Queens has a new guiding light after the flip was switched on a JetBlue sign in the airlines new home, Long Island City.
Local leaders joined JetBlue executives turning on the nearly 40-foot tall sign that sits atop the Brewster Building.
“New York City’s iconic skyline is a little brighter tonight, thanks to the success of JetBlue,” said Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “It’s a great day for a company when it sees its name written in lights at the center of the global economy, and the new sign announces loud and clear that Long Island City is a world-class place to do business and create jobs.”
JetBlue is the largest domestic carrier at JFK, the mayor said, aiding in the city’s record-breaking tourism numbers.
The sign was designed as an honor to Long Island City’s other iconic landmarks, including the Pepsi and Silvercup symbols that welcome visitors journeying over the Queensboro Bridge. The sign will light up blue during the day and shine white at night, according to JetBlue spokesperson Allison Steinberg.
A zoning amendment was approved by the city council in April allowing the erection of the sign.
“The arrival of JetBlue in Long Island City is a milestone in the transformation of Queens Plaza, the gateway to Queens,” said Council Member Jimmy Van Bramer. “As this area continues to develop into one of New York City’s foremost neighborhoods to do business, I know JetBlue will continue to light the way for others who will choose to call Long Island City home.”
— Additional reporting by Alexa Altman
