Oct. 12 was a landmark day for the rapidly growing Syosset Chamber of Commerce, which serves the communities of Syosset, Woodbury, Muttontown, Jericho and Oyster Bay Cove, when they held their first evening meeting at the Villa Victor in Syosset.

The chamber generally holds their monthly meetings on the second Thursday morning of every month. This evening meeting, which allowed more members of the chamber and the community to attend, was complete with controversial topics that impact local residents, such as the proposed mega-mall on the former Cerro Wire property and the Nassau budget crisis, guest speakers, networking opportunities, a buffet dinner and raffles.

This meeting was set to be an information meeting regarding how the mall would impact business leaders in the community, which differed from the September town hearing as this focused on the business aspect of these controversial issues.

Chamber President Frank Urso, president and owner of Village Realty in Syosset, started the meeting by announcing Cheryl Strickland, a chamber member, was moving and therefore leaving the chamber. She was graciously received by the crowd and took her final bow.

Urso then introduced the presiding officer of the Nassau County Legislature, Judy Jacobs, the first guest speaker. Jacobs is partly responsible for the growth of the Syosset Chamber, as she was one of the founders. "It is an honor for me to feel that I am a small part of this chamber's success," said Jacobs. She then spoke to chamber members about the current Nassau County budget crisis.

"Although the people of the Nassau Interim Financial Authority (NIFA) are wonderful people, we do not want this unelected authority running the county," said Jacobs. "You elected people because you trusted them and no elected official has ever survived a control board."

Jacobs attempted to summarize the confusing budget situation to the members of the chamber. She explained that the average amount of total taxes paid is $780 a year and only 19 percent of this total number is for the county portion of the tax. Jacobs believes raising taxes may be a better solution to fixing the county's fiscal woes than depleting county services. When there is an increase in the county tax, it only affects that 19 percent. "That 19 percent is the spine of the county," said Jacobs. She identified that heart and soul of the county as the county workers, the seniors, the physically challenged, the buses and the parks and golf courses. "You can cut a lot, but cut through the spine and paralyze the county. We will be able to sleep at night because what counts will be there for you."

Jacobs encouraged chamber members, and all local residents, to contact her office with questions and/or concerns. "My office is always open," she said as she left to a standing ovation.

Urso segued into the proposed Mall at Oyster Bay by taking a stand on the controversial issue. "The board of directors of the chamber of commerce is against the proposed mall in Syosset as they feel it will interfere with the current business in Syosset and ruin the downtown life," said Urso. He then introduced the next guest speaker, Morton Weber, the attorney representing the Michigan-based Taubman Company which is attempting to build this mall. "Of course it makes my job more difficult that the chamber is already against this project," said Weber, "but this mall would be a gateway to our town and I live here."

Although Weber said he supports Judy Jacobs, "Her optimism is not right," he said regarding the current fiscal state of Nassau County. Weber suggested that the money the mall brings in taxes would help alleviate the crisis situation. "We are committed to using Long Island-based landscapers and contractors," said Weber.

"Judy [Jacobs] knows the county's financing and she came out tonight against the mall," said Howard Avrutine, attorney from Goldstein and Avrutine Attorneys at Law who represents the Birchwood Civic Association, the biggest adversary on this proposed mall, later in his presentation.

Harry Murphy, the senior vice president of the Taubman Company, addressed the chamber members on many aspects of the mall. "We are coming here because Neiman Marcus said they need a store on Long Island," he said. "There is not a lot of high-end retail here in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. We are not coming here to put people out of business," Murphy said to the concerned business owners in attendance.

Murphy tried to reassure the crowd and reiterated many things that he said at the town hearing. "We work hard to become a citizen of every community we enter," he said.

Avrutine then addressed his fellow chamber members on the negatives this mall would bring. "If this mall is built, it will have a profound impact on everyone in this community," he said. "It is unusual for business to oppose business, but this mall will destroy our downtown and the existing businesses."

There have been many other suggested uses for the Cerro Wire property and one of them is office space. "The Taubman Company builds malls, not office buildings," said Avrutine. This is the reason they have been opposed to that option, according to Avrutine.

Some issues that were discussed by Taubman's people were the targeted area of the mall, the potential shoppers there and the income levels of those potential shoppers - the local residents. One of the Chamber members questioned the intentions of Taubman's people and said, "You are telling us how we can spend."

Murphy responded to their concerns by saying, "This is not rocket science, folks. All experienced people agree with us... Nothing is unique about this area from anywhere else we built a mall."

Many of the residents present at the meeting brought up the competition that the mall would create for their businesses and how this mall would impact them directly. Restaurant owners expressed great concern and they were assured that there would be no food court in the mall and mostly white tablecloth restaurants with an outside seating area.

Murphy explained that Taubman is prepared, as part of his giving back to the community, to help small business owners improve their situation if the mall does, in fact, have a negative impact on their business. They will provide a service for them to get back on track.

Also, residents questioned the cost of rent for mall stores and Murphy said it was not determined yet but it would be between $50 and $200 per square foot.

"There is one goal here - for all of us to do more business together so why don't we help each other?" asked Murphy. "We are trying not to compete with you. You all have fine businesses, but there is a gap that is not served and we want to serve them."

Although Murphy and the rest of Taubman's entourage guaranteed that all stores in the mall at Oyster Bay would be high-end and upscale stores, Avrutine is skeptical. "Any tenant willing to pay rent will be in that mall and they cannot guarantee the tenants that will be there," said Avrutine. "This could mean competition."

Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler attended the beginning of the chamber meeting to show her support for the chamber itself and the local residents, but left before any guest speaker addressed the crowd as the town is still deliberating over the information they received at a Sept. 9 town hearing regarding the Cerro Wire property and she cannot have her opinion swayed by outside information. "My tongue is tied and I can't say anything," said Eisler. "It is hard because the residents look to me for answers and, for legal matters, I can only tell them that I am listening and will do the right thing, whatever that may be." The Town is expected to make a decision regarding the proposed mall on the Cerro Wire property sometime next month.

After the guest speakers finished speaking and the question and answer session was over, members were treated to a raffle. Also at the meeting, new chamber directories and newsletters were handed to the members to keep them informed of the Chamber's happenings.