Business Council President calls for unity in fighting state’s problems
Rebekah Binger
July 22, 2008

Businesses must unite and “sell the solutions” on statewide issues affecting them, said Kenneth Adams, President/CEO of the Business Council of New York State in his address to members of the Rockland Business Association. Adams spoke of hot-button topics such as a property tax cap, paid family leave legislation and IDA reform, at the July General Membership meeting held at Rockland Country Club.

“There is strength in numbers,” Adams said about fighting legislation that in his view would harm business. “If all of the affiliates, businesses and people come together we can create broad based coalitions … and turn in the right direction.”

Adams made it clear that he does not believe New York lives up to its name as the Empire State. One reason being the large annual increases in property taxes, he said. “This is the biggest tax on businesses, and it is driving them out of the state,” Adams said.

In response, the Business Council formed the New York Property Tax Cap Coalition and the accompanying web site www.taxcapnow.org. The coalition, currently with more than 750 members, advocates for a cap of school property tax levies to 4 percent or to 120 percent of the rate of inflation, whichever is less.

Adams also applauded the Business Council’s and RBA’s defeat of a proposed paid family leave bill. “The RBA stepped up early and was crucial in blocking this onerous legislation,” he said.

The bill would have imposed 12 weeks of disability insurance benefits for family leave purposes on business of all sizes. It also would have provided 12 weeks of leave and would have increased maximum disability benefit from $170 per week to $550 per week by 2010 and would have permanently indexed the benefit to one half of the state’s average weekly wage.

RBA members in attendance said they felt reassured after hearing Adams speak. “He is the Al Samuels at the state level,” said Barry Dorfman of Liberty Mutual Group. “We need people like him to advocate for business issues.”

Leslie Maier of United Water said she agreed with Adams that taxation on business is too high. “Business can’t stay here working if they are taxed out of the state,” she said.

New member Joseph Cortelli of Nexus Benefit Consulting said he was unaware of the proposed paid family leave legislation. “I am an insurance broker and it affects all of my clients,” Coretlli said. “Learning about it made the event even more beneficial and not just about networking.”

More Stories

Business Council President calls for unity in fighting state’s problems

July RBA Ambassador Leah Schwibner

Use the RBA web site as a business tool with new search function

Archived Newsletters