Cuomo wants to change the design of the flag of New York, developed 138 years ago: why would he

The design of the flag of New York has not changed since 1882. Governor Andrew Cuomo believes this needs to be fixed. How exactly and why the democrat suggests making changes, the newspaper writes Democrat & Chronicle.

Why Cuomo wants to change the flag

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo seems to like the Latin expression “e pluribus unum,” meaning “one of many is one.” The Democrat unveiled this motto on the walls of the airport in Rochester, Schenectady train station, a rest stop near Albany, the Brooklyn Battery tunnel and a subway stop in New York.

He also brought it to dozens of his speeches, including at the National Democratic Congress. These words adorned the balcony when he was inaugurated for a third term last year on Ellis Island.

Now the state governor wants to add his favorite phrase to the flag of New York. Last week, he made the proposal public in his State Message.

Realizing the idea will require Cuomo and lawmakers to do something that no one in New York has done in the past 138 years: change the coat of arms, which has elements dating back to revolutionary war. “In this period of turmoil, let New York State remind the nation of who we are,” the governor said in his January 8 speech. "Let's add" e pluribus unum "to the seal of our state and proclaim at this time the simple truth that without unity we are nothing."

Patrimony

New York first made the official seal in 1777, more than ten years before it ratified the US Constitution. It included an image of the sun rising over the mountains.

The following year, the state detailed the official emblem placed on the seal and similar to the current image.

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In the following century, the state changed the image only four times. The modern coat of arms and seal were approved in 1882. Then the state committee proposed a detailed, almost poetic description that remains in state law to this day. The law describes the image of the American eagle hovering on the earth's surface, "showing the North Atlantic Ocean with the outline of its shores." Below is the landscape, and the sun "rises in splendor ... behind a ridge of three mountains." Two ships representing domestic and international trade pass by on the river. On the one hand - the Statue of Liberty, on the other - the Goddess of Justice. Below is the only Latin word, the motto of the state: "Excelsior", which means "eternally upward" in Latin, and since 1777 has been adorned with the state seal.

In accordance with the law, the coat of arms is depicted both on the national flag and on the seal, which certifies the authenticity of documents. By law, it is officially known as the “Great Seal of the State of New York.”

Not a single flag

In a January 8 speech, Cuomo said he wanted to change the seal. However, Rich Azzopardi, his senior adviser, later stated that the governor wants to change everything: coat of arms, flag and seal.

Seal, in particular, is ubiquitous in state government, plastered on letterheads, lecturers and all government offices - even on the doorknobs in the State Capitol.

When Cuomo made his proposal, an image appeared on the front of the podium, the curtain behind it, the national flag next to it and a giant video screen on the left.

The governor does not offer to remove anything from the official image, including Excelsior, which he also often uses in speeches. Instead, he wants to add “e pluribus unum” to the same scroll just below “Excelsior”.

If approved, Azzopardi said state flags and seals would only be replaced as they reached the end of their natural lives or fell into decay.

What do historians think

Devin Lander, a New York State historian, declined to comment through a spokeswoman for the State Department of Education, who noted that the State Department is the official curator of the state’s seal and its history.

Jack McEneney, who served 20 years in the State Assembly and is the unofficial historian of the Capitol, said he was indifferent to Cuomo's proposal until the governor decides to replace Excelsior. “I know why he says this because we are an extremely diversified state and we are very proud of it,” McEneny said. "I think it is interesting to come up with this idea - to see how legislators and the public react to it - but I don't have strong feelings about it anyway."

Cavalari encouraged Cuomo to run a design competition with more imagery than lettering. He pointed to the famous Alaska flag, whose design - selected in a competition in 1927 - includes the Ursa Major and the North Star. “Adding more fonts to the flag is not a good idea from a design point of view, although I welcome the idea of ​​the motto 'e pluribus unum',” said Cavalari. "But there is a way to show it with symbols, not letters."

Will lawmakers support change?

Cuomo will need the support of lawmakers to make changes to the coat of arms, flag or seal. It is not yet clear whether the legislature will accept amendments to historical state symbols. The proposal may become part of negotiations on the budget for the fiscal year, which will begin on April 1.

"We'll take a look at him," said Mike Murphy, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, Osuigo County, said the state has deeper issues to worry about. "There is another $ 6,1 billion worth focusing on," Barclay said, referring to the size of the state's looming budget deficit.