Good morning, it’s Tuesday, Veterans Day – the rare federal holiday that was NOT moved to Monday to create a long weekend (a phenomenon created by the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968 to benefit retailers and the recreation/tourism/hospitality industry in order to maintain its historical significance.
Veterans Day is always on Nov. 11, whenever that date might fall. It has its roots in Armistice Day, which commemorated the end of World War I (11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918).
Monday holidays, for the record, are Washington’s Birthday (AKA Presidents’ Day), Memorial Day, and Columbus Day.
After the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was implemented in 1971, Veterans Day was initially on the aforementioned list of relocated observations – it was moved to the fourth Monday in October. This was not at all popular, as many veterans felt that it diminished the significance of the original date, which a number of states continued to celebrate.
Four years later, (in 1975), then-President Gerald Ford succumbed to pressure from the veterans and their allies and signed a law moving Veterans Day back to Nov. 11, where it has remained ever since, though the change did not officially occur until 1978.
As with all federal holidays, it is not mandatory that private employers give their workers paid time off on this day.
Not a lot of people get this day off – about 19 percent, all told, and 11 percent of private-sector workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (As an aside, the U.S. is the only country in the world that does not have a national requirement that companies provide their employees with vacation days).
So, this is just a regular workday for a lot of people. But hopefully even if you don’t have the day off, you’ll take a moment to thank the veterans in your life – or to at least think of the service that they provided in your name.
There were about 15.8 million veterans in the U.S. as of 2023, which represents about 6 percent of the adult population, according to the Census Bureau, with the largest percentage (43) having served during the Gulf War era. Fewer than 120,000 WW II vets were alive at that time (it’s likely less now), and about 767,000 Korean War vets.
According to the VA, as the number of veterans decline, the demographic of those remaining will shift, with more women, Black, and Latino individuals under the age of 50 making up ever larger shares of the veteran population.
While it’s great that we have a day to honor veterans, they really need our assistance and support all year round – particularly since they more likely to be homeless, struggle with substance abuse disorders as a result of one or more of the following: PTSD, chronic pain, mental health challenges, stress of deployment, combat and trauma exposure and/or difficulty readjusting after deployment.
I don’t know that it’s ever “easy” to be a member of the U.S. armed forces, but this is a time of particular upheaval in the military.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reshaping military leadership by firing members of then brass at a rapid clip with little explanation. Meanwhile, President Trump is deploying the National Guard – or trying to – in cities around the nation, which is a questionable use of his executive powers, while also signing executive orders intended to reshape the military rank-and-file.
I’ll be calling my step-dad, who is a Vietnam vet, today to thank him for his service. It seems like the least I can do.
It’s going to be cloudy and cold today, with temperatures topping out only in the mid-to-high 30s and the chance of snow flurries throughout the day – a little taste of what’s to come. Brrr.
In the headlines…
A small band of Senate Democrats voted with Republicans last night to approve a funding measure to end the longest shutdown in US history. The bill must now go to the House for approval before it is sent to President Donald Trump’s desk to be signed.
Moderate House members, progressive senators, self-described insurgents and establishment candidates alike all expressed the same, vehement opposition to the deal eight senators in the Democratic caucus struck to end the longest government shutdown.
Several GOP senators dismissed the potential political backlash their party could face if Americans healthcare costs skyrocket without a plan to address expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies.
The House plans to vote on the Senate-passed bill to reopen the federal government tomorrow, according to a notice from Majority Whip Tom Emmer.
A proposed hemp ban that threatens to end the sale of scores of popular THC gummies, vapes and even beverages is tucked into a government-funding bill — and could stall lawmakers’ efforts to end the longest-ever shutdown in US history.
President Donald Trump criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s handling of the government shutdown in an interview, saying Republicans bested him in the process.
This morning, flights across the country will be reduced by 6 percent on orders from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), despite an end to the government shutdown in sight.
The FAA first decreased flight capacity at 40 “high-traffic” airports last Friday, with a 4 percent reduction. At 6 a.m. today, that will increase to 6 percent, with increases to 8 percent and 10 percent set for 6 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, respectively.
Trump yesterday kept a historic meeting with Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa behind closed doors, an unusual move for a president who frequently opens up the Oval Office to cameras and reporters when meeting with foreign leaders.
It was the first visit by a Syrian leader to the White House, but al-Sharaa did not walk the route typically reserved for visiting dignitaries, through the West Wing entrance along the North Drive.
A coalition of clean energy groups and the city of St. Paul sued the Trump administration, challenging what they see as nakedly partisan funding cuts during the government shutdown that wiped out around $7.5 billion for projects in Democratic-led states.
The lawsuit, which names the White House budget director, Russell T. Vought, as a main defendant, claims that the Trump administration took advantage of the lapse in government funding in October to slash energy programs voters support Democrats.
Gay Americans expressed relief after the Supreme Court denied a request to revisit a decade-old decision that established same-sex marriage as a national right.
Without comment, the justices rejected an appeal brought by Kim Davis, a former county clerk in Kentucky who was sued in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses because of her opposition to same-sex marriage based on her religious beliefs.
The court did not explain its reasoning to deny the appeal, which had received outsized attention – in part because the court’s 6-3 conservative majority three years ago overturned Roe v. Wade.
A coalition of New York’s largest veterans organizations, which are facing membership declines and other struggles, are urging Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign legislation that would authorize the charitable organizations to use electronic bell jar vending machines.
Hochul is in the Dominican Republic, as she and other leaders hope the visit will strengthen the bond between the Caribbean nation and New York, which is home to one of the largest communities of Dominicans in the U.S.
