The Empire State's Long Island Sound, long basked in its historical moniker, may soon yield to the Internet's whimsy if a certain online petition has its way, or so says a New York Post report. With a significant nod to Connecticut's audacious claim as the "pizza capital of the WORLD," this petition, currently boasting close to 750 signatures, seeks to bestow upon Long Island Sound the new name of "Gulf of Connecticut."
Although draped in the semi-satirical—citing "beautiful Bridgeport," an urb notably maligned by some as one of the least desirable places to dwell back in 2019—this proposition taps into a vein of regional pride, particularly following an eyebrow-raising action by former President Trump who deemed it fit to rename the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America." "Long Island isn't even that long, I've seen way bigger, and Connecticut is just such a beautiful state," petition author William Yoxall told the New York Post. His words mirror the light-hearted sentiment of those rallying behind the cause, yet staunchly highlight Connecticut's desire for acknowledgment.
Connecticut's Governor Ned Lamont weighed in humorously on the matter, playfully altering a map to bear the proposed name and engaging New York Governor Kathy Hochul with a post that caught close to 3,000 likes, according to a post Lamont shared on the social platform dubbed X. On a wider scale, however, support for the name change remains as divided as the waters of the Sound itself. "As a Connecticut resident, I am so passionate about this topic," a user by the name of Amelia commented in support of the petition, as detailed by the New York Post.
Meanwhile, laughter and opposition ripple across the digital sphere in response to both the petition and Lamont's endorsement. "Hey, bartender, can I get a Gulf of Connecticut ice tea," mocked one reply, as observed by the New York Post, a jibe rooted in the iconic Long Island concoction. Others, seeking a middle ground, propose compromise: "That is the Pizza Sound. Something both states can agree upon," quipped another user, as per NBC Connecticut's coverage. Yet this push for a change in namesake, even if cloaked in jest, squarely positions itself as a cultural gambit, testing the boundaries of state loyalty and the malleability of cartographic traditions.
As jest intermingles with earnestness, Vermont's Governor Phil Scott has also joined the fray, suggesting, perhaps facetiously, that the Connecticut River be dubbed the 'Vermont River'. But the jesting is not without its detractors. "Keep it Long Island," Brent Camhi of Wallingford told NBC Connecticut, a statement indicative of those who see no need for alteration. Yet as the digital signatures accrue, the petition's narrative continues, with both states' residents engaging in banter, hoping perhaps for a territorial coup or simply the next viral wave. As of now, senators from Connecticut have remained silent on the matter, and Governor Hochul has yet to respond to her counterpart Lamont's spirited provocation.
