Attract tourists by PAYING them!!!

[Another brillliant idea]

Ashanti joins Suozzi on tour promoting Nassau

BY SID CASSESE AND WILLIAM MURPHY

sid.cassese@newsday.com william.murphy@newsday.com

12:07 PM EDT, July 22, 2008



Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi went on a tourist raid in Manhattan Tuesday morning to get visitors to the Big Apple to spent a little time in Nassau.

Suozzi held a news conference at Top of The Rock in Rockefeller Center to introduce "ambassadors" who will be promoting tourism in the county. The biggest name among the ambassador class was Ashanti, the hugely popular singer and native of Glen Cove, who donned an orange blazer over her white dress.

"It was amazing to be asked, and I wanted to give something back to the community," said Ashanti, who sang at Suozzi's two inaugurals as mayor of Glen Cove and at his first county executive inaugural in 2002 just before she hit the big time.

After the news conference, preselected tourists boarded a bus for a ride to Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, where they were to get a tour of the grounds from a Teddy Roosevelt impersonator. Earlier plans for a boat ride to Nassau County were scrapped because of the large contingent, Suozzi said.

The tourists will be treated to lunch at Louie's Oyster Bay and Grille in Port Washington, and then on to Americana Manhasset mall, where each family will get a $250 gift card. The day will wrap up at Nickerson Beach, where tourists will be provided ice cream, beverages, beach chairs and even surfing lessons from the "surfing ambassador" and surfcasting lesson from the "fishing ambassador."

The ambassadors and the daylong event are part of Suozzi's attempt to pitch Nassau as "The Island Next Door," a campaign targeted at New York City tourists and people who live within 250 miles.

In launching the campaign last month, Suozzi said that the cost of gasoline would make it more likely that people in the vast metropolitan area would be looking for places to visit that were closer to home.

Most of the $1 million cost of the campaign will come from the county's Industrial Development Agency, which has accumulated a surplus of $3 million or $4 million from the fees it charges developers, Suozzi said.

Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

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Hell! I'd come to Nassau every week if I was treated like this! Where do I sign up?!?!?

Why not spend the money on PARKS STAFF?!?!?!?

[no trans]

the better idea would be to use the money to support LI Bus, or clean up some roads, or whatever. Using the money to encourage tourists from Manhattan to come to Nassau County is a complete waste of time. People that travel to NYC do not rent cars, and have no realistic way to travel to Nassau County.

They go to NYC and spend 5 days IN MANHATTAN. Never leaving the Island. Why go to a restaurant in Pt Washington? There's tons of 5 star restaurants within walking distance of thr hotels in Manhattan. Why go to the Miracle Mile? There's tons of shopping within a 5 block radius in NYC. There's no reason to go to Nassau, and Suozzi's millions won't create any. What a waste of money.

[NCPD Grad]

I attended the NCPD graduation today with about 40 new Nassau County Police to soon be on the street. We were told the County Exec could not be there. Only to find out later on newsday .com that he was in New York City with Ashanti bringing tourists to Nassau County. Tourism is very important, but he should have been there to welcome the new NCPD officers. I guess he got more publicity with Ashanti then with the men and women who will keep us safe. What a shame.

[Unregistered303]

He is a bum and doesnt care about the civil servants or volunteer firefighters in Nassau County... His ego is tooooo big!

[Unregistered908]

Since many of his citizens, cant afford a vacation due to his inability to think like a Republican, can every taxpayer ask for a free vacation, too?

[Suozzi's a Joke]

How bad must it be when even Newsday parts company with him.
NEWSDAY EDITORIAL:

Has he got a deal for you
Tom Suozzi grabbed air time with his tourism stunt, but we need lasting results

July 23, 2008
Tom Suozzi is Nassau County's top salesman, and he has a terrific brand to push. But his marketing strategy seems wanting.

