Syosset Chamber Challenges Candidates

By Denise D'Alessandro

The October meeting of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce provided a forum for residents to ask questions of public officials seeking election next month. Questions focused around Syosset and the revitalization of the downtown area.

Candidates in attendance included Democratic Town of Oyster Bay Clerk Martha Offerman; Right to Life candidate for the 16th Legislative District Bob McCullough; Town of Oyster Bay Democratic Councilmember candidate Mary McCaffrey; Incumbent Nassau County Comptroller Republican Fred Parola; Incumbent Nassau County Clerk Democrat Karen Murphy; Democratic candidate for the 17th Legislative District Frank Goban; Town of Oyster Bay Democratic Supervisor candidate Joe Lorintz; Town of Oyster Bay Councilmember Democratic candidate David O'Brien; Town of Oyster Bay Councilmember Democratic candidate Josephine Reder; Democratic incumbent Brian Muellers representing the 18th legislative district; Presiding Officer of the Nassau County Legislature Judy Jacobs; Democratic Nassau County Clerk candidate Sharon Commissiong; District Attorney candidate Charles Ferzola; District Judge candidate Randy Sue Marber; Town of Oyster Bay Republican Councilmember candidate Chris Coschignano; Incumbent Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Republican Leonard Symons; Town Clerk Candidate Rose Walker; Republican Incumbent District Court Judge Michael Alonge; Green Party candidate for Nassau County Comptroller Carol Schlauch; Democratic candidate for Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi; Democratic candidate for Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman; incumbent Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Republican John Venditto and Incumbent Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Republican Angelo Delligatti.

Lisa Predmore, secretary of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce and on the Village Planning Committee, asked candidates how they would help Syosset revitalize the downtown area and make it more pedestrian friendly.

Joe Lorintz, Democratic candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor, fielded the question posed to the entire panel by pointing out the importance of working in groups and working together. "I worked on the Master Plan in the Town of Oyster Bay, which is very important," said Lorintz. "We need to work with groups of people to find the solutions and meet the answer."

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto told those in attendance that sitting, thinking and planning is one thing, but there comes a time when residents need to do something. He also said that there is a meeting set to develop a separate master plan for Syosset.

Some candidates are also members of Syosset's chamber, including Chris Coschignano. "We have to get together and take the ideas that you have to the proper channels, one being the meeting that was set up with the supervisor," said the Town of Oyster Bay Republican Councilmember candidate.

Presiding Officer Judy Jacobs suggested sitting down with her, Legislator Brian Muellers and other legislators to discuss what needs to be done in Syosset.

Other candidates, including Democratic candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Councilmember Josephine Reder, offered advice from past experience. Reder, who was on the Massapequa Chamber of Commerce, suggested that chamber members get in touch with other chambers in the Town of Oyster Bay to discuss how they accomplished certain things.

Democratic candidate for Town of Oyster Bay Councilmember David O'Brien suggested opening a storefront in Syosset to display the plans for what residents plan for Syosset. He saw this done in Roosevelt Island where residents there have many of the same issues and goals as Syosset.

Democratic Nassau County Executive candidate Tom Suozzi suggested a vision and master plan for Syosset and told residents that they need to get everyone's opinion, including the commuters. He mentioned that he campaigned at the Syosset Train Station and heard how mad residents were regarding the lack of parking in the area surrounding the train station.

Mentioning the Syosset train station raised questions and concerns from Syosset residents. Frank Urso, past president of the Syosset Chamber of Commerce, challenged residents on the topic of the parking problems and the reopening of the Landia train station. He questioned why nothing has been done over the last 20 years and challenged the candidates to step up and take charge to help the residents of Syosset.

Supervisor Venditto addressed Urso's concerns and explained that there would be tremendous opposition to the re-opening of the Landia Train Station, as there was when it was attempted in the 1980's. He also stated that the meeting that is planned will address this issue.

Other candidates addressed Urso's concerns, but all said the same thing - it will take a long time and planning is the key to most of Syosset's concerns.

Lenore Sylvan really put things in perspective for audience and panel members. As an advocate for childcare and chairperson for the Jericho-Syosset-Woodbury Child Care Partnership, Sylvan has to work across party lines to get funding and support for her cause. "I saw bipartisan support while speaking to most of you regarding childcare issues," Sylvan said to the panel of candidates. "If you want to get things done in Syosset, you are all going to have to sit down together and work together for the betterment of Syosset."