Nassau County Executive Laura Curran convened a group of top Long Island business leaders to assess the countywide impact that the coronavirus is having on business and called on the federal government for economic stimulus and bailout funds.
Curran announced a strategy that includes tracking and calculating lost revenues across every industry so that Nassau County business losses can be recouped. The strategy includes a partnership with Hofstra University to maintain an accurate running tally of lost revenues and expenses and the multiplier effect of these economic losses. The Economic Advisory Council will be responsible for providing a report to our elected leaders and to the federal government on lost revenues. Hofstra will be setting a data collection system for all segments of Nassau County’s businesses, both large and small, including industries such as hotels, restaurants, bars, entertainment and every impacted segment.
“I sympathize with the thousands of Nassau County businesses and employees and the nearly 1.4 million residents of Nassau County who are adversely impacted economically and I vow to advocate on their behalf,” said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. “Our goal is to advocate for the relief that our families and local economy will need. I thank Hofstra University and all of the members of the Economic Advisory Council for their hard work and commitment to this long-term endeavor.”
“Even as health and safety take top priority, we know significant economic impacts are already hitting our businesses and residents,” said Nassau County Comptroller Jack Schnirman. “That is why I thank the County Executive for her leadership in forming an Economic Advisory Council of thoughtful leaders from business and labor. This region has faced a variety of crises that impacted both public and economic safety: from 9/11 to Superstorm Sandy and now COVID-19. We now must again come together to act, capture the data on impacts, and plan for the economic recovery needs ahead.”
“Nassau County and New York State have been leaders in addressing public health policy,” said Stuart Rabinowitz, President of Hofstra University. “I’m pleased to join the County Executive and other Nassau County leaders in addressing and mitigating the economic impact of this pandemic and creating an economic policy that addresses the needs of Nassau County and its residents.”
“When COVID 19 has receded and its health care legacy is but a distant, disturbing memory we will still be dealing with the aftershock of its economic impact,” Said Kyle Strober, Executive Director of the Association for a Better Long Island. “The County Executive needs to be commended for not only recognizing this stark reality but is already taking steps to quantify the damage it will create and begin the task of charting a course to mitigate, recover and rebuild the county’s economy.”
“I salute County Executive Curran in proactively addressing the impending economic crisis in the County which inevitably will result from the growing Coronavirus public health pandemic,” said John D. Cameron Jr., Chairman of the Long Island Regional Planning Council. “The County through its purchasing, procurement and legislative powers can stimulate the County’s economy to ensure a sustained commercial tax base and the continued employment of our greatest resource, our talented and dedicated workforce”.
“I thank County Executive Curran for spearheading this effort and our continued collaboration as we begin advocating for everyone impacted by the coronavirus,” said Kevin Law, President and CEO of the Long Island Association.
“I thank County Executive Curran for the opportunity to represent Nassau County’s hospitals in this effort,” said Kevin Dahill, President and CEO, Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council. “The impacts of the coronavirus pandemic are being deeply felt across the region, first and foremost by patients and the providers who care for them. Both the healthcare system and the local economy will take some time to recover. As the largest employers and the source of much of Long Island’s job growth for the last decade, hospitals are pleased to play a role in the returning the communities they serve to good health.”
“This is an unprecedented challenge that we are facing. I cannot forget our past challenges. We have been though 9/11, H1N1 virus, Hurricane Sandy and many others,” said Richard Monti, Chief Executive Officer at Crest Hollow Country Club. “All of these challenges made us stronger. What we are dealing with needs our same strength, but it is extremely different. It’s fast moving and the response from Washington needs to be just as fast.”
Members of the Nassau County Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council Include:
- Stu Rabinowitz – Hofstra University (Coordinator of Data for Council)
- John Durso – Long Island Federation of Labor – AFL-CIO
- Wayne Grosse’ – Bethpage Federal Credit Union
- Kyle Strober – Association for a Better Long Island
- John Cameron – Long Island Regional Planning Council
- Kevin Law– Long Island Association
- Kevin Dahill – Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council & Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York
- Rich Monte – Crest Hollow Country Club
- Phil Andrews- Long Island African American Chamber of Commerce
- Kristen Jarnagin- Discover Long Island
- Dennis Grossman, Nassau Council of Chambers of Commerce
- Richard Kessel- Nassau County IDA
- Zeeshan Hamid- New York South Asian Chamber
- Charles Chan- Local Business owner
- Luis Vasquez- Long Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
