NYC Transplants Have Gone Too Far

[00:00:00]Ah, yes. Nothing says I'm a New York City transplant quite like Tabby Shoes.

[00:00:04]Filming every block you walk down, recording strangers without a second thought, acting like you just discovered a bodega that's been there longer than you've been alive, and somehow turning I live in New York into your entire personality. But lately, that influencer culture has sparked a whole lot more than just eye rolls, you guys. And we've got to talk about it in this video. As someone who was born and raised in New York, I completely get why native New Yorkers have been pulling out the gentrification and transplant content that's taken over the city during the last 5 years.

[00:00:35]>> Been complaining for literally months about how New York City influencers contribute nothing to New York City and they just post about how they're literally gentrifying the city and suddenly everybody's talking about how boring these influencers are. It's worse than that. They're gentrifiers. They're raising rent. They're not contributing to small businesses. and not contributing anything to the culture. In fact, they're complaining about the culture. You remember that whole, "Oh, Chinatown is so disgusting." The amount of hate on Flushing, East Brooklyn, nobody goes to East Brooklyn. Nobody goes to South Brooklyn. It sucks.

[00:01:05]Especially cuz I'm from New York City and they're making New York City boring.

[00:01:09]What the [ __ ] New York City is one of the most cultured cities in entire planet. Like, and somehow they're managing to make it incredibly boring because they they're not relatable at all. like upper white upper class, which is so crazy to me cuz you're contributing nothing to the city but literally vlogging your gentrification process of raising rent prices for everybody. To add on to like the New York City transplant discourse, a lot of you guys aren't as cool as you think.

[00:01:34]You're like, I'm going to leave my hometown because nobody's like me, but you're a product of your environment and you're just as boring as the people you left. City is becoming a lot more corny cringe. No offense, and I definitely think it's because of like the influx of like people not from here. Then some of you guys look at minorities crazy in our neighborhoods and I'm just like, babe, you can't even afford to live in the rich neighborhoods, but you want to be walking around here like I'm not supposed to be here. I mean, there's even articles about this now, you guys.

[00:02:05]Are transplants ruining New York City?

[00:02:08]We've got a lot to unpack, so let's roll the tape. To kick things off, I want to show you a video I came across yesterday that kind of prompted me to make this whole video. And trust me, no lifelong New Yorker would have thought this was a good idea. In fact, they'd probably be pissed. And the comment section didn't disappoint, but it shows a group of New York City transplants, and that's what people are calling them because longtime residents of New York would not actually be doing this. A New York transplant is someone who moved to New York City from somewhere else and now lives there. It doesn't necessarily mean anything negative. New York has always been full of people who moved from other states and countries. But many native New Yorkers use transplant to describe newcomers who they feel don't understand the city's culture, history, or existing communities, especially when they move into neighborhoods, change local dynamics, or treat New York City more like an aesthetic or personal brand, which gives me the major ick. So, the video that's been going around shows a group of New York City transplants turning a subway station into their own personal DJ set. with you guys blasting music, dancing, and blocking the stairs and walkways like people don't have places to be. Meanwhile, everyone else is just trying to catch their train, get to work on time, and not have their paycheck docked because someone decided the MTA was the perfect place to dance and film their main character moment.

[00:03:37]>> One more time.

[00:03:39]>> [music] [music] >> And then the part that gets me is the fact that these Tik Tockers and influencers think that this is something quirky or light-hearted. Like, no. With the amount of videos I've seen, I can confidently say that majority of native New Yorkers find this [ __ ] annoying.

[00:04:06]They're calling them out for messing with people's livelihoods. At this point, New York is a very fast-paced lifestyle. These people are trying to get home from a long day at work. And [music] I get why people find this extremely inconsiderate. People, especially older people, don't have the patience for this, and they have a family and real life responsibilities to get home to. And captions like this is what I'm talking about. I love New York because what do you mean? My best friend and I walked into a full DJ set at the Jefferson Street LRA stop at 10:00 p.m.

