Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – After weeks of discussions and presentations, the Springfield city council finally took a vote on whether to designate an “Indigenous People’s Day.”

It failed, 6-5, with Mayor Misty Buscher casting the deciding vote. Also voting No were Alds. Chuck Redpath, Larry Rockford, Brad Carlson, Jim Donelan, and Ralph Hanauer.

The designation is frequently used as a substitute for Columbus Day, though Springfield’s city calendar does not have that one, either.

“The reason that there is a problem with this is related to donations, and people who make donations, and money in politics,” said Ald. Jennifer Notariano. “So I’ll leave that there.”

Ald. Erin Conley did not exactly agree. “I know that other members of this council have had emotional conversations with people of Italian-American heritage that just want to make sure that that heritage is not disparaged.”

“To sit here and hear someone say that the handful or two handsful of people who have contacted me in Ward 7,” said Carlson, “who don’t contribute to my campaign, that want me to vote No on this  -that’s what’s shameful; that we’re politicizing Indigenous People’s Day.”

Students at Springfield Learning Academy pushed for the designation.

After the meeting, Buscher attempted to explain her vote against the designation by saying it’s a workday, not a holiday, and that she did not want to put a name on a workday.