We are back again.

Good morning.

I am Deputy Speaker Nantasha Williams, Chair of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations.

Today the committee will vote on one bill and three resolutions which have already been heard.

Proposed intro number 220A, sponsored by Majority Whip Camilla Hanks, a local law which would amend the administrative code of the city of New York in relations to a report regarding the identification and commemoration of historical African American burial sites.

And I just wanted to note that there is an active situation happening in Queens where uh African American burial site was paved over.

So this is quite relevant.

Um the next is a resolution by Councilmember Amanda Fadius, number eight eighty-two A, which would celebrate the Feast of San Genero and Ferro Augusto Festival annually in September to honor the contributions of Italian immigrants and Italian Americans to the cultural, political, and economic fabric of the city of New York.

Resolution number 402, sponsored by myself, which would declare March 6th as Carmen de la Vallade Day in the city of New York to celebrate her life and legacy and to honor her groundbreaking contributions to dance and theater as well as her role in advancing diversity and artistic excellence in the performing arts.

And resolution number 429, also sponsored by myself, which will recognize the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey and honor it his contributions to American Dance and the founding of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Additionally, the committee will hear and vote on resolution six, sponsored by the speaker, which would commemorate the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and proposed resolution 237A, sponsored by Councilmember Crystal Hudson, which would call on the United States Congress to pass and the president to sign the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act.

First, I will turn to Councilmember Hudson to deliver marks on her resolution.

And they deserve a tax system that reflects the realities of making a living in this field.

Thank you.

Yes, very true, just like you.

Next up, Councilmember Fidias.

Good morning, and thank you, Chair Williams, and the members of the Committee on Cultural Affairs, Libraries, and International Relations.

I'm Councilmember Amanda Farrias, and I'm proud.

Resolution 82 recognizes that Italian American history in New York City is New York City history and ensures that these celebrations remain part of our city's cultural calendar for generations to come.

Thank you to my colleagues who have joined me in sponsoring this resolution and who will join in passage.

Um it's taken a year to get this on the calendar, and I'm really excited to get it done, both for our Italian Americans and across the city, but specifically in the Bronx as well.

And I respectfully ask all of my colleagues today in committee to vote yes.

Thank you.

It's because the chair studied abroad in Italy for six months.

I'm just kidding, it's not why.

Um we have Majority Whip, who uh would also like to give remarks on her bill.

Thank you, Dr.

Chair Williams, Speaker Menon and my colleagues.

I also want to thank the scholars, the advocates, descendants, community leaders, and everyone whose knowledge and persistence brought this work forward.

New York cannot tell its complete story while the resting places of people remain unseen.

These New Yorkers have lived here, worked here, built communities here, and helped build the city we inherit today.

Their lives deserve dignity, their resting places deserve protection, and their descendants deserve to know what their history matters.

Uh intro 220A gives the city a responsibility to locate, document, protect, and recognize these sites, guided by scholarship, oral histories, and community knowledge.

This bill is not the end of that work.

It is one important step towards a larger promise that will not erase a New Yorker from our shared memory.

And today we take that step together.

And I I hope that my colleagues will vote for this bill today.

We will continue this work until every part of our history is seen, honored, and never forgotten.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you.

Finally, let me say a few words about my two resolutions honoring the lives and work of Carmen Delavalade and Alvin Ailey.

It is fitting that these two resolutions be voted on together because it is likely that there is no Alvin Ailey without Carmen Delavlad.

After they met in high school in Los Angeles, Miss De Lavalad took young Alvin to her dance classes at Lester Horton Studio.

He loved watching her in class, and eventually Lester Horton asked young Alvin if he would like to take classes as well.

He enthusiastically agreed, and the rest is history.

Lester Horton, who pioneered the modern Horton technique that is still danced by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and is taught in the Ailey School, had a small racially integrated company where Miss De Lavalade and Mr.

Ailey first danced together.

After Mr.

Horton's untimely death, the two young dancers took over the company and tried hard to make it work, which was very difficult.

When New York City beckoned, they left California together to come dance on Broadway.

When Mr.

Ailey started his own tiny dance company, he choreographed roles for his favorite partner, including an iconic role for her in his signature ballet of 1960, Revelations.

I love revelations.

Revelations is the story of what Mr.

Airly called his blood memories.

In other words, his memories of growing up in a small town of Rogers, Texas, where he watched workers picking cotton and where he attended church with his beloved mother on Sundays.

Set to traditional spirituals, Revelations is also the story of the trials and tribulations as well as the joys of the African American experience.

Both Ms.

De Lavalade and Mr.

Ailey had long and brilliant careers, dancing and choreographing across the world for many prestigious companies, including Mr.