On LI, mixed reviews for Obama's job plan

President Barack Obama's proposals to stimulate job growth through such things as infrastructure projects and tax cuts for small businesses that hire received mixed reviews from Long Island executives Friday. But the speech received a big thumbs-up from the head of a major labor group.

Anne Shybunko-Moore, the president of defense-contractor GSE Dynamics in Hauppauge, who sat in the House of Representatives as the president spoke Thursday, pronounced his speech "excellent." She was invited by Rep. Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills).

When asked if the speech inspired her to hire, she said she would like to see what happens. The fierce partisanship in Washington, which she said was even reflected in the way people greeted Obama's remarks, made the proposals' future uncertain.

"I have to see the action and the follow-through on what was said," she said. "But if what I saw in that room last night doesn't change, then we are not going to see any of these things happen."

Francesca Carlow, co-owner of Trio Hardware in Plainview, also said it's difficult to know whether the president's proposals will be successful and whether they will help her business. She also noted that federal initiatives won't necessarily help small businesses because they face many local and state regulations, taxes and red tape.

"It's hard to determine," Carlow said. "You take one step forward, and you take two steps backwards."

The president's speech didn't win over Douglas Manditch, chairman and chief executive of Islandia-based Empire National Bank. He said the proposals don't tackle a fundamental problem facing small businesses: the lack of demand.

"Our customers are not borrowing unless they happen to be in a niche where they are doing well," he said. "The revenues aren't there. There's no reason to hire. If you can't sell products or services, what can you do?"

John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, a Hauppauge umbrella group that represents more than 250,000 Long Island union members, wanted to hear the president talk about putting people back to work by rebuilding such things as highways and bridges. He got his wish.

"I think infrastructure is the key," he said. "It will give old people and young people the opportunity to work and maybe put away a little something. He's laid out a good program."

Marilyn Schulman, owner of Bay Shore gift shop Willy Nilly Trading Co. and Bay Shore Lighting & Home, just recently hired someone and isn't sure if the president's proposed hiring incentives will help her. But she is glad he is trying to stimulate the job market.

"It's not going to be the be-all and end-all, but we have got to do something to get out of this stagnation," she said. "And I believe the government has a role to play in these things."