[00:04:34]The comment section didn't disappoint and everyone there is from Utah just transplant things. I love when Christmas and the holidays come around because y'all go back to Utah and [ __ ] >> New York transplants and gentrifiers will always be like, "New York has my heart. New York City will always have my heart." and then show a picture of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Empire State Building, the Freedom Tower, Columbus Circle, or some street off of Delansancy that we don't care about. But where is a native New Yorker's heart always going to be at? Where we're always going to call home? Form Road, White Plains Road, the Grand Concourse, Crettona Park, Bronx Park, St. Nicholas A, Highbridge Park, Ottabbon A, Spanish Harlem, the University Heights Bridge, the Mcomes Dam Bridge. Oh, they would be flabbergasted if they saw that peeling paint and rust on that bridge. They don't even know about the traffic on the Whit Stone Bridge either. Flapish A, Northern Boulevard, Jamaica A. They don't know anything about those places.

[00:05:36]They just stick to their own hood and flex about how a neighborhood that they live in that's so gentrified and how that's the real New York. Our hearts are where we grew up. Their hearts is where their one-year lease is. Now, this I find asinine, a transplant New York City content creator, is facing criticism for asking for rent donations. People are saying that she doesn't mention wanting to get a stable job or side gig besides making her art. And some of the top comments, where did she move from? LA.

[00:06:04]She's from Oregon, lol. She tried to live in LA, but couldn't afford it either. So, now she's resorting to asking for donations from random people online. Interesting. is a New York City content creator who is a transplant asking for people to donate to her for her rent and people have a lot of thoughts. Stated that she's a full-time artist who are wondering why she doesn't pick up another job. Flower cutie said in all her videos looks like she hasn't mentioned working another job or finding a job. Most creatives work at least a part-time job to make ends meet. Nerd said every artist I've ever known has worked a side hustle or gig to pay the bills till they were making enough to live off of their talent or passion. She can get a job working something adjacent to her field. There are so many nonprofits in New York City that support the arts and canvas for donations. The artists have rich parents. Said this would be her sixth move in one year of living in New York City. Said this infuriates me. There are thousands of hardworking people in New York City right now working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Yesterday it looks like she raised over $3,000. Haven't checked today to see if it's gone up or not.

[00:07:04]Goal is $5,000 and asked $5,000 for rent. How did she qualify in the first place if she didn't have a steady income? Over 100 people have donated already. And on that note, speaking of apartments, let's talk about another incident that's only further fueling the belief that transplants are ruining the city. Tik Tocker Kylie Scf is getting hammered online, you guys. After breaking into a deceased person's apartment, and we'll get into why people think this is controversial right after.

[00:07:30]>> I live in New York City. I went over to my friend's apartment last night. Her neighbor died about 2 years ago, and the apartment has not been cleaned out yet.

[00:07:36]So, we decided to push open the door last night.

[00:07:38]>> 1990. Oh, >> Jesse, they awful.

[00:07:44]>> 26 will never be good, >> guys.

[00:07:47]>> Okay, quick question. Why did those girls think that they could do that?

[00:07:51]That was absolutely disrespectful. I I'm in disbelief. Her bio when I clicked says Road Island girl in New York. That absolutely tracks. To break into someone's last home with all of their belongings in sight to me is like breaking into someone's grave and then documenting it for Tik Tok and views.

[00:08:11]Could you imagine their family member stumbling upon this? I don't know who needs to hear this, but just because you live in the city doesn't mean everything around it is for you to document online.

[00:08:22]There's nuance to this. Like people are documenting too much. It's ruining New York in a capitalistic standpoint. This is a whole other thing. This is on a human level of exploitation. Going through a deceased woman's [ __ ] online for attention. You didn't know her. You admit it online. You busted in there.

[00:08:42]Hello.

[00:08:43]>> Imagine that someone's relative's apartment and it's left intact because they are still grieving. Yeah, this is some messed up [ __ ] you guys. She privated her page. I wanted to see the comments. In case you want to be more annoyed, she won a housing lottery unit.