In an extravagant public relations stunt billed as a way to get more tourism dollars spent on "The Island Next Door," Suozzi went to Times Square yesterday to personally escort four groups of forgn visitors - enticed by $250 gift certificates - to Nassau, to spend the day enjoying the sights of the nation's first suburb.

Instead of going to the Empire State Building or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 16 tourists were treated to a waterside lunch in Port Washington, a tour of Teddy Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, a visit to Lido Beach and shopping at the ritzy Americana Mall in Manhasset - where $250 doesn't go all that far.

Long Island's sales-tax recpts are declining, so trying to lure stay-cationers in the region and tourists, especially those whose pockets are overstuffed with euros, to cross the border makes sense.

But will events like this get the results the county wants? Day visitors to Nassau are typically business and corporate folks, not the lsure travelers attracted to Suffolk's top destinations in the Hamptons and the North Fork. The question is how to attract those folks without spending 250 bucks a pop.

To pay for his $1 million "Island Next Door" campaign, Suozzi is tapping Industrial Development Agency money, which is funded by fees from developers to attract business. Unlike other politicians, Suozzi isn't putting his face or voice on IDA-expensed brochures or radio ads - but yesterday's event did seem like a rather expensive press conference.

Nassau County is a good product, but we need tourists to buy it after the cameras leave.

[Nassau Rocks]

You can't win, Suozzi tries to think out of the box and gets flack. Bringing attention to the County is great, we have a wonderful County, that's why we moved here. Keep it up Tom, they ran this story on "E" so he must be doing something right. Visitors equal revenue and that helps our taxes.

[taxpyer]

hey, I pay lots in taxes. Where do I get my $250 gift certificate?

[Nassau Rocks Not]

Giving credit to Suozzi for thinking out of the box is a joke. If you've followed his career it's the press conference first and then no follow through after that. Newsday got it right when they called it a "stunt"!!

[FAKE POST]

You can't win, Suozzi tries to think out of the box and gets flack. Bringing attention to the County is great, we have a wonderful County, that's why we moved here. Keep it up Tom, they ran this story on "E" so he must be doing something right. Visitors equal revenue and that helps our taxes.

THIS HAS TO BE A FAKE POSTER JUST TRYING TO ELICIT COMMENTS. THE KEY IS - WE MOVED HERE TO GET AWAY FROM THERE. SUOZZI DOES NOT AND NEVER WILL GET IT. HE HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF HIS OWN DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE FILLED JOBS WITH NON-NASSAU RESIDENTS AND WORKERS WHO PRODUCED ONLY IN NEW YORK CITY PREVIOUSLY. WE DO NOT WANT TO TURN SURBURBIA INTO URBANIA. WE DO NOT WANT QUEENS, BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN PEOPLE COMING HERE TO USE UP OUR RESOURCES, CROWD OUR STREETS, CONGEST OUR TRAFFIC, STEAL, ROB, ASSAULT, MURDER AND BRING ALL THE REST OF THE URBAN LIFE TO US. THIS IS NOT NEW YORK CITY. THIS IS LONG ISLAND. MEANWHILE, SUOZZI GOES HOME TO HIS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR HOME THAT HE GOT WITH INTEREST FREE LOANS IN HIS GATED COMMUNITY AND LEAVES THE REST OF US TO DEAL WITH THIS INFLUX OF NON-TAXPAYER GARBAGE. AND WHY ARE WE PAYING HIM ANYTHING TO SKULK AROUND NEW YORK CITY? ISN'T THAT THEFT OF SERVICES? HE SURE AS HELL IS NOT SERVING NASSAU COUNTY.

[It makes no sense]

How bad must it be when even Newsday parts company with him.
NEWSDAY EDITORIAL:

Has he got a deal for you
Tom Suozzi grabbed air time with his tourism stunt, but we need lasting results

July 23, 2008
Tom Suozzi is Nassau County's top salesman, and he has a terrific brand to push. But his marketing strategy seems wanting.

