May 21, 2013
By Melissa Mark-Viverito NYC Council Member
On Sunday May 19th, I read an article in the New York Post about a company giving tours of the South Bronx that offer "a ride through a real New York City 'GHETTO.'" The tour spreads fear and lies about the South Bronx, portraying the area as a haven for poverty and crime. One tour guide even went so far as to mock Bronxites standing in line at a food pantry, which is simply despicable.
I don't know about you, but I am beyond outraged. It is completely unacceptable for this company, Real Bronx Tours, to profit off of a tour that misrepresents the Bronx in such an offensive way.
Yesterday, I sent a letter with Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. asking the company to change the way the tour is marketed and presented to the public.
A "real Bronx tour" should celebrate the rich culture and history of our neighborhoods and treat local residents with dignity, not use the South Bronx to sell a so-called "ghetto" experience to tourists.
