Some New Yorkers have been rattled by a rotating red ambulance-light display on top of the Empire State Building that was intended to honor the emergency workers battling the coronavirus.
New York City has put a big ambulance light on top of it’s iconic Empire State Building in honor of the first responders and medical staff who are bravely battling the Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/zJLDdzHFDT
— Bruce Porter, Jr. (@NetworksManager) March 31, 2020
One city resident, Rita J. King, commented that she appreciates the notion of support for the healthcare heroes but that going back to the normal pulsing heartbeat light effect would be preferable “to soothe nervous New Yorkers now sheltering in place.”
I fully support the intention of this effort by the @EmpireStateBldg but recommend that the siren be replaced by the iconic pulsing heartbeat effect to reassure our heroic healthcare workers that their efforts will succeed, and soothe nervous New Yorkers now sheltering in place. pic.twitter.com/ajarFqrIu9
— Rita J. King (@RitaJKing) March 31, 2020
Another tweeted in agreement, “Just make it a normal Empire State Building. Nice, soothing white. A symbol of New York. Our buildings do not need to look like they are also panicking.”
Just make it a normal Empire State Building. Nice, soothing white. A symbol of New York. Our buildings do not need to look like they are also panicking.
— annie (@anyway413) March 31, 2020
Still another city resident added, “we know we’ve really screwed things up when the empire state building gets mad.”
we know we’ve really screwed things up when the empire state building gets mad https://t.co/e5TKPzdMHC
— becca 💛💛 ✺ Ψ ||-// ☬ ғ̶ᴘ̶ᴇ̶ 🕯🖐☀️💧 (@truce_top) March 31, 2020
The hyper-sensitive state of mind in New York in the midst of the health crisis is apparent, judging by social media reactions. One user expressed the opinion that the ambulance-style light effect on the Empire State Building is “very distressing to see, incites panic.”
Me neither its very distressing to see, incites panic.
— TD (@td21241) March 31, 2020
Yesterday, an announcement was posted to the iconic building’s Twitter account stating: “Starting today, @empirestatebldg’s classic white lights will be replaced with America’s heartbeat and a siren of red and white in the mast as we pay respect to our heroic emergency workers on the front line of the fight.”
[2/2] At 9PM, NYC’s theme song will play in our lights with our @iheartradio @aliciakeys #EmpireStateofMind music-to-light show, with the song playing simultaneously on @z100Newyork’s @ElvisduranShow.
— Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) March 30, 2020
No one is contesting the importance of honoring the heroism of all the people putting their own lives on the line to try to save those being struck down by the unprecedented pandemic contagion. Those emergency workers in New York City are especially worthy of tribute, given the selfless efforts they are expending against the fastest spreading deluge of COVID-19 cases and fatalities in the country.
As of very early March 31, there are 38,087 confirmed cases in the city and 914 deaths attributed to the virus. According to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, the virus in New York might not peak for at least another two weeks.
Modern Healthcare reported that city medical workers say they have never faced an emergency on this scale before …
Decision-makers for the Empire State Building may have to reassess their well-intentioned light scheme, given the impressions many in the city are being left with.
It’s like a scene from every dystopian / apocalyptic movie — almost all of which take place in NYC.
— Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) March 31, 2020
I survived 9/11 and that image is giving me anxiety…even this many years later and no longer living in NYC. 😢
— Jamie (@jtdance) March 31, 2020
Yeah.
Heightens the weirdly unreal aspect of what’s happening.— Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) March 31, 2020
a constant scream would be a more fitting soundtrack.
— Won Peace of a Hole (@dtweete) March 31, 2020
The intention is great, but the effect is terrifying.
— Ronnie O’Rourke (@tdciago) March 31, 2020
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Victor Rantala is an Army vet who lives in Minnesota, he is a former intelligence analyst and business owner, and is an NRA Life member who is officially retired but has yet to slow his roll.
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