Brooklyn's Progress
February/March 2005

The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce is planning for its Annual Albany Lobbying Trip.  The event is an opportunity for the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee and its Board of Directors to meet with the Brooklyn delegation and Albany officials to discuss issues of importance to the Brooklyn business community.

The trip will take place March 21 to 22, coinciding with the Chamber Alliance of New York State Small Business Day.

The issues to be discussed will be derived from the Chamber’s Fall Issues survey.  As in previous Chamber surveys, Members were asked to rank the top obstacles to business growth in the borough.  For the second time in a row, the top issues were all related to increased cost of insurance:  health insurance replaces liability insurance as the number one obstacle, compared to the last Chamber survey; liability insurance drops to the number two spot, and workers' compensation holds steady at number three.

The Albany trip is coordinated through the Government Affairs Committee (GAC) along with the Chamber's government relations firm Yoswein New York, Inc.  Formerly under the direction of Chamber Chairman Dan Holt, Courier-Life Publications, the GAC is now headed up by co-chairs Brad Korn, Continuum Health Partners and Eric Heubscher, Matrix Health Management.

The trip also includes the "Brooklyn Night in Albany Reception," showcasing foods manufactured in Brooklyn.  The event draws legislators from around the state.

The Business Council Small Business Day set for Tues., March 22 in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, will carry key themes:  the cost of health insurance, budget and tax issues, workers’ compensation reform and Medicaid.

Small Business Day is conducted each March by The Business Council.  The Chamber Alliance of New York State (CANYS) and the National Federation of Independent Business co-sponsor the event.  The purpose of Small Business Day is to give small-business operators a chance to discuss priority issues with key lawmakers and staff.