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GAINS IN JOBS, POPULATION

Last year, New York had more new jobs in the private sector (98,000) than in any other year since 1951. Of the top ten cities in the country New York is one of three to enjoy population gains (2%). Why these gains? Credit can be attributed to bullish Wall Street investors, 30 year olds in Silicon Alley who are pioneering the new media powerhouses, owners of small businesses, and to managers who help residential properties prosper through proper maintenance. "Luckily Mayor Giuliani has been changing the climate for doing business in our City. I for one cannot think of a more dramatic municipal development in the last half century than the dramatic reduction in crime in our City." Nationally, in all urban areas, crime has decreased on an average of 25%. In New York City, Green reports, crime has been reduced by 50%.

"The structural deficit in our City, that is how annual expenses outstrip annual revenues, has not disappeared." There is an incredible amount of unmet capital needs. At least half of New York City’s public schools are over 50 years old and are in need of major renovation and replacement. Our FIRE sector (finance, insurance and real estate) has grown, however it is shrinking as a percentage of the national market. So while we are growing, we are falling behind as well.

The top 5% of New York’s income earners have seen huge income gains. But half the City has seen no real income gains so we need to figure out a way to distribute the gains beyond Times Square and Wall Street. "Given our challenges, given the danger signals, what better time to develop new policies to prolong our economic growth at the start of this new information based global economy?" queried Mr. Green.

INVEST AND GROW

According to Mr. Green, New York City needs an "invest and grow" policy instead of a tax and spend policy. We need an investment strategy based on continuing to lower business costs and articulating a new vision of how our city and our region can compete in this new international economy.

Whoever becomes the next mayor of New York City, states Green, must create new housing and schools, continue to shrink the cost and size of government and taxes and make New York the ‘Internet City’.

Green stressed the idea that we are part of a region and that an isolationist policy is detrimental to the growth and spirit of New York. He mentioned the recent bitter fight between Governors Whitman (NJ) and Pataki (NY) over whether the Port Authority would continue to fund the maritime industry. "Our competitors are more in London and Tokyo, than Linden and Paramus. In fact, as a New York City official, I want to attract and keep as many companies and jobs in New York City as I can. But I’d sure rather have new companies come to Teaneck rather than Tucson because at the end of the day we are a regional economy."

REPEAL OF THE COMMUTER TAX

Green mentioned the recent repeal of the commuter tax and brought up the shortsightedness of the whole issue. Clearly the suburbs of New York City are not rivals, but partners. New York City profits from the towns in the suburbs, and they in turn profit from the entrepreneurial genius and capital of New York City. We need each other. It is a small tax for the people whose per capita income is twice that of the average City resident and it helps insure that when they come to the city there are enough services to keep them safe and protected.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION

"We eventually need a regional transportation plan that builds on the strength of New York, Connecticut and New Jersey. We need a single seat ride to all the region’s airports." Green proposed that the MetroCard become our "silicon chip," a passport between the New York City transportation system and the MetroNorth, LIRR and New Jersey Path systems.

ENCOURAGE AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Another policy suggestion was to "negotiate a regional compact that doesn’t over rely on selective tax subsidies and then use the money we save to fund regional infrastructure, transportation and economic development initiatives."

In the 1930s and 40s changes in law and policy induced companies, especially those in insurance, to invest in the construction of tens of thousands of new apartments for working families. In the 1960s and 70s business and government worked together under the Mitchell-Lama program to build more than 135,000 units of affordable housing for working New Yorkers. In 1982, the Koch administration and business worked together under homeownership programs, like the New York City Partnership, to build more than 30,000 new homes. However, since then, essentially next to no effort has been made to create affordable housing for New York residents. "Without it [affordable housing] there is a real ceiling on economic growth in this city," warns Mr. Green.

UTILITY GROSS RECEIPTS TAX

During his tenure as commissioner of Consumer Affairs he was the first to go after the mob-controlled garbage carting cartel. According to Mr. Green, "that effort alone reduced the cost of doing business more than any other tax cut this entire decade." Now, he would like to end the utility gross receipts tax, a tax he calls a "toll on the information superhighway." This is an especially harsh tax on energy intensive businesses and would save $220 million annually. Twenty percent of the cost of energy in New York is local and state taxes making our energy costs double the national average. (New York City is second only to Nassau and Suffolk.)

INTERNET SERVICES

Green emphasized the need for government to embrace computer technology and have New York become the "Internet City." "We in municipal government should be a world leader in using the internet to distribute data and services to citizens." In Houston, plumbers can get a work permit in less than an hour on-line! "I think we can shrink the size and cost of government if we put more services and information on-line rather than requiring taxpayers to wait on line hours and days at a time," stated Mr. Green.

"If we build on the four cornerstones I’ve mentioned today, making New York the Internet City, developing a more regional economic plan, reducing the cost of government and taxes and building new housing and schools for our working families, we can achieve new prosperity for all New Yorkers, " concluded Mr. Green.