate him to a place as the mayor of the "most powerful city on the globe" adding "He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas."

Adams had previously used Kansas as a punchline on Sept. 27, when he insulted the Sunflower State by saying New York City has a brand that's recognizable around the world, unlike Kansas.

"Kansas doesn't have a brand," Adams said.

The New York Times reported some of Kelly's family members responded by personally delivering a gift basket to Gracie Mansion, the New York mayor’s official residence.

More:'He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas.' Who hurt New York Mayor Eric Adams?

"Turns out Kansas and New York have the same brand: electing great governors," Adams said last November on Twitter after Kelly was re-elected.

Kelly responded Friday on Twitter to Adams' latest comment regarding the Topeka mayor's position.

"I was in NYC visiting my granddaughter when you disparaged my hometown Topeka KS," she wrote. "It was this granddaughter who, with her parents, delivered Kansas kindness to you at Gracie Mansion when you disparaged my state last September. Enough already. You owe Kansas an apology."

Adams' remarks had been addressed Thursday on Twitter by Kansas City, Mo., Mayor Quinton Lucas, who tweeted, "Y'all need to keep Topeka's name out your mouths."

Visits to Topeka includes roundtrip airfare and $500 in local spending

Residents of New York City — including the five boroughs of The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — are eligible for the chance to win an all-inclusive, three-day, two-night stay in Topeka, Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism said in a news release Friday announcing that giveaway.

The visit will include roundtrip airfare for four people into Kansas City, Mo., as well as hotel accommodations, tickets to local attractions and $500 in gift certificates to local restaurant and retail locations, the release said.

“We are excited to partner with Visit Topeka on this incredible opportunity for New Yorkers to discover Kansas,” said Bridgette Jobe, director of Kansas Tourism. “Many people overlook Kansas, writing it off as a flyover state. I am excited that this contest will give new people a reason to explore the history, beauty and culture of Topeka.”

Entries will be accepted through March 31, with the winner being selected randomly. Further details can be found here.

More:Jeff Kready bringing Broadway and family to Topeka, 'There's no place like home'

Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka, said Friday his organization looked forward to one day welcoming the mayor of New York City to Topeka.

“The mayor, like many New Yorkers, may not realize everything Topeka has to offer," Dixon said. "We decided to do something about that by partnering with Kansas Tourism to offer residents of New York City the opportunity to try out Topeka, and the great state of Kansas, for themselves!”

Friday's news release also quoted Topeka native Jeff Kready, start of the 2014 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder."

“Topeka was my home for 23 years, but for the last 17 years, I have been a New Yorker," Kready said. “I am so excited for my fellow New Yorkers to have the chance to visit Kansas for themselves. Topeka will surprise you. It is a city rich with art, culture, music and more!”

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas governor, tourism groups react to NYC mayor's belittling Topeka