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I was reading the following Newsday article Long Island's economy needs higher-paying jobs and thought maybe some here have some ideas of what they think can and should be done to attract companies (not fast food places or stip malls) providing meaningful employment. Just remember this is long Island so you're allowed to assume the politicians are not self-serving and downright stupid.
There are already 2 threads that were started in the past week about the topic. One about NG reducing headcount and another about making good money in LI.
I think people pretty much agree that a lot needs to be built out first before LI can attract higher paying local jobs. It's OK for politicians to recognize the problem but they won't get near a solution just my coming up with a manifesto.
How about reducing the cost of living on LI?Make it a right to work state or countys so a small bussiness does not get riped off by a union and our schools could be run a LOT Cheaper!
You won't attract high paying jobs by cobbling together small businesses (who will be unable to expand anyway given the limited infra and high energy costs). You will need big and midsized companies to start shop on the island.
well that's great forest hills but how do we put th cat back in the bag. Lipa's rates are out of control and taxes are high, we have 125 school districts and no one want's to merge school districts not even struggling ones because my kid cannot go to school with your kid so what now.
You won't attract high paying jobs by cobbling together small businesses (who will be unable to expand anyway given the limited infra and high energy costs). You will need big and midsized companies to start shop on the island.
well that's great forest hills but how do we put th cat back in the bag. Lipa's rates are out of control and taxes are high, we have 125 school districts and no one want's to merge school districts not even struggling ones because my kid cannot go to school with your kid so what now.
I think the RE taxes are another issue.
Electricity and other utility costs - as you mentioned - and availability, however, are a key factor to attracting busineses that pay good jobs.
How would LIers feel about dredging out a deepwater harbor so cargo ships can load freight on and off the island? Or expanding coal (which is cheap) power generation on the island (while at the same time barging coal from the mainland)? Or allowing petrochem plants to operate in industrial estates near the shore? Or expanding Islip Airport so, like Singapore, it can accomodate A380s at a larger scale?
More modest proposals have been put forth in the past, only to be shot down by the residents who incidentally complain about the lack of local jobs.
Public spending isn't always necessary. You can get private investors to pour money into these projects (provided you agree to many of their terms).
Politicians who are in bed with municipal unions won't do what is most needed to change the course for the LI economy. The biggest tax burden here is property tax, and that is largely the result of teachers and police unions.
Unless a politician is willing to have both of these unions after them, they can only pay lip service to the problem. Tax abatements and rebates are BS, you have to cut the taxes for everyone, and there's only one way to do that.
The question becomes what happens when taxes are cut. It won't change the fact that LI is still a bedroom community of NYC and LIers will have to commute to the city for high paying jobs. Even with lower across the board taxes, it's hard to see how Pfizer will locate its shared services in Melville instead of Memphis what with the higher utility and logistical and permitting costs. Or why re-export businesses will even consider setting shop on the south shore.
Too many things standing in the way and too much local opposition to decisive solutions.
I think its pretty fair to say the siuation is helpless. Can you imagine a Nissan or a Hyuandai opening up an auto plant in middle Suffolk county like they routinely do down south? Neither can I.
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