January 19, 2004
Oy Vey, Marty, Oy Vey
You just can't knock Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz down. In a story about the Department of Transportation nixing Markowitz's idea for a sign "Leaving Brooklyn: Oy Vey!", the Post includes on origin story stemming from the "Leaving Brooklyn...Fugheddaboutit" sign:
The "Fuhgeddaboudit" sign angered some motorists, who saw it as an anti-Italian stereotype.
Then one such driver asked the Jewish borough president how he would feel if there were a sign reading, "Leaving Brooklyn: Oy Vey!"
Markowitz said he told the man, "How would I feel? That's the best idea I ever heard!"
The DOT feels that Markowitz's quirky sign program is played out and some Jews agree. Yiddish expert Audrey Kupferberg says, "It just reaffirms that stereotype of Jews as people who fret about everything and say, 'Oy vey! Oy vey!' no matter what happens."
Markowitz and his wife incorporated "Fugheddaboutit" into their holiday card, which featured the blackout. Memorably, Markowitz waited at the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge, welcoming weary people home that sultry August day when the lights went out.
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I love Marty Markowitz- he's like a Brooklyn folk hero. I'd like to get a Marty Markowitz t-shirt.
audrey kupferberg should lighten up. "oy vey" is not a pernicious stereotype; it's a gift that the jews have bestowed upon the world. what else would you say when your car breaks down, or you spill a soda on your favorite pants, or your kids leave brooklyn?
marty markowitz is mensch; i'd get marty markowitz t-shirts for all my friends.
Oy vey telegraphs so much more than most sayings, that much I know as a lapsed Catholic.
Once again stereotyping Italians in a negative way are acceptable to Borough President Markowitz. The reason DOT gave for not posting the Oy Vey sign was that it would be too much of a distraction for the motorist. However, Fugheddaboutit a stereotype of Italians was somehow less distracting. I think our DOT Commissioner should explain that to us. I also think Marty Marlowitz should be ashamed of himself. He is showing a total disregard to the many Italian constituents in Brooklyn. Mayor Bloomberg, please over rule Marty and have those signs removed just as fast as the Oy Vey signs never went up.
Once again stereotyping Italians in a negative way are acceptable to Borough President Markowitz. The reason DOT gave for not posting the Oy Vey sign was that it would be too much of a distraction for the motorist. However, Fugheddaboutit a stereotype of Italians was somehow less distracting. I think our DOT Commissioner should explain that to us. I also think Marty Marlowitz should be ashamed of himself. He is showing a total disregard to the many Italian constituents in Brooklyn. Mayor Bloomberg, please over rule Marty and have those signs removed just as fast as the Oy Vey signs never went up.