Lowey Talks Jobs, Economy With Senior Citizens in New City

Mediare, Social Security and healh care reforms were high on the list of things U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey wanted to tell senior citizens about Thursday when she visited them at Street Community Center in New City.

But one of the first questions Lowey got from the seniors was about jobs - especially related to Pfizer's dismantling of the massive former Wyeth (and previously Lederle Laboratories) pharmaceuticals production facilities in Pearl River. More than 1,200 jobs at slated to be cut by 2014 at the campus off Middletown Road.

In response, Lowey, whose distict includes New City, said too many U.S. companies are shipping jobs overseas and that incentives for such moves need to be eliminated.

"We need incentives for companies to create more jobs in the United States," Lowey told the seniors.

Lowey noted that while large corporations have traditionally been the leaders in creating new jobs, small businesses are the ones that are moving the economy in a positive direction by creating new jobs.

"It is the small businesses that are successful in creating jobs," said Lowey, who before her visit with senior citizens had stopped by ISI Solar on Third Street in New City to check out that business, which has been cited by local officials for its growth and creating new local jobs in the energy industry.

During Lowey's visit, another question from senior citizens got down to a very basic question: How do they know who represents them in Congress?

Seniors noted that while they are represented by Lowey, the sometimes get material in the mail or calls from U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, whose district includes Orangetown, part of Clarkstown and the town of Ramapo. Lowey's district, the 18th Congressional District, is mostly in Westchester, covering New City and Congers in Rockland. Her district meets Engel's district, the 17th Congressional District, along the Bardonia / West Nyack line.

Clarkstown Supervisor Alex Gromack told the seniors that some residents may be uncertain about who represents them, but that the town benefits from having two members of Congress working on behalf of the town.

"We all work together as one team," said Gromack.