"Given its immense importance..."

You're seriously going to argue that NYC isn't immensely important?

From Wikipedia: "New York is the most populous city in the United States, and the center of the New York metropolitan area, which is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. A leading global city, New York exerts a powerful influence over global commerce, finance, media, culture, art, fashion, research, education, and entertainment. As host of the United Nations Headquarters, it is also an important center for international affairs."

When the aliens came to Earth in "Independence Day", they didn't blow up Philadelphia... they blew up New York.