MENG MEETS WITH MAYOR DE BLASIO AT GRACIE MANSION; CONGRESSWOMAN DISCUSSES SCHOOL CLOSINGS FOR EID AL-FITR AND EID AL-ADHA

New York : U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) March 2  met with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at Gracie Mansion where she brought up the issue of closing New York City schools for the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

The meeting, which also included several other members of New York City’s Congressional delegation, was the Mayor’s annual meeting with local Members of Congress. It focused on funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other federal issues affecting the city.

During the discussion, Meng asked the Mayor for an update on creating a school holiday for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. The Mayor said no specific timeline has been set yet, but that he remains committed to closing city schools for the two holidays.

Last year, de Blasio publically said he supports closing schools for the two Muslim holy days, and that he would move forward with plans to give kids the days off. The Congresswoman applauded his decision after he announced it.

Meng and the other members of the delegation also discussed the importance of funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the wake of last week’s stalemate in Congress. All criticized House Republican leaders for attaching provisions to the department’s spending bill that blocked President Obama’s executive orders on immigration.

“I thank the Mayor for listening to the issues I raised about Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, and for his continued commitment to closing schools for the two holidays,” said Meng. “I look forward to continuing to work with him on these and many other issues that affect our city and the communities I represent.”

This past December, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the new law requiring New York City to consider closing schools on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Meng had authored the bill when she served in the New York State Assembly.

Photo of Meng and the New York delegation joining Mayor de Blasio for a press availability on homeland security funding after the meeting. Press Release.