LONG ISLAND LOBBY DAY 2025

On 2/11/25 I headed to Albany with a diverse coalition of LI chamber and civic leaders, downtown planners, labor, environment and transportation advocates to lobby state officials for more funding and support for the Island’s pressing needs.

FACT: Long Island residents and business owners collectively contribute BILLIONS more to Albany than it receives!

 Organized by Vision Long Island, the 17th annual LI Lobby Day coalition met with the region’s elected officials in the State Senate and Assembly, as well as representatives from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office to secure funding for transportation, sewage and infrastructure projects, housing, human services, environmental programs and to support legislation to benefit small business and encourage economic development.

Since its founding in 2009, 22 bills on the coalition’s agenda have been enacted into law, and over 35 budget and regulatory proposals were approved with key Long Island infrastructure projects funded.

In addition to the nearly 30 requests on this year's agenda to help our communities, I also learned that the U.S. Supreme Court’s South Dakota v. Wayfair decision issued in June 2018 allowed NYS to collect sales tax from online vendors that were negatively impacting small businesses. HOWEVER, this money has not trickled down to the communities and downtowns! According to Senator Jack Martins this would likely have bi-partisan support.

Let's work TOGETHER to make sure we get our fair share in order to help local businesses hurt by online shopping!

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE

RIVERHEAD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

IT IS ONLY THROUGH MEMBERSHIP DUES AND SPONSORSHIPS THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR REGION!

Click here to join now

Thank you!

Liz O'Shaughnessy

Executive Director

Riverhead Chamber of Commerce