Brookhaven Notebook: White House Official Visits with Business Owners

A representative from the White House and Director of the International Trade Administration’s Advocacy Center spoke to a group of small business owners in the Town of Brookhaven Friday.

Bryan Erwin, a Mattituck resident who works in Washington, joined Rep. Tim Bishop, D-Southampton, and Brookhaven Supervisor Mark Lesko in a question and answer session at Town Hall to help connect business owners with proper federal resources at the local level.

“We were introduced to Bryan’s eyes and ears on Long Island,” Lesko said. “A buzz went through the room realizing the office is available.”

Business owners from print shops to bank presidents and defense contractors attended the session, which was closed to the media.

“This is a policy exercise and a listening exercise,” Erwin said. “I wouldn’t be doing this unless there would be follow up. Ideas don’t come from Washington, they come from folks like you all, from folks who are running businesses.”

Asked about impediments that are hindering local business owners, Erwin pointed to tax burdens and regulations "that are the law of unintended consequences."

He said next week he will address the West Wing principals in charge of the White House’s business outreach effort.