"Columbus is a figure with a long-standing cultural connection to New York City..." says candidate Andrew Yang and he adds: "I don’t think we should be getting into huge fights over which day is named after who, or pitting groups against each other. I think we can both keep Columbus Day and celebrate Indigenous People’s Day by honoring them on a separate date. Ultimately, my goal is to unify New Yorkers."

The discussion around Columbus has been quite heated for a few years now. On the one hand, there are those who argue that the Italian explorer is a figure to be celebrated for his courage and resourcefulness, almost like a messianic figure. On the other hand, there are those who argue that Columbus was the beginning of the end.