[00:08:59]Meanwhile, her parents live in a huge house in Rhode Island. She's also a MAGA, so there's that. Not only did she break in, she also left with items.

[00:09:08]Isn't that kind of against the law?

[00:09:11]Another widespread complaint I've been seeing over and over from New Yorkers who've been born and raised here and have lived here for decades is that the city just isn't as walkable or enjoyable as it used to be. Every week there's a new viral matcha spa, hidden gem restaurant, or influencer event blowing up on Tik Tok, and suddenly entire neighborhoods are completely flooded.

[00:09:32]And I've noticed this too, especially over the last 2 years. What used to be a quick stop after work now turns into a 90-minute wait because thousands of people saw the same 15-second video.

[00:09:43]Take Cafe Pana for example. Some of you might remember that this place absolutely exploded on TikTok a few months ago, and this is what happened.

[00:09:51]I'm not even exaggerating. People were literally standing in line for hours all for a single scoop of ice cream because it went viral online.

[00:09:59]>> I just want to let you know what one Tik Tok video, a couple of Tik Tok videos can do to a line.

[00:10:08]Never have I ever seen Cafe Pana's line this long in my entire life.

[00:10:22]Keep going.

[00:10:31]It keeps going, guys.

[00:10:34]All the way to the front.

[00:10:37]>> That's the kind of ripple effect social media can have on a city like New York where residents are already navigating packed sidewalks, crowded trains, and a fast-paced lifestyle. And then there's another layer to this conversation that I've been seeing. The debate around transplants who claim they're immigrants versus the experiences of immigrant New Yorkers who have actually built their lives there. New York has always been a city of immigrants. That's one of the things that makes it so unique. But there's been a growing conversation around people who moved here from other states or countries and use the label of being an immigrant in the same way as generations of immigrant New Yorkers who came here, built communities, and shaped the city. I'm sorry, but like transplant discourse is so annoying. And I see why native New Yorkers don't really [ __ ] with y'all cuz why are y'all comparing your experiences to immigrants?

[00:11:23]Especially in this climate with ice running around everywhere, including New York City. You guys acting like y'all have it worse than immigrants. What are y'all What? Come on now. And I say this as someone who was not born and raised in New York. I was born in Florida. I've lived in several other states. I've been living in New York for the last two years. I will say asterisk on that because my whole family is New Yorkers.

[00:11:45]So like I've spent majority of my summers here as a child. So like I do have a connection to New York that like most transplants don't. But I just find this really crazy for some of y'all to act like you experienced genuine discrimination because you weren't born in New York. That is a lie. People making jokes about people from Ohio or other [ __ ] is not the same thing as discrimination or like xenophobia. And to see videos of people saying, "I'm just as much like entitled to New York City as people born here. And I'm just as much of a New Yorker as the native New Yorkers because I can get rowdy and I can be mean, too." You see why they don't like y'all? Cuz why [music] do you equate New York to being mean and having attitude and like [ __ ] like that? People don't like some transplants. Some, not all, because y'all want to rename neighborhoods. Y'all want to be weird about fruit carts. Y'all want Some of y'all be xenophobic. Some of y'all be weird. Some of y'all be calling the police when it's too loud. That's why.

[00:12:45]Not because you're from [ __ ] Ohio.

[00:12:47]Cuz some of y'all be weird. My god. Some of y'all be like, "Oh my god, I never take the subway. It's disgusting.

[00:12:52]Everything about this place is disgusting."

[00:12:55]Like, it's confusing why you're here if you hate everything about this place.

[00:12:59]Like, I don't know. I think a lot of y'all would be more content living in Connecticut or, I don't know, Boston or Maine. You know what I mean? But like, please don't compare yourself to immigrants. people who had to leave their homes and move across the world.

[00:13:10]Like, what are y'all talking about?

[00:13:12]>> At the end of the day, the question becomes, where do we draw the line between sharing a city you love and turning that city into content at the expense of the people who actually call it home? Is social media just changing the way we experience New York, or is it changing New York itself? Let me know what you guys think in the comments down below. I [music] love you guys so much, and as always, I'll see you all in the next video.