By Laura Jean Null
Staff Writer
Elected as State Representative of the 202nd Legislative District in the Philadelphia County, Jared G.Solomon is stepping up to focus on important issues within the Northeast area.
After the nation-wide story broke out of the destruction of Mount Carmel, a Jewish cemetery located in the Wissinoming neighborhood, it was estimated by the Philadelphia Police Department that between 75 to 100 headstones were ruined and overturned on Feb. 26.
Publicly announced, The Anti-Defamation League has put out a reward of $10,000 for information that will arrest those responsible for this crime.
Just a week later, reported by CNN, “Muslim activist Tarek El-Messidi, who had started a fund-raising campaign to help clean up the St. Louis cemetery, sprung to action again after the Philadelphia attack.”
Additionally, the campaign ended up raising $155,000 to fix the destroyed headstones in Mt. Carmel. State Representative Jared Solomon and the NE Philadelphia public united with the Wissinoming Civic in the Walk for Peace, countering the desecrated headstones.
Solomon describes the incident as, “negative, but gives hope. We can use this moment to help rally the diversity of the community.”
He later goes on to discuss the change and impact this has had on the community and the responsibility of the people to never let such an event happen again.
In an interview with Solomon, he describes interacting with the community as the most rewarding part of his job.
“Getting to understand those people’s fears and hopes and dreams,” helps him know what the people want to make his area a much better place to live in.
“One of the best things about this job is you can work hard, craft solutions and execute the problem, bringing change to the community,” said Solomon.
Solomon’s plans for the future include not only making the community a safer environment, but also one day statewide have a work force development, a pipeline from high school, “to firmly place people into the middle class,” right after graduation.
The objective of this is so people will be able to have a home and/or family without being broke.
He suggests policies that need to exist so those who do not go to college or go to college are prepared for life after schooling.
Additionally, Solomon also wants to change the negative outlook of those kids who do not go to college, to embrace their talents in other fields and still have a stable lifestyle.
For an ending comment towards the younger generations and anyone reading this, Solomon said, “being involved in politics and government is a noble profession.”
He recommends all to get involved, “be part of office, try to impact society.”
Email Laura at:
lnull@live.esu.edu