Howard Kopel, a veteran Legislator, ready to keep going

There’s something to having experience — and in office as a Nassau County legislator since 2010, Howard Kopel says he has that experience.

“It is a complex job,” the legislature’s deputy presiding officer told reporters as part of a recent Herald Roundtable session. “You have to have opinions on policies, have to dig in and learn who the players are and acquire influence — hopefully by performance. Institutional knowledge is useful. I understand what is the constituents like and why.”

Kopel, who, lives in Lawrence, describes himself as “reformed lawyer,” owning a title insurance company. He says he is known for creating positive relationships on both sides of the aisle.

There is a deference to his position and years in the legislature to getting things done, Kopel said, pointing to his push for the state-of-the-art system installed at the Bay Park sewage treatment plant, as well as his advocacy for open space maintenance and infrastructure improvement.

“I’m in favor of development,” Kopel said, but “not over-development if the infrastructure can’t support it.”

Aware of the multiple construction projects that will likely lead to increased traffic volume in the Five Towns, Kopel noted these developments are not viewed holistically, and blames a portion of the gridlock problem found on Rockaway Turnpike and the Nassau Expressway on Albany.

Also in the Five Towns, the specter of the Woodmere Club looms large. Originally proposed as more than 280 homes, the created Coastal Conservation District allows fewer than 60. Lawsuits and other municipal wrangling have the project at a standstill.

“Something has to be done there,” Kopel said, suggesting a smaller golf course and a catering hall, which he says would attract a large volume of business.

“Something is going to happen there. Therefore, we have to see if we could choose the least-bad option.”   

As the county’s residential property assessment system continues to be a mess, Kopel says the county executive should be given time to “come up with another fix.”

Noting that county has had several years of surpluses, Kopel adds the county guarantee — which has the county, and not school districts and towns, paying tax-certiorari refunds — “has outlived its usefulness, and could bankrupt the county.”

Saying that, “Nassau County is in a lot better shape than many other counties” across the state. Kopel also noted that the Nassau Interim Finance Authority — created more than 20 years ago to help the county emerge from debt — is a place where “people are trying to perpetuate their own jobs.”

On affordable housing, Kopel says one first has to define it, find open areas, and do not force it into places that are no set up for it.

“When government tries to control housing, they create shortages,” he said, pointing to New York City. “Private developers can build things — and will build things, and will build affordable things — if it makes sense for them financially.”     

A licensed gun owner, Kopel believes current state gun laws are “stupid” and have just created “soft targets” for the miscreants who do not obey laws. 

“You have to have laws, people who obey laws are the ones not breaking the laws,” he said, at least when it comes to illegal guns.

Concerning the uptick in antisemitism and other forms of hate in recent months, Kopel acknowledges it persists, but notes it is not as bad as years ago, and even sees young people making headway.

“More education,” Kopel says on ways to eradicate antisemitism. “It is harder to eradicate it from adults. If you are going to impress things on people, have to do it when they are young.”