In an extravagant public relations stunt billed as a way to get more tourism dollars spent on "The Island Next Door," Suozzi went to Times Square yesterday to personally escort four groups of forgn visitors - enticed by $250 gift certificates - to Nassau, to spend the day enjoying the sights of the nation's first suburb.

Instead of going to the Empire State Building or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the 16 tourists were treated to a waterside lunch in Port Washington, a tour of Teddy Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, a visit to Lido Beach and shopping at the ritzy Americana Mall in Manhasset - where $250 doesn't go all that far.

Long Island's sales-tax recpts are declining, so trying to lure stay-cationers in the region and tourists, especially those whose pockets are overstuffed with euros, to cross the border makes sense.

But will events like this get the results the county wants? Day visitors to Nassau are typically business and corporate folks, not the lsure travelers attracted to Suffolk's top destinations in the Hamptons and the North Fork. The question is how to attract those folks without spending 250 bucks a pop.

To pay for his $1 million "Island Next Door" campaign, Suozzi is tapping Industrial Development Agency money, which is funded by fees from developers to attract business. Unlike other politicians, Suozzi isn't putting his face or voice on IDA-expensed brochures or radio ads - but yesterday's event did seem like a rather expensive press conference.

Nassau County is a good product, but we need tourists to buy it after the cameras leave.


It makes no sense. New Jersey is tax free for most items so it makes more sense for nyc resident shoppers to head there - not to nassau if they are going to head anywhere - quite frankly - nyc has everything nassau has and more - including better public transportation which nassau residents want less of not more of. The streets are already overcrowded, there is too much traffic, the buses are wrecking the infrastructure and making it too comfortable for illegal aliens who can't get drivers licenses to stick around here, there is no parking as it is. We want less people, less traffic, less congestion and less of everything except for the quality of life - and that requires more exclusivity. We prefer anonymity. Its safer.

[bllackwell]

I want my $250 gift certificate

[Ashanti]

You can't win, Suozzi tries to think out of the box and gets flack. Bringing attention to the County is great, we have a wonderful County, that's why we moved here. Keep it up Tom, they ran this story on "E" so he must be doing something right. Visitors equal revenue and that helps our taxes.

Yeah I be diggin the suozz man and the seven thousand large I picked up on hair, make up, nail and hotel services for bng involved in this fiasco.

[Ashanti and Lorna]

I want $7000 from Lorna too cause she coughs up her salary in bux anyway per Suozzi.

Howard W: write Ashanti another check, would you babe?

[services rendered]

THIS HAS TO BE A FAKE POSTER JUST TRYING TO ELICIT COMMENTS. THE KEY IS - WE MOVED HERE TO GET AWAY FROM THERE. SUOZZI DOES NOT AND NEVER WILL GET IT. HE HAS LOST THE SUPPORT OF HIS OWN DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE FILLED JOBS WITH NON-NASSAU RESIDENTS AND WORKERS WHO PRODUCED ONLY IN NEW YORK CITY PREVIOUSLY. WE DO NOT WANT TO TURN SURBURBIA INTO URBANIA. WE DO NOT WANT QUEENS, BROOKLYN, MANHATTAN PEOPLE COMING HERE TO USE UP OUR RESOURCES, CROWD OUR STREETS, CONGEST OUR TRAFFIC, STEAL, ROB, ASSAULT, MURDER AND BRING ALL THE REST OF THE URBAN LIFE TO US. THIS IS NOT NEW YORK CITY. THIS IS LONG ISLAND. MEANWHILE, SUOZZI GOES HOME TO HIS MULTI MILLION DOLLAR HOME THAT HE GOT WITH INTEREST FREE LOANS IN HIS GATED COMMUNITY AND LEAVES THE REST OF US TO DEAL WITH THIS INFLUX OF NON-TAXPAYER GARBAGE. AND WHY ARE WE PAYING HIM ANYTHING TO SKULK AROUND NEW YORK CITY? ISN'T THAT THEFT OF SERVICES? HE SURE AS HELL IS NOT SERVING NASSAU COUNTY.


