Kathy Kmonicek/Kathy Kmonicek
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, at podium, speaks at a press conference at the Queens Library to announce support for making Lunar New Year an official holiday. She is surrounded by, from left to right, Christine Colligan, President of the Korean American Parents Association of Greater New York, (in red costume), Assemblyman Ron Kim, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Councilman Peter Koo and Peter Tu, Executive Director of the Flushing Chinese Business Association.
City kids could soon be over the moon about a new holiday on the school calendar.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced her support Friday for legislation allowing city schools — where 14% of students are Asian-American — to close for Lunar New Year.
Mayor de Blasio backs the effort, his spokeswoman said.
“The Lunar New Year is one of the most important days on the Chinese calendar and for many Asian-Americans throughout the city,” Mark-Viverito said at a Queens press conference. “No one should be forced to choose between celebrating a sacred holiday or missing school.”
She was backed by other Queens politicians including Rep. Grace Meng, who said, “As an Asian-American growing up here in New York City, it was very painful to stay up until 1 a.m. for the new year and then go to school the next day.”
This year’s Lunar New Year celebration begins Jan. 31.
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