If you’re familiar with New York City, you’ll know many of those fancy rich people who (used to?) work on Wall Street often don’t live in the city, but instead commute from the wealthy enclave of Fairfield County, Connecticut. It let’s them enjoy the privacy of the suburbs while raking in the big bucks Manhattan has to offer. Except, now the Connecticut area has a whole new reason to attract New Yorkers: You can get gay married there!
Apparently, gay New Yorkers are “flocking” to Greenwich, Conn., the richest little town per capita ($433,000 per person) in the nation, for their wedding vows. In a story ripped straight out of a Connecticut Office of Tourism press release, the Times relays news of some 139 gay New York couples having made the “20 minute drive” (in what, a spaceship?) to satisfy their need to have all the rights and privileges of heteros. It’s helped make Greenwich Connecticut’s most gay-married town in the state.
It also points out the obvious: Gays still can’t get married in New York. Despite an expected budget deficit of $47 billion over the next four years, the State Senate won’t pass through a same-sex marriage bill that would generate untold sums in additional tax revenue.
timncguy
This is exactly the point I was making the other day. The politicians in NY are idiots for not legalizing same-sex marriage. The sate already recognizes same-sex marriages from other states. So, the state provides same-sex married couples all the benefits. But, by not allowing marriage in state, they give up all the economic benefits that the fabulous gay weddings would provide for small businesses in NY.
I would think that the businesses involved in the marriage “industry” in NY would be all over those politicians while they watch the wedding dollars flow to Connecticut.
Qjersey
If Jersey would get off its ass and upgrade Civil Unions to Marriage, downtown Jersey City will become the Gay Marriage destination for New Yorkers, (Jersey City’s City Hall is two blocks from a PATH station!)
Cedric
@Qjersey:
Would anyone actually want to get married in Jersey?
J.Lowrot
About the tax revenue part, a significant chunk of the article was devoted to Greenwich businesses complaining that people get married there but have receptions/parties in New York. Reading comprehension FAIL.
Captain Freedom
“Not wearing a condom with a prostitute is like riding in a convertible through NEW JERSEY” — Fred Armisen as Gov. David Paterson
“Have you ever seen New Jersey? It is like riding the Magic Schoolbus through a human colon.” — Fred Armisen as Gov. David Paterson
“Yes Seth we burned a lot of bridges. Now if we could only flood the tunnels there woudl be no way to get to NEW JERSEY.” — Fred Armisen as David Paterson
Tom
My hometown! I’m so proud.