New York City Mayor Eric Adams' office is facing backlash over a recently published map that identifies 30 immigrant enclaves across the five boroughs but notably excludes the historic Little Italy neighborhood in Manhattan and the area known as Little Ireland in the Bronx and Yonkers.
The map, intended to help tourists explore the city's diverse cultural communities, includes areas such as Koreatown, Little Palestine in Brooklyn, Little Bangladesh in Queens, and Little Africa in Staten Island. However, its omission of Little Italy and Little Ireland has drawn sharp criticism from community leaders and residents alike.
Exclusion Sparks Accusations of Erasure
Joseph Scelsa, founder of the Italian-American Museum on Mulberry Street, described the exclusion of Little Italy as a "terrible mistake," emphasizing that "to respect one is to respect all." He stated that Italian-Americans remain a significant population in New York City and that failing to recognize their historic settlements is a "terrible mistake," expressing hope that it was an oversight.
The Italian American Civil Rights League (IACRL) also issued a statement, accusing the mayor's office of attempting to "erase Italian Americans." IACRL President Mike Crispi called the omission "cultural erasure," asserting that Little Italy is "sacred ground" representing where Italian immigrants built their lives, opened businesses, and contributed to the city's development.
Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola echoed these sentiments, questioning the map's design and asking if Irish and Italian communities are overlooked by the mayor's office. She highlighted that while some neighborhoods were included, iconic areas like Little Italy and Irish enclaves in Woodlawn were absent.
Kevin McCabe, a former city council chief of staff, criticized the map for "shamefully erasing generations of New Yorkers descended from Irish immigrants," referencing the historical significance of Irish immigration, particularly following the potato famine.
City Hall's Defense
A spokesperson for City Hall explained that the map was designed to highlight neighborhoods with substantial foreign-born populations from specific global regions and countries, rather than to be an exhaustive list of all the city's diverse communities. The spokesperson clarified that the map was "never intended to show religious enclaves" and reiterated that it aims to showcase "vibrant cultural communities."
The initiative, which began during the Adams administration, plans to add more neighborhoods in the coming months. City Hall stated that the map was sourced from the New York City Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs and was part of a "neighborhood passport" created by the city's official marketing group.
Little Italy, centered around Mulberry Street, was historically a hub for Italian immigrants who arrived in the late 19th century. At its peak, the community housed approximately 10,000 Italian immigrants. Official data from the 2010 census indicated that the three-block area historically considered Little Italy had no residents born in Italy, though Italian-Americans remain a significant demographic across the city.
Little Ireland's historical significance is tied to the millions of Irish immigrants who fled famine conditions. By 1855, people of Irish birth constituted over 25 percent of Manhattan's population. While the current number of Irish immigrants in areas like Woodlawn is not specified, New York City is home to approximately 376,000 Irish Americans.