Dems Debate How to Stimulate Jobs

At both the national and state levels, politicians across the country are facing the same question: "How do you propose to create jobs?"  Patch spoke with both Tom Abinanti and Anna Sterne, democratic assembly candidates for New York's 92^nd district, about their plans to stimulate employment—both locally and statewide--if elected to serve in Albany this fall. Their answers are provided below: 

Patch: What do you view as the main components of a job stimulation program locally?

Abinanti:  My approach is based on three principles: 1) Capitalize on the strengths of the area. 2) Solicit emerging technology. 3) Reinvest in infrastructure.

One strength of the district, I believe, is its great concentration of facilities in the biotech industry. Also, we have excellent medical care facilities such as: St. John's Riverside, Westchester Medical Center and Phelps Memorial Hospital.  And we also have a strong presence of educational institutions. The biotech, medical and educational industries are all thriving—if elected to the assembly, I will aim to encourage funding in those areas to stimulate hiring.

Emerging technology will also help to create jobs.  For instance, at the county level I helped pass legislation that gives people tax breaks for using energy-conserving technology, such as solar panels.  This means that both people certified to assess homes or businesses for their level of eco-friendliness and manufacturers creating the new technology would have employment opportunities.

Reinvesting in infrastructure will produce new jobs—and construction projects especially create jobs for locals. Capital projects tend to have a multiplier effect because managers, workers, suppliers and manufacturers suddenly have a new purpose.  And even local delis and coffee shops experience increased business by the influx of workers into the community.

Sterne: Among people in this district, I believe small business owners and employees have suffered the most, though I also know people in finance who have not yet been able to find jobs. 

I think the most important thing politicians can do at the state level is provide relief for small businesses.   Businesses have so many taxes and requirements, some of which, I believe, should be alleviated.

Patch: What do you see as this district's greatest assets that can be used to stimulate hiring?

Abinanti: See above, second paragraph of first response

Sterne: I would love to see more green jobs—be on the forefront of doing something for the environment that also creates local jobs.  If people are incentive-ized to implement more energy-conserving technology, this will create jobs for electricians and plumbers, for example.

I also know there is a higher proportion of people with higher degrees in this district than in other areas—but I'm not sure how to promote jobs in academia during a recession.

Patch: What, exactly, should legislators in Albany be doing to decrease unemployment?

Abinanti: Legislators have to look at the overall picture and decide how the state can encourage incentives and protect current institutions. For example, I fought to save Dobbs Ferry Hospital (now St. John's Riverside.) This protected many local jobs

Another example of how legislation can work to create jobs is the federal government's stimulus bill, setting aside funds for jobs in the energy-efficiency field.  I believe we should do the same at the state level, possibly even setting aside funds for colleges to create energy-efficiency curricula.

Sterne: I think state legislators should seriously consider lifting mandates and taxes on small businesses, such as the MTA tax.  Another possibility is creating incentives for people to work in the area.  For example, my daughter is currently filming in Michigan, because the state provided incentives for producers who spend more than a certain amount in the state.  We should do something similar here. 

Patch: For people whose fields just don't seem to be hiring, what do you suggest?

Abinanti: We need to incentive-ize people to be retrained to work in emerging or already thriving fields, such as: energy efficiency, healthcare or education.  People need to be trained to: design, build and install solar panels or assess homes for their environmental impact. 

Also, as new fields open up, I think money should be diverted to community colleges and vocational schools to train people in those specific industries.

Sterne: I believe people need to be retrained to perform jobs in a different field.  One example I'm very familiar with is people taking part in programs to become home-health aides, because it's a field that almost always has opportunities to work.  

Abinanti and Sterne will go head to head in the democratic primary September 14, the winner of which will face Republican candidate Tom Bock the November 2 general election.