It was an honor to be invited to Albany by Senator Shelley B. Mayer this past Wednesday to attend a very special press conference about plans to celebrate America’s independence in 2026. Senator Mayer and Assembly Member Carrie Woerner urged Governor Kathy Hochul to include $18 million in the final FY 2025-2026 budget for New York State’s 250th Commemoration Commission. “The proposed $18 million will create educational and economic opportunities statewide to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and to highlight the significant role New York State played.” Watch the full video here.
JHC President Suzanne Clary and colleagues from the tourism and hospitality sectors in New York State, and various other advocates joined Mayer and Woerner, sponsors of the legislation in 2022 that created the Commission, along with their legislative colleagues, appointees from the Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly to the Commission.
Clary was given an opportunity to share JHC’s enthusiasm for the commemoration:
No other state in the country is as well positioned to tell ‘our whole history’ with vibrancy and intentionality as we approach the 250th commemoration of independence. NY’s Constitution was one of two models for America’s constitution (the other being Massachusetts) and to this day, New York State supports the broad principles of that instrument including freedom of religious expression and the right to equitable justice for all. 2026 is our big chance to interpret the evolution of these essential liberties in a thoughtful way.
Visitors from around the world seek to better understand our flawed but precious democracy and we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to show them that journey. We heartily encourage Governor Hochul to invest in heritage tourism which has been proven to stimulate our economy and create jobs through education. This investment will last decades beyond 2026 and also help lay the foundation for celebrating Freedom 2027 and the abolition of slavery in New York State.
Did you know? The Jay Estate hosted the kickoff of Revolutionary Westchester 250 in 2018. See photos here.