Hochul called on artificial intelligence companies to implement safety features for users, as a reminder that the AI companion law is now in effect.
In an open letter to AI companies, she highlighted a new law in New York that requires companies to implement strict safety measures around artificial intelligence chatbots.
Empire State Democrats are salivating over the possibility of outspoken Trump supporter Rep. Elise Stefanik leading the Republican ticket in deep blue New York next year.
Beginning next year, students will have to learn about personal finance before graduating from high school. The Board of Regents approved the requirement this week.
The Office of the State Comptroller has informed the Office of Victim Services that it would not approve 250 tentative contracts to 230 service providers under the federally funded 2025 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant program.
Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani is selecting a city and government veteran of Bill de Blasio’s administration and his closest campaign adviser to fill out two of the most important roles on his executive team as he prepares to take over City Hall on Jan. 1.
Mamdani announced yesterday that he is tapping Dean Fuleihan as first deputy mayor and one of his closest confidants, Elle Bisgaard-Church, as chief of staff.
It is a reprise role for Fuleihan, 74, who served as former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s first deputy mayor until 2021. Four decades Mamdani’s senior, Fuleihan will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of city government.
Andrew Kimball, the president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, is seeking to stay on as EDC chief in the Mamdani administration — and has the support of the city’s influential business advocacy group.
With Mamdani set to assume office on Jan. 1, and some billionaires have floated relocating their businesses out of the largest U.S. city.
Last week’s election night results have suddenly bound the California governor and the New York City mayor-elect together as two of the most prominent figures on the left.
Moderate Black voters and young progressives favored Mamdani for mayor, while Andrew Cuomo won many wealthy New Yorkers and those who voted for Trump.
Mamdani navigated a media landscape of podcasts and YouTube shows similar to the one that helped Trump win over young men.
Chi Ossé, a far-left city councilman aligned with Mamdani’s policies, has told political allies that he is planning to challenge Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat, in next June’s primary, even though the mayor-elect has encouraged him not to run.
New Hampshire Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s re-election campaign sent a van covered with ads reading: “NYC business owners: Mamdani got you down? Come on up to New Hampshire for no Communism, less red tape, and less taxes” to Midtown Manhattan.
A lawsuit filed by the city’s biggest transportation workers union alleged the animal rights group NYCLASS spread misinformation about the carriage horse industry to help developers who want the land under the Manhattan stables where the animals live.
Mayor Eric Adams on Friday vetoed a bill the City Council passed to prevent rental voucher-holders from contributing more than 30% of their income for rent.
Adams is jetting off to Israel this week as his City Hall tenure winds down – a trip that comes on the heels of vocal Israel critic Mamdani winning New York City’s mayoral election.
NYC Ferry riders will get direct boat rides between the Bronx and Rockaways, as well as Staten Island and Brooklyn, starting next month, the city Economic Development Corporation announced.
The NYPD’s top administrative judge has recommended dismissing the disciplinary case of a police officer who fatally shot a 37-year-old man while off-duty, ruling the Civilian Complaint Review Board lacks jurisdiction over misconduct that occurs off the clock.
The disbarred Rudy Giuliani said he should be allowed to practice law again after receiving a presidential pardon from President Trump.
Giuliani offered some brutal “advice” for Mayor-elect Mamdani telling his successor he should never take office as leader of the Big Apple. “My advice to him is to step down and do something else,” Giuliani told The NY Post.
City billionaire WABC radio owner John Catsimatidis and ex-Gov. David Paterson took turns over the weekend pounding former show host Curtis Sliwa for “shooting off his mouth’’ and ruining the mayoral race.
With federal SNAP benefits in limbo, the City University of New York is distributing $140,000 across all campuses to stock up campus food pantries and help feed hungry students.
The New York Police Department has tried to fire 30 officers who failed a psychological exam or a background check. Some say the test is the problem.
The three contenders vying for one of up to three licenses to open a Las Vegas-style casino in New York City have made eye-popping claims about the potential economic impact of their proposed gambling houses. Can they make good on them?
Suffolk County voters have approved a controversial GOP proposal to double county legislators’ terms from two to four years — setting up a legal showdown as local Democrats move to overturn the results.
Hannah Shvets, 20, a student organizer and member of the Communist Party USA, was elected to the Ithaca Common Council on Thursday in the Democratic stronghold’s Fifth Ward, which covers the western half of Cornell University’s campus in the city.
As state lawmakers weigh legislation to curb over-reporting of incidents to Child Protective Services, a new analysis focused on Monroe County says more than three-quarters of the county’s investigations last year ended with unfounded determinations.
The Hoffman Car Wash on Delaware Avenue that was shuttered by the town in early October over fears the land on which it sits might give way will likely remain closed for weeks, if not months, as engineers work to find a solution to shore up the area.
The downstate owners of Colonie Plaza on Central Avenue are being sued by TD Bank, which asserts a $15.6 million mortgage secured by the property has fallen into default.
An Arbor Hill Elementary School student died Saturday in an accident apparently tied to a social media trend.
Susan Mallery, a country lawyer who went from quietly leading a small local prosecutor’s office to the national spotlight when a broken-down limousine crashed in her community and killed 20 people, is in her final days as Schoharie County District Attorney.
Members of the City of Troy Council’s GOP majority — all four of whom will be replaced by Democrats next year — approved a 30-year lease agreement with the Troy Local Development Corporation to set up city operations in the old Proctors Theater building.
Snow showers and flurries were forecast to fall in the Albany area this week, possibly marking the first widespread snowfall in the Capital Region this autumn.
Photo credit: George Fazio.
