Over a month ago, we reported that New York City was considering issuing a parking holiday in deference to the Diwali holiday on November 1. While New York’s Committee on Transportation unanimously approved the motion, it was rumored that New York mayor, Michael Bloomberg would veto the legislation. On October 28, as the 30 day time-limit for the veto was
set to expire, Mayor Bloomberg vetoed it. From one of the organizer’s emails: Because the mayor vetoed the bill so late,
“there is not enough time remaining before Diwali (Nov 1 is the date the city was planning to observe it) to override him and observe the holiday this year. Council Member Brewer is confident that the council will override the Mayor, but it will probably happen at one of the two Stated Council meetings in November (I believe 11/17 and 11/31). So the city will officially observe Diwali next year. This year November 1 falls on All Saints day, on which alternate side of the street parking is suspended anyway.”According to the same email, the Mayor is rumored to be planning a Diwali party at Gracie Mansion, a bit puzzling since he vetoed a bill which would highlight the holiday. Even if Bloomberg doesn’t have the party, the City Council is having one on Wednesday, November 2, at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers at city hall. RSVP by 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 here.
We were also informed that back in February of 2005, Representative Joseph Crowley of the seventh district of New York introduced a mostly symbolic resolution recognizing the Diwali holiday. The resolution’s purpose is simply to “express the sentiments of one of the houses,” and will not make Diwali a public holiday. Still it is nice to see some effort to recognize. See the text of the “simple resolution” here, and more from SM on Crowley’s efforts to recognize Indian-Americans.
Lastly, Washington Post reporter S. Mitra Kalita continues her series of India-centric blog posts, entitled “India 2.0,” with her most recent discussing her Diwali partying. Click here to peruse her latest, and click here to see the archives.
Still no word on the stamp.
As I understood it, he vetoed the bill for the same reason he vetoed a recent bill to suspend alternate-side-of-the-street-parking on Sundays; the city needs the revenue. He’s probably perfectly happy to celebrate Diwali if it doesn’t require the city to give up meter revenue for a day.
I understand the revenue issue, but I would hardly equate 52 revenue-free Sundays to one day for Diwali.
Shouldn’t we be encouraging the spelling “Deevali” so people don’t say a hollow sounding W ?!
And for the record, I don’t like hollow sounding W’s!
Sajit – again, as I understand it, he drew a line in the sand against any further revenue related holidays. The problem is, of course, that it’s not just Diwali, but a raft of other holidays, most of which are observed by groups that are less than 10% of the population of NYC, but which create parking holidays all around. Personally, I see little reason why celebrating Diwali need create a parking holiday …
when did they add ad november 31st and not tell us? happy diwali anyway everyone.
i love diwali…want my diwali stamps… heck if my muppets can get a stamp… why can’t we? i don’t get it at all…. hmm…
the frustrated bean.
There may be more Americans (all stripes, brown, white, grey, etc) who are muppets fans than Diwali celebrators …
Does anyone know what the City Council Diwali party is like?
Ennis: Is there really a need for any of these holidays for NYC to suspend alternate-side-of-the-street-parking? Many of these are symbolic gestures which speak to the diverse nature of New York. No, it isn’t a huge deal that Diwali, this year anyway, is not going to merit a parking holiday. I just don’t understand the mayor’s logic. If you know your veto is going to be overriden, as it is suspected it will at the next council meeting and you know November 1 has already been granted suspension of parking rules, why not sign the legislation and make your diwali-celebrating residents happy?
I know if you sign one, than it leaves you less able to justify not signing the next, but looking at the list of holidays already given a pass, I don’t think Diwali should be looked over.
i know more people know/love the muppets.. beaker and dr. honeydew rock.. and i was first in line to buy these awesome stamps.. (they rock!) but diwali is diwali.. i mean, if they can have stamps for random movie stars, why not diwali? they have stamps for kwanza, and other random holidays… bring on the festival of lights….
Don’t forget Animal, and the eagle journalist. Love that show!
Statler and Waldorf!!
“why do we always come here? I guess we’ll never know. It’s like a kind of torture, to have to watch the show!”
sorry. back to topic.
I’ve single-handedly been trying to bring back the use of “Deepavali“, but those who know me know why! 😉
sam the eagle and the 2 old fogies are awesome..
gonzo, animal, the dog who played the piano…
sorry.. off topic, but the mention of stamps make me go on my muppet rampage..
p.s. sesame stamps are coming out next year… shh… can’t wait for snuffalupagus 😉
But Scooter got indicted! How many Diwali related characters have been indicted!
Is it to resist north-indian hegemony ? 🙂
Also: SIG, I’m all for your plan to replace the “W” with “V”.
-ashVin
Ennis,
How is Scooter brown-related?
I wish they’d bring that show back. When it aired I was too young to get the jokes (thanggod for good ol’ physical comedy) but I had a feeling they were clever! Clips have verified this, and now I have major nostalgia.
Rowlf and the old fogies (it’s easy to judge from high places) and beaker and dr. honeydew and the flying zucchini brothers. All classic. Mostly I loved any non-human-emulating puppet: Give me a dawg that can talk and play the piano. I like that shit.
Happy Diwali everyone!
i agree, the muppets rocked! yeah the eagle journalist, beaker/honeydew, the old guys, the hippy crew espeically the bearded bloke dr. teeth or soemthing, oohh…too many charcaters to to mention…and of course kermie…still love rainbow connection. sam the dog..lol…and by all means there should be a stamp for diwali/deevali/deepavali. there should be a stamp for anything expressing celebrations of culture and our virtues, a slong as it’s not some crud or cult like kkk or whatnot.