Schumer Addresses Small Business Concerns

Growing up as the son of a small business owner gave Senator Charles Schumer an understanding of the pains today's Long Island small businesses face in tough economic times. The statesman spoke of these aches and potential cures during his address this morning at Hofstra University.

"I saw how small businesses struggle," the Democratic senator told the audience of watching his father, the owner of an exterminating business, work hard and meet the challenges many entrepreneurs face.

There's no doubt such an event focusing on the concerns of small businesses, sponsored by the Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce (NCCC) and hosted by Hofstra University, is topical.

Businesses in Garden City and surrounding areas have suffered, as illustrated by vacant store fronts and dwindling receipts.

John Wilton, chair of the Garden City Merchants Group, has said time and time again at past village board meetings that many merchants are now at the "intersection of desperation and need."

More than a dozen businesses have closed in Garden City over the past year. And more, Wilton said, are likely in the coming weeks.

The group has been campaigning to keep the village's business district healthy, encouraging residents as well as consumers in neighboring towns to shop Garden City.

Mayor Robert Rothschild too encourages residents to shop in Garden City "whenever possible" and acknowledges efforts being made by the Garden City Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Group to bring resident support to merchants along Seventh Street, New Hyde Park Road and Franklin Avenue.

"Main Street is hurting," says Schumer. "And when Main Street is hurting, everyone is hurting."

That notion of pain, and how to help turn things around, was on the tongues of many in attendance this morning.

Introducing Schumer, Chris Murray, NCCC president, said now is an opportune time to hear of the initiatives in Washington that are helping small businesses.

"As small business owners, we know there are a lot of difficult issues facing us today," Murray says.

Schumer reminded the audience that two years ago the country faced many tough problems. In the aftermath of Lehman Brothers going under and behemoth AIG teetering, financial hardships rippled through the nation and uncertainty was dominant.

Schumer called the decision of the federal government to enact the stimulus plan or face what could be another depression "one of the most sobering moments in my 36 years of government."

While businesses have been hard hit by the economy, Schumer says "it could have been a lot worse."

Programs have been enacted to help throw a life line to struggling businesses, the senator says. He pointed to a payroll tax "holiday" for qualifying hires  and boosting the cap on capital available for small business loans.

Overall, for Long Islanders, a push is on to keep the economy going on the right track, says Schumer. Investment is being made in Brookhaven Labs, which will foster more development in the burgeoning nanotechnology industry, he explains. Deductions are being given for mass transit commuters. And corporations are being courted to set up their headquarters on Long Island, as Canon recently did on Route 110, Schumer says, all helping to bring dollars and traffic to small businesses.

The senator ended his talk on a positive note.

"It is truly my belief--I'm an optimist--that for Long Island and America that I love, the best is yet to come."