An outspoken critic of Gary government tried urging the Common Council to snub President Donald J. Trump when they voted to alter the list of official days off provided by the city.
The council voted 9-0 on Tuesday on a measure that added Presidents Day to the list of a dozen holidays the city recognizes.
Last month, the Common Council voted to amend the city holidays list to provide more time off for city workers around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
But in doing so, they voted to approve a list of holidays that did not include Presidents Day, which falls on Feb. 19 this year.
Resident James Nowacki suggested that council members make a last-minute change to say that, in Gary Presidents Day would not apply to the current White House occupant.
“I think it should be amended to say it does not include Donald Trump,” Nowacki said. “The city could feel like it’s doing something for the holiday.”
After some laughter in the chambers, the measure’s sponsor, Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, said, “I’m not going to touch that.”
In other business, Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson issued a warning to city residents who park their cars along streets that are major thoroughfares. She said city officials will be cracking down on cars parked in snow routes and become more aggressive in having them towed.
“We’re not towing cars to be mean-spirited,” she said. “We’re towing cars so that we can clear the streets of snow.” She said that motorists ought to clear their cars off the main thoroughfares within the first 24 hours of a lengthy winter storm in order to avoid towing.
Also, Councilman Michael Protho, D-2nd, said he has noticed an increase in U.S. Postal Service workers delivering mail late into the evening in Gary. He said it would be beneficial if people turned on the porchlights of their homes after 5 p.m.
“It gets dark that late, and it can be hard (for postal workers) to see,” Protho said.
Gregory Tejeda is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.