It was all about jobs this past Friday when Senator Charles Schumer headlined The Queens Courier’s third “Power Breakfast.”
In front of a packed house at Long Island City’s Water’s Edge Restaurant, Schumer gave a keynote speech about job growth in Queens, and answered questions from a panel of industry leaders.
The event was hosted by The Queens Courier and 1010 WINS Radio, and drew business owners and Queens residents for a morning of networking and information.
Moderator and 1010 WINS reporter Juliet Papa said that Schumer is a “doer” and a “worker” and has been in public service his entire life.
“In 1998 he was elected to the U.S. Senate and I was excited to be assigned to cover the election because I thought he would win,” Papa said.
Schumer told the attendees how he cares about jobs, loves Queens and how he rides his bicycle all over the borough getting to know all the neighborhoods. He said that New York City has recently gained 20,000 jobs, but unemployment is still over nine percent and that is unacceptable.
“We need to create more jobs in Queens and all throughout New York City, so I have recently proposed a new bill that will be coming up on the floor within the next two weeks called the Small Business Jobs Act,” Schumer explained. “It involves a two-fold incentive for business owners. It will allow businesses to deduct the full cost of equipment or expansion during the first year on their taxes and if the business expands payroll they will get a 10 percent credit.”
He also added that a recently-passed FAA bill will get hundreds of millions of dollars to improve the runaways and security around JFK and LaGuardia airports.
Schumer also answered questions from the panelists.
Robert Wychulis, chief executive with AmeriGroup/Health Plus asked, “What about the health care bill and what can health care partners do?”
Caryn A. Schwab, executive director Mount Sinai of Queens, wanted to know if the Supreme Court will rule on mandatory health coverage, to which the senator responded, “In general health care is better in New York City, but the Senate will continue to work on answers.”
Other panelists included Joe Osterman, director of the JFK Service Delivery Center-Bombardier, and Richard Dzwlewicz, regional vice president from TD Bank.
The Inn at New Hyde Park and St. Paul’s School of Nursing were among the many expo tables at the “Power Breakfast.”
“St. Paul’s School of Nursing is a new nursing school in Queens,” Nancy Klein, director of career services said. “So we want to get the word out.”
Jean Thomas, director of public affairs at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, said she also wanted to network and get the word out that the Infirmary recently launched a hearing loss awareness campaign.
Queens business owners, such as Anthony Lolli, founder/CEO of Rapid Realty, wanted to hear a word from the senator and were interested in networking with other businesses, and were glad to have been in attendance.
