What to Know
- A landmark Pepsi sign along the East River will also promote JetBlue for the next six weeks, and critics are finding it hard to swallow
- An illuminated blue logo advertising the airline was added to the 60-foot Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City this week
- The Pepsi sign originally went up in 1936 and was given landmark status four years ago
Some local residents aren't happy about a beloved ad's recent add-on.
A landmark Pepsi sign along New York City's East River will also promote JetBlue for the next six weeks, and critics are finding it hard to swallow.
An illuminated blue logo advertising the airline was added to the 60-foot Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City this week. The new signage celebrates a partnership in which JetBlue will serve PepsiCo drinks on flights.
The city Landmarks Preservation Commission issued a permit for the JetBlue logo through Oct. 1. But City Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, a Democrat who represents the area, says some constituents are complaining. Van Bramer says that even a temporary JetBlue sign "shouldn't be there."
The process of getting the JetBlue name on the landmark did not require any public hearings because it is not a permanent addition. Both companies have said that they worked with the city and didn't skirt any laws, and it didn't cost any taxpayer dollars.
Nancy Rooney, a PepsiCo vice president of marketing, says the iconic Pepsi-Cola sign is "the perfect symbol" to celebrate Pepsi's JetBlue partnership.
Local
"It comes from a place of love of this beautiful sign and what it stands for,” Rooney said, “I just want to reassure everybody that this was about a celebration of being part of the community, both of these brands.”
The Pepsi sign originally went up in 1936 and was given landmark status four years ago.
