Dear New Yorkers,

This Lunar Year we welcome the Year of the Rabbit – a symbol of gentleness and kindness, but also quiet confidence and strength.

There is a Chinese idiom that states a “crafty rabbit has three burrows,” which means it's wise to have more than one plan to fall back on. As we face a multitude of challenges in these uncertain times, New Yorkers shine through with our resilience, resourcefulness, and respect we show one another.

Watch the Comptroller's office's Lunar New Year greeting

As the rabbit teaches us, kindness is the key to our confidence and strength as a city, and core of who we are as New Yorkers. Entering this year of the rabbit, I am mindful of how we bring that kindness to every part of our work to strengthen this great city -- from fighting for better wages, to advocating for the resources we need to support newly arrived asylum seekers, to confronting our housing affordability crisis.

As we say goodbye to the Year of the Tiger and hello to the Year of the Rabbit, I’m thrilled to invite you to our Lunar New Year celebration with Congress Member Grace Meng and Council Member Sandra Ung on Sunday, February 5th at Tangram.

February 5th is the Lantern Festival, marking the conclusion of 15 days of Lunar New Year celebrations. This family-friendly event will feature dancing lions, Jindo drums, traditional desserts such as Kyung-dan, Chapssal-dduk (rice cakes) and “Tang-yuan” (sweet rice balls), fun arts and crafts activities for children, and of course, lanterns.

And for those who celebrate Tết, we wish you a happy Year of the Cat and look forward to seeing you on February 5th to share our city’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.

May prosperity dwell in your home in the year of the Rabbit and year of the Cat!

Brad