Topeka and Kansas tourism leaders hit a homerun with sweepstakes for New York visitors
In September, New York City Mayor Eric Adams took a potshot at Kansas.
"Kansas doesn't have a brand," Adams said at the time with the intent of making us a punchline.
After learning of the remarks we politely suggested he learn a bit more about our state and what it has to offer.
Gov. Laura Kelly responded by sending her family members to personally deliver a gift basket to Mayor Adams’ official residence.
Well, that dose of Kansas hospitality didn’t seem to change the mayor’s heart. In late February, he took another jab at Kansas and Topeka, saying at a prayer breakfast 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."
At this point, we don’t need an apology from Mayor Adams. An apology won’t mean much without action. We’d just prefer he keep his comments to himself.
More:'He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas.' Who hurt New York Mayor Eric Adams?
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Tim Hrenchir reports Topeka and Kansas leaders have responded by offering an all-expenses-paid trip for four New Yorkers to come and visit Topeka.
The trip is sponsored by Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism. Hrenchir reports 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. 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.
We love this. It comes from a place of love. It shows others we like ourselves more than we dislike those who jeer at us.
Rather than responding in kind with low-hanging potshots based on New York stereotypes, our leaders chose to take the high road and try to change hearts that way. And while we’d like to point out some of those things, it’s frankly counterproductive.
That’s such a Kansas thing to do. And to use Mayor Adams’ term, it’s “on brand.”
So let’s point out and share some of the great things about Kansas and our capital with some New Yorkers.
That being said, if Mayor Adams says anything about us again, the kid gloves come off. We’ve got jokes ready to go, and they, too, will be “on brand.” Kansans are taught to take no bull.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka and Kansas tourism leaders hit homer with New York sweepstakes
