Res 0048-2014

By Council Members Chin, Koo, Vallone, Constantinides, Gentile, King, Mendez, Palma, Rose and Koslowitz Whereas, The Asian Lunar New Year is considered to be a significant holiday by many in the Asian community; and Whereas, The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese and other Asian ethnic groups; and Whereas, Previously, legislation was introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly that would amend the State Education Law in relation to establishing the Asian Lunar New Year school holiday; and Whereas, S.160/A.276, sponsored by Senator Daniel Squadron and Assembly Member Ron Kim, calls for the establishment of the Asian Lunar New Year day as a school holiday for all school districts of cities with one million inhabitants or more, with an Asian population of seven and one-half percent or more; and Whereas, According to statistics from the New York City Department of Education (DOE), approximately 14% of students in the New York City school system are considered to be Asian American; and Whereas, While the DOE excuses absences taken for missed days due to religious observances, the child is still marked absent and will miss a day of classes; and Whereas, These absences will impact upon the child's and the school's attendance record; and Whereas, Currently, New York City public schools are closed on several religious holidays, including Christmas, Good Friday, Rosh Hashanah and Passover; and Whereas, New York's flourishing population of Asian American residents and students, along with the cultural importance of the Asian Lunar New Year, point to the necessity for the observance to be a school holiday; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature to pass and the Governor to sign S.160/A.276, legislation which would establish the Asian Lunar New Year as an official holiday for New York City students. Res. No. 1293-2012 JP 2/14/14 LS 421