Michaelle Solages and the face of Mona Lisa
2 January 2015 By Abiodun Giwa
Michaelle Solages
She looks quiet and serene outwardly. But behind her seeming quietness and serenity are resolves that speak directly to a reporter that she has the steeliness of a politician. She may not have the look and outward actions of a Margaret Thatcher, but with her smile, she captures the specifics and robustness of Mona Lisa.
Please meet Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) sworn in for a second term in office as Assemblywoman in New York State, representing the 22nd District in Nassau County of Long Island, and the first woman of Haitian background in the United States to achieve the feat.
Speaking on what next is on her agenda after her reelection, Solages, representing the 22 District in said she recognizes that it is expensive to live in Long Island and that the cost of housing, utilities and transportation are driving young professionals and seniors away.
Therefore, she told this reporter in an interview for the Long Island Herald newspaper that her next two years will be focused on job creation here in Long Island, economic development and improving the quality of transportation. And says it will be a pleasure to continue to advocate property tax relief for home owners, access to safe and quality affordable child care and quality education for students.
"I serve all the constituents; I serve the senior citizens who are on fixed income as well as young professionals starting out in their career and next term I am going to focus on bringing more initiatives to serve the 22nd District."
This is believing that her reelection was hinged on citizens in her District saw her commitment to the community and that her dedication surpassed that of any other candidate.
"I live here all my life; born and raised in this area. People see that I am dedicated to ensuring their problems are resolved."
She said that one of her top priorities have been to keep home owners in their homes. She said she held workshops assisting individuals facing foreclosure and guiding them on how to grieve their high property taxes.
She looks at Brooklyn and Queens boroughs and said that the two boroughs have better transportation compared to Long Island. "They have subway. In Long Island, we have limited bus service and The Long Island Rail Road, LIRR. There is need for better transportation along Hempstead and Sunrise/Merrick Road. We love in a bedroom community, meaning many people live in the suburbs but work in the city. They go to Church and have alternate life city, making transportation a vital component to people's lives. If we want economic development, we have to get rid of the transportation desert."
Solages believes that her strive for economic development through enhanced transportation system will attract new talents and businesses to Nassau.
For her, transportation has become a passion along with education, child care, universal pre-k for the community, economic development and supporting small businesses. "In Long Island, I can easily say what drives our economic is not big businesses, but our local small businesses. I do a lot facilitating workshops for entrepreneurs and business owners. And I will continue doing that in my next term, beginning January 15."
Solages is a product of Hofstra University in Hempstead and a life-long resident of Elmont. She represents the Valley Stream, North Valley, South Valley Stream, South Floral Park and Floral Park in Nassau's 22nd Assembly District in the New York State Assembly. She was first elected to represent the district in November 2012, before her recent reelection in November 2014.
Unlike Mona Lisa, the famed painting of Leonardo da Vinci, Solages is human, alive and working to give quality of life to people in her electoral district in Elmont areas of Long Island.
Please meet Michaelle Solages (D-Elmont) sworn in for a second term in office as Assemblywoman in New York State, representing the 22nd District in Nassau County of Long Island, and the first woman of Haitian background in the United States to achieve the feat.
Speaking on what next is on her agenda after her reelection, Solages, representing the 22 District in said she recognizes that it is expensive to live in Long Island and that the cost of housing, utilities and transportation are driving young professionals and seniors away.
Therefore, she told this reporter in an interview for the Long Island Herald newspaper that her next two years will be focused on job creation here in Long Island, economic development and improving the quality of transportation. And says it will be a pleasure to continue to advocate property tax relief for home owners, access to safe and quality affordable child care and quality education for students.
"I serve all the constituents; I serve the senior citizens who are on fixed income as well as young professionals starting out in their career and next term I am going to focus on bringing more initiatives to serve the 22nd District."
This is believing that her reelection was hinged on citizens in her District saw her commitment to the community and that her dedication surpassed that of any other candidate.
"I live here all my life; born and raised in this area. People see that I am dedicated to ensuring their problems are resolved."
She said that one of her top priorities have been to keep home owners in their homes. She said she held workshops assisting individuals facing foreclosure and guiding them on how to grieve their high property taxes.
She looks at Brooklyn and Queens boroughs and said that the two boroughs have better transportation compared to Long Island. "They have subway. In Long Island, we have limited bus service and The Long Island Rail Road, LIRR. There is need for better transportation along Hempstead and Sunrise/Merrick Road. We love in a bedroom community, meaning many people live in the suburbs but work in the city. They go to Church and have alternate life city, making transportation a vital component to people's lives. If we want economic development, we have to get rid of the transportation desert."
Solages believes that her strive for economic development through enhanced transportation system will attract new talents and businesses to Nassau.
For her, transportation has become a passion along with education, child care, universal pre-k for the community, economic development and supporting small businesses. "In Long Island, I can easily say what drives our economic is not big businesses, but our local small businesses. I do a lot facilitating workshops for entrepreneurs and business owners. And I will continue doing that in my next term, beginning January 15."
Solages is a product of Hofstra University in Hempstead and a life-long resident of Elmont. She represents the Valley Stream, North Valley, South Valley Stream, South Floral Park and Floral Park in Nassau's 22nd Assembly District in the New York State Assembly. She was first elected to represent the district in November 2012, before her recent reelection in November 2014.
Unlike Mona Lisa, the famed painting of Leonardo da Vinci, Solages is human, alive and working to give quality of life to people in her electoral district in Elmont areas of Long Island.
