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Local leaders call for climate funding
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state asseMBlywoMaN Michaelle Solages, who represents Elmont, spoke at the Valley Stream rally, calling for $15 billion in funding for action on climate change.
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THE LEADER IN PROP ERTY TAX REDUCTION
By RoBeRt tRaveRso traverso@liherald.com
“What do we want?” “Climate justice!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” State Assemblywomen Michaelle Solages, who represents Elmont, led activists working to counter climate change in this chant at a rally in Valley Stream on Feb. 12 that called for including $15 billion of “climate justice” funding in the 2022-23 state budget. “I’m here to fight for our climate justice, because we cannot wait,” Solages said. “We are facing a mass extension. We are facing an uptick in climate refugees. We are facing an uptick in severe weather.” She recounted the flooding that affected residents across Long Island during Hurricane Sandy, praised officials at every level of government for working to counter the damages of the superstorm and called on elected officials to respond to climate change in the same way. Solages stressed that Long Island communities are especially vulnerable to sea level rise and warming temperatures. “We have enormous problems when it comes to climate Continued on page 4
‘This story can be your story’
‘Leading Ladies’ encouraged by Biden’s selection of Jackson for Supreme Court By RoBeRt tRaveRso rtraverso@liherald.com
The fact that a Black woman has been nominated to the Supreme Court is all about one key word, “possibility,” according to Caron Cox, the founder and adviser of the Leading Ladies, a student organization at Elmont Memorial High School that is dedicated to female empowerment. President Biden, who pledged during his campaign for the White House to select a Black
woman to serve on the nation’s highest court, affirmed that commitment following the announcement in January that Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, would step down from the court. On Feb 26, Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Cox said, adding that the nomination has created an unprecedented sense of representation for women and Black Americans.
“I definitely think it will add a lot of diversity that is needed in politics,” said Britney Bennett, a senior at the high school and a member of the Leading Ladies, adding that she believes the current makeup of the Supreme Court is not diverse enough. “I definitely think it will provide a different perspective, especially with the Supreme Court being mostly white and mostly male.” Both Cox and Bennett emphasized the need for a Black female perspective on the court, espe-
cially when it considers issues that uniquely affect women. Cox said that although Jackson will not create law, she will rule on the constitutionality of legislation governing female reproduction rights, as well as civil rights
concerns and other issues. Cox said the nomination was a step toward a society that empowers women. “For a long time we’ve been subjected to a patriarchal society, but the tides Continued on page 10