City Leaders Weigh In On Sotomayor Nomination
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As the debate heats up over Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the supreme court, local leaders say they are going to hit the road to build support. NY1's Dean Meminger filed the following report.Reverend Al Sharpton, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and officials from around the city came out Wednesday in support of Bronx native Judge Sonia Sotomayor.
"Move aside to the Yankees, watch out J-Lo. I believe we have a new J-Lo, it stands for justice for law and order Sotomayor," said Diaz Jr.
The leaders gathered at the community center at the Bronxdale Houses where Sotomayor spent her childhood years. They say they want those who oppose her nomination for the supreme court to step aside, since at least some of those opponents backed her selection for the Court of Appeals where she now sits.
"How will Republicans that confirmed her when Bush nominated her and now turn around and question when Obama nominates her. That will be the partisan question americans will want to know," said Sharpton.
"The only reason that people could oppose her is on some philosophical basis, she may not be conservative enough for them. We dismiss that. She is the perfect nominee at the perfect time," said City Comptroller Bill Thompson.
Residents from around Sotomayor's old neighborhood seem to agree.
"She is from the area, she knows more or less what the people want here. There are not enough people fighting for the minorities. I don't think she is going to be bias in any way," said one Bronx resident.
"Of course she is going to be for every body, why would she try so hard to get where she is. I think she is going to push for every body, I think so," said another Bronx resident.
Sharpton says he is going to continue to build his base of local leaders and then travel down to Washington, D.C. with them in order to push for more support of Sotomayor.
"We are going to work to make clear to everyone all over this country this about getting our government to understand and represent the whole of our people. And make sure our judiciary is sensitive to all Americans," said City Councilman Bill de DeBlasio.
Sharpton says he plans to travel to the nation's capital next week to meet with Democrats and Republicans.