Res 0331-2022

Whereas, Lunar New Year begins on the second new moon after the winter solstice, or typically on a date from late January through mid-February, and concludes 15 days later on the next full moon; and Whereas, Lunar New Year, with its origins more than 4,000 years ago in China, is one of the most important annual celebrations in many East and Southeast Asian cultures that use a lunisolar calendar; and Whereas, Although Asian cultures call this celebration by their own names, such as Spring Festival in China, the inclusive term Lunar New Year is now used to encompass festivals and festivities across many Asian cultures, including Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, Malaysian, and more; and Whereas, Lunar New Year is now celebrated worldwide in many countries, wherever communities with populations of Asian heritage exist; and Whereas, a growing number of Asian Americans and new Asian immigrants has increased awareness of Lunar New Year in the United States (U.S.); and Whereas, According to figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, as reported by the New York City (NYC) Department of City Planning in "2020 Census: Results for New York City," almost 1.4 million residents identifying solely as Asian live in NYC and make up more than 15 percent of NYC's population; and Whereas, According to U.S. Census figures, the Asian population in Queens grew by 29 percent and in Brooklyn by 43 percent between 2010 to 2020; and Whereas, Although different Asian cultures celebrate in their own ways, Lunar New Year festivities usually include traditional foods; cultural performances; parades, street fairs, and fireworks displays; and the giving of gifts or money in red envelopes to wish others good fortune, health, and prosperity; and Whereas, Many Asian Americans travel to spend Lunar New Year with immediate and extended family, often participating in rituals to honor their ancestors, and contribute to what is the world's largest annual movement of humans at more than one billion, according to National Geographic; and Whereas, Asian-American communities in NYC often host Lunar New Year events that attract New Yorkers of all racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds from many communities to enjoy the festivities in Chinatown in Manhattan, in Flushing in Queens, and in other neighborhoods, thus benefitting small businesses in those communities; and Whereas, The increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in the U.S. has caused concerned citizens and government officials to look for ways to fight against anti-Asian bigotry and to support our Asian-American communities; and Whereas, Federal legislation (H.R. 6525) was introduced in January 2022 in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Grace Meng (D-NY-6), along with 49 cosponsors, to establish Lunar New Year Day as a Federal holiday; and Whereas, In June 2015, Mayor Bill de Blasio designated Lunar New Year a public school holiday, celebrated for the first time in 2016, and the NYC Department of Education (DOE) has observed the Lunar New Year school holiday since then; and Whereas, The NYC DOE did not, however, designate the Lunar New Year holiday in the 2022-2023 school calendar because Lunar New Year falls on Sunday, January 22, 2023, and the DOE did not designate the following Monday (January 23, 2023) as a school holiday; and Whereas, The designation of a holiday here in NYC honors the vital role that our Asian-American communities play in our City and their positive impacts on our City's culture and economy; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York recognizes Lunar New Year as an annual school holiday and as an official holiday in the City of New York. LS #8332 and 9433 9//30/22 RHP 1