Women Leaders - SuffolkJournal.com

U.S. Reps Address
WEDLI Members
by Jane Lee Bock

April 30, 2001

The increasing power of the female vote was evidenced today when even massive traffic jams and the opportunity to have lunch with the President couldn't keep most of Long Island's Congressional delegation away from the annual legislative breakfast where more than 100 of the region's top business women gathered to discuss legislative priorities.

At the annual legislative breakfast hosted by Women Economic Developers of Long Island (WEDLI) four out of five of Long Island's Congressional Representatives joined the female economic development power brokers to share information on pet projects and reveal some of the difficulties they face getting things done.

Representative Peter King was the only Congressional delegate to not appear, and freshman Congressman Felix Grucci left early to catch a shuttle to Washington to participate in a luncheon being hosted by U.S. President George Bush. The three remaining Long Island delegates, all being democrats, felt no need to rush off to lunch with the prez.

And although late arrivals because of two major LIE traffic jams got the meeting off to a rocky start, when the representatives finally arrived, their audience had plenty of time to learn how their tax dollars are being spent by this team and their legislative colleagues.

According to Gary Ackerman, Carolyn McCarthy, Grucci, and Steve Israel, matters of small business financing, procurement opportunities, education, the death tax, housing, environmental projects, downtown revitalization, and high tech industry are some of their top priorities.

Speaking about education funding, Congresswoman McCarthy said that even if the proposed voucher system does pass, it won't help the troubled Roosevelt School District. "The typical voucher is $1,500," she said. "Where are these kids going to go to high school for $1,500?"

First term Democratic Congressman Israel believes we have an increased need for affordable housing, funding for smart growth initiatives that will help revitalize downtown areas, and a focus on securing capital that will help blossoming high technology companies grow.

"The average Suffolk home costs $237,000," he said. "And we spend more than 50 percent of our income on housing. Meanwhile the FHA (Federal Housing Authority) is sitting on $2 billion in profits. We need to create more homes with that money."

Israel also wants to establish programs that will further the Island's biotech initiatives. He said he spends one day a week visiting local businesses and the high tech industries all say that finding money to expand their research and development is very difficult.

Ackerman, the most senior member of the Long Island delegation targeted environmental issues, most specifically the ecological condition of the Long Island Sound.

"One out of every five Americans lives within 50 miles of the Long Island Sound," he said. "That concentration of population is very significant. The Sound also supports $10 billion in industry - fishing, recreation, tourism. We need to continue the programs we have started for Long Island Sound."

Ackerman also addressed the overcrowding and poor on-time record at LaGuardia Airport, stating that in addition, too often ticket prices are inconsistently regulated. "A plane lands or takes off every 30 seconds from LaGuardia," he said. "There are 2,000 flights per day. There is just no more room or time available for more flights, yet the ones there are very profitable so the airlines will keep pushing for more." Ackerman believes the crossing runway layout of the airport may be a major cause of its problems.

Grucci talked about the difficulties small business people have accessing capital and how hard it is for them to work their way through the government procurement process. He also wants fully deductible health care costs and changes in the so-called "death tax" which hurts the inheritors of businesses as they try to take over running a businesses their parents built.

Grucci also said that in his district seven post offices will be affected by changes in capital spending by the U.S. Postal Services. Four of those will get no funding for improvement or expansion and Grucci believes this seriously affects the downtown businesses as well.

"Small business needs help in a lot of ways," he said. "For instance, we have a five percent set-aside for contracts to go to women-owned businesses. We barely make two percent now. But many businesses don't have the resources to dedicate to all the paperwork that has to be done for government contracts. We have to fix that."

We have no information on whether or not Grucci's flight (out of LaGuardia) got him to the presidential luncheon on time. Reportedly most of the nation's democratic congressional delegates declined to attend however, as did Long Island's. Well, at least we know where ours were.

Come and taste what's cooking in Kings Park on May 16 as the Kings Park Chamber of Commerce hosts a networking reception at St. Johnland Nursing Center for members and interested businesses. Pictured are Penny Doyle of St. Johnland, Dee Grasso, Director of the Chamber, Charlie Gardner, Chamber President and Elaine Turley, Past President and Board member. Call 269-7678 for info.