Politics & Government

Suozzi: 'Suburbia Trailblazers' Will Spur Nassau's Economic Growth

The Democratic candidate for Nassau County executive said his plan would attract business and industry and keep young people on Long Island.

Story by Adina Genn

Democratic candidate for Nassau County executive Tom Suozzi laid out some of his ideas on Monday to grow the region's economy.

At a press conference in front of the Nassau County Coliseum, the Glen Cove resident said his plan includes identifying 10 Nassau “New Suburbia Trailblazers,” which the county then would assist with economic and other incentives. That way, these communities could effectively attract business and industry and create neighborhoods where people want to live and work. 

These 10 communities would vie for “trailblazer” designation through a competition between towns and villages, producing creative ways to develop and promote multi-story, multi-use buildings in downtown areas near train stations, according to Suozzi. The program would help increase sales tax revenues, bring new jobs and attract young people.

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“We do not seek growth for growth's sake,” Suozzi said. “We seek young people for their energy, creativity, and entrepreneurship. We seek new construction to expand the commercial tax base and to create new
environments attractive to young college graduates. We seek young people, economic growth, tax base expansion, and sales tax growth to create the next generation of model suburban living that will be sustainable for the next century.”

In addition to local incentives, Suozzi’s plan also calls for high-skilled and high-tech development, inter-governmental economic development assistance, a one-stop-shop where businesses can easily access needed resources, and infrastructure development through grants to provide wi-fi, green technology and more to help build desirable communities.  

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The county would select one winner in 2014, two in 2015, three in 2016 and four in 2017, and provide them with targeted assistance, according to Suozzi's plan

Possible candidates for the program, according to Suozzi, include Belmont Racetrack, the Glen Cove waterfront, 105 acres at Bethpage and the Nassau Hub – an area Suozzi says would be further bolstered by connecting the coliseum with other nearby attractions so that others could walk to RXR Plaza, the Omni Building, Nassau Community College, Hofstra University, Museum Row, and Eisenhower Park.

Suozzi said his plan would help these communities thrive.  

“It will not happen on its own,” he said. “The county will
help create the environment and provide the incentives to catalyze its growth.”

Yet Suozzi isn't the only one in the race eying spots like the Hub. In his economic plan, County Executive Ed Mangano, R-East Meadow, who is seeking re-election, also stresses the importance of development. According to his campaign materials, Mangano favors plans to enhance the Hub’s sports and entertainment, and establish a gaming casino at Belmont.He also touts his efforts to attract homeland security jobs, composite manufacturing and film and television industry jobs to the former U.S. Navy-Grumman property in Bethpage. In addition, his campaign promotes Mangano’s “Accelerate Nassau Now” program, whose mission includes creating new jobs and increasing county revenue without raising property taxes.

Adam Haber, a Democrat from Roslyn who serves on the Roslyn School Board, is also vying for the county executive seat. Haber said in his campaign matierials that the county hasn’t done enough to keep businesses here, advocating for a government that “encourages businesses to build and grow on the Island.”


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