The Influentials
Friday, December 29, 2006

The power of people

There was a time when most of what happened on Long Island was controlled by a handful of pols and the top execs at Grumman, Newsday and the Long Island Lighting Co.

No more. Grumman is preceded by “Northrop” in its title these days, and global decision making has shifted to L.A. Newsday, now run out of Chicago, is on the auction block, and could end up being acquired – say it ain’t so, Al – by the New York Post.

LILCO is gone, replaced by a public authority and KeySpan. The future leadership of both is up in the air.

There are still the pols, of course – some things do not change. But Long Island’s predilection for eating its elected young has kept the Washington delegation to the back benches, and a local hasn’t made a serious run at the governorship since 1978.

No, Long Island is now a place run by individuals. Arguably, too many of them.

This, then, is their tribute. A look at the men and women who, through power, force of will and, occasionally, pure B.S., held sway over Long Island during 2006.

Navigating the list

The Influentials list was compiled over several months by the LIBN staff with input from dozens of members of the Long Island business community and occasional fervent pitching by public relations professionals. We’d like to tell you we created a complex computer vetting matrix, but we actually resorted to magic markers and huge post-its that wall-papered our conference room. Looking back, some doodling was involved.

Holding a seat of power was not enough to win inclusion. Instead, we focused on individuals who were effecting real change. As a result, some are one-shots who had a big year; others are perennial players who, likely, will be back again in 2007.

Law

Morton Weber

Partner, Weber Law Group LLP

At the helm of a small real estate boutique law firm in Melville, Morty and his attorneys are nonetheless at the center of some of the Island’s most important land deals – from redeveloping downtown Riverhead to maybe one day delivering a mall for Taubman in Syosset. Weber added to his firm’s heft by snapping up Mitch Pally, the universally respected deal-maker, who was looking to leave his long-time post at the LIA.

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