Brooklyn pols join fight for Lunar New Year school holiday
With the growth of the Asian-American population in New York City over the past several years, the school system has seen a sharp rise in the number of Asian-American students, according to Southwest Brooklyn elected officials and political leaders, who said Asians now account for 15 percent of the student population.
The numbers are even more striking in communities like Bensonhurst, Gravesend, Bath Beach, Dyker Heights and Sunset Park, where Asian-American students comprise over 50 percent of the school population.
That’s why the city should close public schools on the Lunar New Year and allow Asian-American youngsters to celebrate the holiday at home with their families, the elected officials said.
Assemblymember William Colton and council members Mark Treyger and David Greenfield are urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to call on the New York City Department of Education to add the Lunar New Year as an official school holiday during which public schools would be closed.