(MINEOLA, N.Y.) - On Wednesday, June 12, Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D – Valley Stream), ranking member of the Legislature’s Minority Affairs committee, launched an online petition demanding the Blakeman administration and the Republican Legislative Majority enact legislation to make Juneteenth a paid County holiday. Ahead of the national observance, Legislator Solages issued the following statement:
“The people of Nassau County deserve more than lip service from their government when it comes to major cultural milestones like Juneteenth,” Nassau County Legislator Carrié Solages (D – Valley Stream), ranking member of the Legislature’s Minority Affairs committee, said. “Rather than represent the people who elected him and do his job, the County Executive has once again opted for a superficial, flashy, attention-seeking half-measure. The people of Nassau County deserve much more than just a Ja Rule concert - they demand for Juneteenth to be fully and properly recognized by their government.”
“Nassau County Democrats, led by my colleagues Legislator Siela A. Bynoe and former Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, introduced legislation to make Juneteenth a paid County holiday,” Legislator Solages continued. “However, the Republican Legislative Majority and County Executive refused to honor it. It is time for the County Executive and the Majority to stop being roadblocks to progress, and I encourage every Nassau County resident to sign my office's petition calling for them to pass legislation making Juneteenth a County holiday - just like it is in our neighboring municipalities and at the state and federal levels.”