Glen Cove paid him to run for CE. Nassau paid him to campaign for Governor and campaign for Charlie and Hillary and basically do everything BUT take care of the taxpayers - so why shouldn't he keep on taking advantage? Find a tiny reason to justify his activities - let Newsday back it up - and he's free.

[smelly suozzi]

* Did you see the last sentence in this article? The IDA has a "surplus of fees" charged to developers of $3m -$4M? And this promotion cost $1M? Man, this thing is really smelly. Think about it. Those fees to developers represent a potential cost which is passed off onto others within the real estate market, which is currently suffering, and is ultimately carried by consumers through higher business and start up costs. I thought the IDA was supposed to ease the burden on business, not create more burdens and higher costs, which in are used to finance Suozzi's self promoting publicity stunts. SOMEBODY AT NEWSDAY, LIKE THESE DUMB ASS REPORTERS, REALLY AREN'T ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.





Ashanti joins Suozzi on tour promoting Nassau

BY SID CASSESE AND WILLIAM MURPHY

sid.cassese@newsday.com william.murphy@newsday.com

12:07 PM EDT, July 22, 2008



Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi went on a tourist raid in Manhattan Tuesday morning to get visitors to the Big Apple to spent a little time in Nassau.

Suozzi held a news conference at Top of The Rock in Rockefeller Center to introduce "ambassadors" who will be promoting tourism in the county. The biggest name among the ambassador class was Ashanti, the hugely popular singer and native of Glen Cove, who donned an orange blazer over her white dress.

"It was amazing to be asked, and I wanted to give something back to the community," said Ashanti, who sang at Suozzi's two inaugurals as mayor of Glen Cove and at his first county executive inaugural in 2002 just before she hit the big time.

After the news conference, preselected tourists boarded a bus for a ride to Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, where they were to get a tour of the grounds from a Teddy Roosevelt impersonator. Earlier plans for a boat ride to Nassau County were scrapped because of the large contingent, Suozzi said.

The tourists will be treated to lunch at Louie's Oyster Bay and Grille in Port Washington, and then on to Americana Manhasset mall, where each family will get a $250 gift card. The day will wrap up at Nickerson Beach, where tourists will be provided ice cream, beverages, beach chairs and even surfing lessons from the "surfing ambassador" and surfcasting lesson from the "fishing ambassador."

The ambassadors and the daylong event are part of Suozzi's attempt to pitch Nassau as "The Island Next Door," a campaign targeted at New York City tourists and people who live within 250 miles.

In launching the campaign last month, Suozzi said that the cost of gasoline would make it more likely that people in the vast metropolitan area would be looking for places to visit that were closer to home.

Most of the $1 million cost of the campaign will come from the county's Industrial Development Agency, which has accumulated a surplus of $3 million or $4 million from the fees it charges developers, Suozzi said.

Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hell! I'd come to Nassau every week if I was treated like this! Where do I sign up?!?!?

Why not spend the money on PARKS STAFF?!?!?!?

[switch from cable]

* Did you see the last sentence in this article? The IDA has a "surplus of fees" charged to developers of $3m -$4M? And this promotion cost $1M? Man, this thing is really smelly. Think about it. Those fees to developers represent a potential cost which is passed off onto others within the real estate market, which is currently suffering, and is ultimately carried by consumers through higher business and start up costs. I thought the IDA was supposed to ease the burden on business, not create more burdens and higher costs, which in are used to finance Suozzi's self promoting publicity stunts. SOMEBODY AT NEWSDAY, LIKE THESE DUMB ASS REPORTERS, REALLY AREN'T ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS.

cablevision was quoted in the media as supporting newsday's management and editorial board - they aren't changing anything. Cablevision must get the message. Cancel cable - move to verizon & direct tv - don't buy newsday. Then maybe the reporters will start acting like journalists and not tabloid papparazi .