California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday signed legislation that makes Chinese Lunar New Year a state holiday. The move recognizes the diversity of cultures which Asian Americans have brought to California, the third (large) state in the US.
The legislation lets any state employee take eight hours of vacation, annual leave or compensatory leave (celebrate) Chinese New Year.
In a (sign) letter Newsom emphasized the diversity and cultural significance that Asian Americans represented in California and (encourage) all Californians to participate in the festival.
Lunar New Year is celebrated by thousands of Asian and Pacific Islander Californians at community events that illustrate state's rich cultural history and commitment to racial, religious, and cultural diversity. Many jurisdictions (辖区) in California have already made Lunar New Year an (office) school holiday.
Also on Friday, a ceremony (hold) in San Francisco's city hall to raise China's national flag in celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the (found) of the People's Republic of China.
Zhang Jianmin, China's consul general in San Francisco, raised the flag with Meron Foster, a senior officer at the San Francisco Mayor's Office of Protocol. Zhang expressed his gratitude San Francisco's "very genuine gesture of friendship" toward China, he spoke to an audience of us elected representatives, business figures and community members.
