A state lawmaker — outraged by the de Blasio administration’s canceling of Columbus Day as a school holiday — is introducing a bill to restore the explorer to the New York City school calendar by rescinding the re-labeling to “Italian Heritage Day/Indigenous Peoples Day.” “It is being drafted. Hopefully ready for submission next week,” said state Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island).

He said the proposed law is “likely to read along the lines of: ‘Columbus Day required to be one of the days included with official school holidays and remembrance.’” Italian-American elected officials are furious that the de Blasio administration blindsided them by removing Columbus Day from the school calendar. There was no input or consultation with the Italian American community.