I agree it is like a love letter. Leibling expresses how he feels about New York. He compares it to places his friends travels and feels like no other places has the same quality. It’s just not New York. He talks about the people, saying New York women are the most beautiful in the world. As a reporter the technique he used was chronological. He told us the history of him living there, of his dad living there as well. The business his father owned and of the origin of the dialect locals spoke.