Crystal touts tourism for NY hometown after Sandy

[July 12, 2013]  LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) -- Billy Crystal is going to bat for his New York hometown following the pummeling it took from Superstorm Sandy.

The comedian and "When Harry Met Sally" actor has made a television commercial telling tourists to visit Long Beach, just east of New York City.

Long Beach was among many Northeast communities devastated by the late October storm. Its 2-mile-long boardwalk was destroyed, and hundreds of homes were damaged.

Crystal appears in a TV ad trumpeting "Long Beach is Open for Business."

City officials say Crystal appeared in the ad for free and last month made a $1 million donation for rebuilding efforts.

The commercial is part of a $700,000 advertising campaign. The TV ads will run in the New York City region.

Crystal is a 1965 graduate of Long Beach High School.

[Associated Press]

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