NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella penned a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday and requested that she order New York to join 28 states in raising the American flag for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
“This gesture would serve as a symbol of unity and respect for the Office of the President, regardless of political affiliation,” Fossella wrote. “It is important to recognize an honor of the Democratic process and the peaceful transition of power that is cornerstone of our nation’s values.”
Flags across the country have been lowered to half-staff since former President Jimmy Carter died on Dec. 29. President Joe Biden ordered that all flags on public buildings be kept at half-mast for 30 days, in accordance with U.S. flag codes. This was quickly followed by similar orders from Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams.
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered that flags at the U.S. Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, pausing the order for Carter’s death and joining a number of Republican governors who made similar directives in their states. On Saturday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom became the most prominent Democratic governor to make this move.
“I believe that, raising the flags in honor of the inauguration, would demonstrate our commitment to these principles and foster a sense of unity among New Yorkers. Thank you for considering this request,” Fossella concluded his letter.
In a statement to 1010 WINS, a spokesperson for Hochul confirmed that the governor would not be raising New York flags on Inauguration Day.
"In accordance with the U.S. Flag Code, flags will be at half staff for the full 30-day period following the passing of President Carter," the spokesperson said.
Earlier this month Trump criticized Democrats for being “giddy” that flags would be half-mast during his inauguration, claiming that “nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it.”
“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakemen, a Trump ally, ignored the orders from the White House and Albany requiring flags be flown half-mast, only lowering them to honor three of the 30 days outlined in the U.S. flag codes for the death of a current or former president.
The Long Island county lowered its flags from Jan. 7 through Jan. 9 to observe Carter’s Lying in State, burial and the national day of mourning.
Suffolk County has been observing the national order since it was given.