Issue Position: Putting Nassau Back to Work

Issue Position

Ryan Cronin will fight to lower the cost of living in Nassau County. As a young attorney planning to settle down in Nassau County, Ryan understands the economic realities facing working families. Long Islanders are being forced to leave the region because it is simply too expensive to live here. By 2010, Long Island lost 12% of its population between the ages of 25 to 34. This is a vital demographic that drives the economic growth of tomorrow.

Solutions are possible, and Governor Cuomo has shown that effective leadership can make state government work. Long Island needs reform-minded leaders, like Ryan, who will work with the Governor to make Long Island more affordable.

As your State Senator, Ryan will work with Governor Cuomo to (i) reduce the property tax burden, (ii) support small business development initiatives, and (iii) foster job growth.

The Cronin Agenda for Long Island's Economic Future:

1. Provide tax incentives to businesses that hire new workers or invest in new equipment or other business infrastructure.

2. Harness the power of Long Island's burgeoning technology industries and research institutions by incentivizing investment in biotech and green-tech.

3. Support innovative policy initiatives like Ryan's plan to bring startups to Long Island. This plan will provide tax breaks to owners of vacant corporate or commercial space if they agree to allow startup companies to use the space rent-free for one year. This would incentivize startup companies to set up shop on Long Island, creating more jobs, increasing the tax base, and decreasing the amount of unused commercial space flooding the real estate market.

4. Promote public-private partnerships to develop areas such as the Hub. New York's regional economic development councils have identified projects that will create jobs and stimulate private sector economic growth.

5. Increase the minimum wage. New York has one of the highest costs of living in the country, yet their minimum wage is set at the lowest amount allowable under federal law. In fact, eighteen states have a higher minimum wage than New York, many of which have a substantially lower cost of living. This is both unfair and economically inefficient. Low-wage earners are most likely to spend their earnings on goods and services, which would actually help small business and put money back into the local economy.

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