Several hundred union members, community leaders and advocates packed the plaza outside Nassau County's Executive and Legislative building in Mineola on Tuesday, pushing county lawmakers to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for county workers. Organizers argued that Nassau, which keeps county offices open on June 19, is now one of the few New York counties still doing so and is out of step with neighboring municipalities as well as state and federal recognition of the day.
At the rally, speakers framed the issue as basic fairness rather than a perk. NAACP Hempstead leader Tina Bowles told the crowd that "we worked for it," while County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton called Nassau's stance "an embarrassment" for the county. CSEA Local 830 President Kris Kalendar stressed that the demand "isn't about special treatment" but about equality, and Legislator Olena Nicks warned that Juneteenth "should not be used as a bargaining chip," as reported by CBS News.
County Executive Frames Holiday as Tradeoff, Not New Cost
County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who is running for governor, told reporters he would consider making Juneteenth a paid holiday only if it replaces an existing day off. He noted that the county already has 13 paid holidays and said Nassau "can't afford a 14th." Blakeman also argued that the unions did not raise Juneteenth during the most recent contract negotiations and that the question belongs at the bargaining table, according to CBS News.
Labor Leaders and Democrats Press GOP Majority
Union officials and county Democrats countered that treating Juneteenth as a bargaining chip sidesteps what they see as the moral imperative to recognize the holiday. They are calling on the Republican majority in the Legislature to put a Juneteenth bill on the agenda for a vote. A county spokesperson told News 12 that decisions about days off fall under collective bargaining, while earlier reporting by ABC7 highlighted similar efforts by Democrats to force the issue onto the floor.
Nearby Governments Already Close for the Day
Advocates at the rally pointed to nearby examples they say make Nassau look late to the party. The Town of Hempstead's official calendar lists Town Hall as closed on June 19 and includes a Juneteenth flag-raising, according to the Town of Hempstead. Supporters of the county holiday say those kinds of municipal actions, along with Juneteenth ceremonies and community events across Nassau, show that formal county recognition is overdue.
Background: What Juneteenth Marks
Juneteenth commemorates the announcement of emancipation that reached enslaved people in Texas on June 19, 1865, through General Order No. 3 in Galveston, a document preserved by the National Archives. More than a century and a half later, Congress made June 19 a federal holiday in 2021, and New York recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in 2020. Local governments, however, still decide whether to close county offices or grant paid time off, according to the federal legislation recorded at Congress.gov.
What Happens Next
Organizers say they will keep pressing the Republican-controlled Legislature to schedule a vote and plan to raise the issue at upcoming public hearings and during future contract talks. They argue that sustained public pressure could push lawmakers to act before Juneteenth on Friday, June 19. Union leaders and community groups say they will continue holding rallies and doing outreach until the county either adds Juneteenth to its official holiday list or negotiates it into the next labor agreement. Local coverage and union statements have tracked the dispute for years, including reporting in the Long Island Press and updates from CSEA Local 830.
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