Youth Alliance seeks to keep young workforce on LI

Who is doing something about the brain drain on Long Island? Some of the very people whose brains could be headed for the drain, that's who!

The Action Long Island Young Adult Alliance, seeking to keep the 20-to-40 crowd living and working on the Island, is trying to recruit leaders to help mobilize others about political and government events, housing and other pertinent issues.

"We are reaching out to individuals who want to lead," said Lenae McKee, the alliance's development director. "They're going to be in charge of letting other people know what's going on."

Of particular interest to the alliance is the proposed Avalon Bay housing development in Huntington Station. The 409-unit development would provide housing for people of varying income and ages. The town board is to vote on the matter Sept. 21. The alliance has been heavily supporting the project.

The alliance is to meet at Kodiak's Restaurant & Bar in Farmingdale at 6 p.m. Tuesday to select leaders, McKee said.

Louis Imbroto, 27, of Plainview has been involved with the alliance since it was formed a few months ago. He lives with his parents, saying he has found it difficult to find an affordable apartment.

"There is a frustration that [young adults] are taken for granted," he said. "They're not taken into account in political calculations because frankly many don't vote. We're trying to change that."