Referred to: The Laws, Rules and Government Services Committee (Chairman Heppner and Legislators Gavaris, Levine, Roberts, and Ronk)

Chairman of the Laws, Rules and Government Services Committee, Jonathan R. Heppner, and Deputy Chair Kevin A. Roberts offer the following:

WHEREAS, this resolution has been submitted at the request of the County Executive; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth (short for "June nineteenth") is a holiday commemorating this day, which marked the effective end of slavery in the United States in the year of 1865 in Galveston, Texas; and

WHEREAS, news of the end of slavery did not reach the frontier areas of the United States, in particular the State of Texas and the other Southwestern States, until months after the conclusion of the Civil War, more than 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863; and

WHEREAS, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were free;

WHEREAS, the celebration of Juneteenth allowed freed slaves and their descendants to recount the memories of that great day in 1865 when freedom was proclaimed; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth is a time for celebration, but also for reflection, education, and self-improvement; and

WHEREAS, Juneteenth today celebrates African American freedom and achievements while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures; and

WHEREAS, the United States and New York State have designated Juneteenth as a public holiday in recognition of the emancipation of all slaves in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County wishes to recognize Juneteenth as an annual public holiday; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that June 19th of each year shall be designated as “Juneteenth” in Ulster County, in recognition that the observance of the end of slavery is part of the history and heritage of the United States; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that beginning in 2022, June 19th will be an annual holiday for all Ulster County employees; and, be it further

RESOLVED, if Juneteenth falls on a Saturday all Ulster County employees will celebrate the holiday on Friday, June 18^th, and if Juneteenth falls on a Sunday, all Ulster County employees will celebrate the holiday on Monday, June 20th,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                        NOES:    

Passed Committee: Laws, Rules and Government Services on _______________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE