Post by ck4829 on Feb 28, 2017 14:37:58 GMT
Although Nassau County is one of America’s wealthiest communities, there are huge gaps in the quality of life for its black residents, a panel of local experts and officials said Saturday afternoon.
Speaking at a Black History Month event organized by Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont), leaders in public health, law enforcement, business, and government said blacks are struggling to get the same high-quality housing, schools and jobs as their white neighbors.
Housing is one of the biggest issues, Solages said — from landlords who discriminate against Section 8 applicants to the definition of affordable housing on Long Island.
“Some might say $2,500 a month is affordable,” he said to a crowd of about 50 inside Elmont Memorial Library. “Others would say that is not.”
Saturday’s two-hour panel was part of Solages’ four-day Lift As We Rise series of events focused on celebrating Black History Month.
Nassau County acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, one of the panelists, said while blacks make up about 12 percent of the county, they were only 5 percent of the police force.
“That’s probably the single biggest challenge we face,” Krumpter said.
Meanwhile, Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein quoted a University of Wisconsin study that said the county ranked first in the state in several health factors.
“But that doesn’t mean that that quality of health is being applied to everyone equally in this county,” Eisenstein said.
Another panelist, Adelphi University professor Marsha Darling, said the disparity starts with Nassau being one of the most segregated areas in the nation.
www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/experts-racial-disparity-in-nassau-remains-1.13177215
Speaking at a Black History Month event organized by Legis. Carrié Solages (D-Elmont), leaders in public health, law enforcement, business, and government said blacks are struggling to get the same high-quality housing, schools and jobs as their white neighbors.
Housing is one of the biggest issues, Solages said — from landlords who discriminate against Section 8 applicants to the definition of affordable housing on Long Island.
“Some might say $2,500 a month is affordable,” he said to a crowd of about 50 inside Elmont Memorial Library. “Others would say that is not.”
Saturday’s two-hour panel was part of Solages’ four-day Lift As We Rise series of events focused on celebrating Black History Month.
Nassau County acting Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter, one of the panelists, said while blacks make up about 12 percent of the county, they were only 5 percent of the police force.
“That’s probably the single biggest challenge we face,” Krumpter said.
Meanwhile, Nassau County Department of Health Commissioner Lawrence Eisenstein quoted a University of Wisconsin study that said the county ranked first in the state in several health factors.
“But that doesn’t mean that that quality of health is being applied to everyone equally in this county,” Eisenstein said.
Another panelist, Adelphi University professor Marsha Darling, said the disparity starts with Nassau being one of the most segregated areas in the nation.
www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/experts-racial-disparity-in-nassau-remains-1.13177215