The HIA held a neat little Energy event at the Hamlet Golf Club last week. It was very well attended with, among other speakers Roz Goldmacher of Long Island Developmental Corporation, Eric Alexander of Vision Long Island, Richard Kessel formerly of NYPA, Kevin Law CEO of LIA and David Schieren, CEO of Empower Solar and LIPA’s partner (achieved when Kevin Law was CEO of LIPA). The event was close to flawless. Ostensibly of course, the common goal and effort shared among all of these organizations is to create an environment in which businesses old and new can flourish and Long Islanders can get jobs and prosper. One would think.

I was fortunate to have a seat at the most conspicuous table at the Executive Luncheon, right in front of the dais. The distinguished moderator was David Winchester CEO of Clean Tech Rocks and the panelists were Kessel, Law and Schieren. Each of the gentlemen on the dais made presentations detailing who they are, what they do and how they expect to impact the Long Island economy. The general response was “with alternative energy.” David Schieren stated that his company, EmPower Solar, had projects that would provide jobs for Long Islanders.

Then came questions from the audience. A woman behind me, whose name I neglected to get, asked David Schieren, how many people he employed. His response was “35 at the moment, and we will be adding another 15 jobs before December.” Suddenly the young man sitting next to me raised his hand and said “I’ve only been on Long Island four months, when this man, and he gestured to David Schieren, gave me a job and brought me here…” I said “Wait a minute, where are you from?” He said “Missouri…” I then asked David “Please tell me what qualifications this young man has that a Long Island man does not have, that HE got the job and a Long Islander did not?” Mr. Schieren stuttered, was flustered and said “That was another company that hired him, it wasn’t me…” Kevin Law snarled, then he pointed at the young man from Missouri, smiled and said “I for one, want to THANK you for coming to Long Island to work, because our young people are leaving by the thousands!”

Ok. So. I can’t be the only person who heard that.  I wonder if  Mr. Law, knew before he thanked that young man for coming to Long Island to work, that our  young people are leaving Long Island by the thousands because it is CHEAPER for companies like LIPA and EMPOWER to hire young people from Missouri?