Kopel thinks big, plans local

New leaders, new lawmakers sworn into 8th Legislature

By Michael Orbach and Mayer Fertig

Legislator Howard Kopel and 18 fellow members of the Eighth Nassau County Legislature were sworn in Monday in a quick-moving ceremony punctuated with laughter and humorous asides at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.

Congressman Peter King administered the oath of office to the Republican legislators including Kopel, while New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli swore in the minority Democrats.

Rabbi Dovid Weinberger of Cong. Shaaray Tefila, where Kopel is a member, delivered a benediction, following a minister and a priest, who delivered the invocation and a prayer, respectively.

There was no swearing at, at the swearing in. As on most inauguration days, speakers struck a tone of bipartisan cooperation. The newly elected Nassau County executive, Edward Mangano, briefly touched on that theme as he warned, “Next year could be a challenge for Nassau County.”

“I understand your obligation to your districts, and I ask you to understand our global obligation to all the residents of Nassau County,” he told the newly inducted lawmakers in a thick New York accent.

Mangano was sworn in on New Year’s Day in a separate ceremony.

Senator Charles Schumer spoke briefly, as did the new minority leader, Diane Yatauro. The recession poses an “ongoing threat,” she said, adding, “an assessment system that needs to be reviewed,” will be a priority of the new session.

New Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt promised that the solutions to the county’s problems will “not include new taxes and fees. Those days are over,” he said.

Republican campaign agendas were “not hollow promises,” he said. The “hallmark to the coming two years has to be: can we afford it,” he said.

He promised legislation that would bar privatizing county parks, freeing them for the use of the people who “pony up to pay for them.” He said the county’s bloated administrative staffs would be cut and that on his watch there would be no approval of  “last-minute contracts” or legislation.

The newly sworn-in lawmakers have a “unique opportunity and a grave responsibility,” to see Nassau County through the end of the economic recession, Schmitt said.

Kopel, whose second attempt at the Nassau County legislature resulted in a landslide victory against incumbent Jeff Toback, is beginning his term with an ambitious agenda.

Speaking to the Jewish Star, he laid out three goals: fixing the property assessment code, cutting spending, and updating the sewage system.

Property assessment codes in Nassau are usually assessed at one quarter of one percent of the property value and then multiplied. Kopel wants the county to return to assessments based on full market value.

“The main issue is getting the system into a shape where people understand and trust it,” Kopel said. “That’s the main issue, the other things will follow. The perception is often, and too often true, the assessments are inaccurate. When some things are assessed at .25 percent of market value that just adds another layer of confusion. If you say that your house is worth $369,000, people understand that, but when you say that you’re being assessed at .25 then you apply a tax rate, that’s confusing.”

Furthermore, Kopel wants to ensure that the valuations are done correctly and complaints are handled properly.

“It’s a big mess in Nassau,” he explained. “People are very unhappy about it, justifiably.”

Kopel also plans to cut spending; there are some “easy ones,” in his words, with which to begin.

“Less deputy commisioners,” Kopel explained. “You have a lot of big salaries that can be redirected to many smaller things. In other words, too many county departments are too top-heavy and those have been patronage positions and can be eliminated. Not all of them, but some of them.”

One recipient of redirected funds would be the Nassau County Police Department, which Kopel says needs updated equipment.

“The police equipment in many cases is not up to speed. Their cars are old and broken too often, that’s one example.”

His campaign pledge to repeal the energy tax is “already being taken care of,” he said. “The first campaign promise and that’s being done.”

Fixing the sewage plant also figures heavily on Kopel’s agenda.

“Lawrence and Cedarhurst have small, antiquated sewage plants that are in need of being upgraded or shut down to comply with the law,” he said. “Proposals have been made to consolidate those systems into the County systems and pump the waste to Bay Park which makes sense, except that Bay Park is not up to snuff itself. So that’s a mess; that’s an urgent mess. I think we’ve got to figure something out that’s going to take care of everyone, that means Lawrence and Cedarhurst are relieved of these plants and the people in East Rockaway and Bay Park are not afflicted with foul odors all the time.”

Kopel will abandon his predecessor’s campaign against the adult entertainment club that placed a large billboard of a scantily clad woman on Rockaway Turnpike.

“I think that’s a dead issue and I think it was thrown out,” he said. “It’s in Queens first of all, it’s really not within our jurisdiction altogether. I’m no expert in this and I suspect the lawsuit is not going anywhere. The guy probably has a legal right to do what he does, regardless of whether we like it. That’s in Queens. I don’t have authority or standing to get involved in that, and neither did Jeff Toback.”

Kopel concluded the interview stating that he had no plans for any higher office.

“I’m a lot closer to sixty than fifty,” he said with a laugh. “It’s not the kind of thing that’s likely to happen or the kind of thing that I’m interested in. I don’t want to live in Albany or Washington and I’d like to do something to make right where I live better.”

Questions or comments? Contact Michael Orbach at morbach@thejewishstar.com