"Columbus did not "discover" America. Native Americans were here. We know that their mass extermination began at that time. He was not the first one from Europe to come to America. Scandinavians came and settled beginning in the eighth century. To be critical of Columbus having an American holiday is not anti-Italian. It is supporting Native Americans who are affronted by it."
"He campaigned and won his election calling for free college education that became CUNY, public housing creating NYCHA, building high schools, and the fair Civil Service system for city employees replacing corrupt cronyism. He began the city's highway system and construction of many bridges and tunnels we now travel through. He built hundreds of playgrounds in areas that had no space for children or families."
"When at Staten Island Community College, I voted for an Italian-American for student government because of his ethnicity, thinking I would be represented better. I learned that the person I voted for had the exact opposite politics and beliefs that I did. A person should get my vote for what they want to accomplish, not ethnicity. And maybe we need to change Columbus Day to LaGuardia Day! Ralph Palladino"
Zohran Mamdani's campaign is compared to Fiorello LaGuardia's progressive legacy, emphasizing policies like free college that became CUNY, public housing that created NYCHA, high school construction, and civil service reform replacing cronyism. The comparison credits LaGuardia with initiating the city's highway system and building bridges, tunnels, and hundreds of playgrounds in underserved areas. Criticism of Columbus and reconsideration of Columbus Day supports Native Americans and is not anti-Italian. Voter decisions should be based on candidates' policies rather than ethnic identity. A suggested replacement for Columbus Day is LaGuardia Day. Concerns exist about the feasibility of free buses amid MTA fare pressures.
Read at New York Daily News
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