In United States v. Skrmetti, a significant legal battle is set to unfold as the Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments on Wednesday. This case centers around the crucial question of whether state laws infringe upon the rights of young individuals under the age of 18 who are seeking gender-affirming healthcare to transition genders. With nearly two dozen states having laws that restrict or prohibit access to such care, the Supreme Court will specifically focus on the laws from Kentucky and Tennessee. The justices will engage in a meticulous weighing of whether these laws violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.

Attorneys' Perspectives and Arguments

Attorneys defending the state laws assert that treatments such as puberty blockers and hormones pose risks for young people aiming to transition. They claim that these laws are designed to protect minors from making hasty decisions. However, advocates firmly believe that the right to accessible healthcare should be accessible without regard to age or the sex assigned at birth. American Civil Liberties Union Attorney Chase Strangio emphasizes, "The court has to treat it like all other forms of sex discrimination. It’s unconstitutional." Strangio, leading the arguments on behalf of transgender youth, holds a remarkable distinction as the first openly transgender person to present a case before the court. He will be pitted against Tennessee state Solicitor General Matt Rice, who served under Justice Clarence Thomas during a transgender work discrimination case. A more moderate court at that time had ruled that federal law safeguards transgender, gay, and lesbian individuals from sex discrimination by employers.This case's ruling could have far-reaching implications, not only in the realm of healthcare but also in other cases that govern the lives of transgender people. As George Washington Law Professor Alan Morrison points out, "There’s a case involving changing the names and genders on birth certificates. There are also cases involving federal rules under Title IX and under Title VI."

Impact on the Political Landscape

The issue of gender-affirming healthcare has become a highly controversial topic within the culture war. During his bid for the White House, President-elect Donald Trump made transgender policy a central issue, with a particular emphasis on transgender women participating in women's sports. This has sparked intense political debate among some Democrats. Representative Seth Moulton of Massachusetts voiced his opposition to such policies and called for internal discussions within the Democratic Party. Despite this, Democrats generally advocate for expanding transgender rights and gender-affirming healthcare. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the appropriate restrictions, if any, that should be imposed. The Republican platform calls for stripping civil rights protections for transgender people and reducing funding to schools that support gender-affirming care.As the case progresses, a decision is expected in late spring or early summer, and the outcome will likely have a lasting impact on the lives and rights of transgender individuals across the nation.

North Jersey travelers face a significant change in their travel plans due to ongoing construction at John F. Kennedy International Airport. This construction, which includes the building of two new terminals and upgrades to the airport roadways, is causing delays and requiring an extra hour of travel time.

Navigating Airport Construction: Impact on North Jersey Travelers

Construction at JFK and Its Impact

North Jersey travelers using John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City now need to budget an extra hour of travel time. This is because of the delays stemming from the construction of two new terminals and upgrades to the airport roadways. All told, it means arriving for a flight three hours early at JFK Airport instead of the typically recommended two hours early. A $19.5 billion project to build brand-new Terminals 1 and 6 is at the height of construction. Terminal 1, which will be 2.4 million square feet and open in 2026, costs $9.5 billion. Terminal 6, which is 1.2 million square feet and also opening in 2026, costs $4.2 billion. Renovations on Terminal 4 were completed this year and on Terminal 8 in 2022. Additionally, $3.9 billion worth of new roadways around the airport are slated for completion in 2026. Construction is particularly challenging as the airport needs to maintain full operations while rebuilding. The travel season is expected to be busy going into the holidays. On the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2023, the Transportation Security Administration screened over 91,000 passengers, and this year it screened over 105,000 passengers.

Efforts to Cut Vehicle Traffic at JFK

Since June, the Port Authority has managed to remove 4,000 daily cars from the roads going into JFK. This is thanks to efforts like the addition of peak-hour AirTrain trips from the Jamaica station, which can be reached on the E, J, and Z New York City subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road. Jessica Forse, a project lead for JFK Airport, said this has been a significant step in reducing traffic. The Port Authority also slashed AirTrain fares in half over the summer to encourage more people to use public transit. They created a designated pickup and drop-off spot away from the congested terminal entrances. Passengers can take the AirTrain via the Lefferts Boulevard station to get to the pickup/drop-off area. The Port Authority said this ride takes an average of eight minutes and costs nothing for travelers.

New Terminal at Newark Liberty

Meanwhile, at Newark Liberty International Airport, the Port Authority is building on the success of its new Terminal A. In October, they unveiled a sweeping plan to modernize the rest of the 96-year-old airport, which handled a record number of passengers last year. The plan calls for a new international terminal to replace Terminal B and upgrades to Terminal C, both of which date to the 1970s. The new Terminal A could also be expanded. There would be major changes to the taxiway area for planes to reduce air traffic delays and accommodate the trend toward larger aircraft. Areas outside the terminals would be expanded and improved to provide more room for vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers and to reduce walking distances. However, the new plan is still just a concept, and actual construction is years away. The Port Authority expects to begin a two- to three-year planning process in 2025 for major elements of the redevelopment, including cost projections.Daniel Munoz covers business, consumer affairs, labor, and the economy for NorthJersey.com and The Record. Email: munozd@northjersey.com; Twitter: @danielmunoz100 and Facebook.