Senator Charles Schumer (D) recently met with Long Island Community journalists at the Nassau County Bar Association to outline his ideas for New York State and Long Island.

Schumer estimated that since November's election he has visited Long Island around 15 times. He has addressed both Hofstra University and SUNY Old Westbury, at their respective commencement addresses, and the Long Island Lawyers group.

"I want to be available to Long Islanders," he said.

Schumer won his seat from Long Islander, Alphonse D'Amato, who earned the nickname "senator pothole" for his policy of involving himself in even small issues.

Schumer has no problem taking up such a mantle, "I've never demeaned that title. No request from a constituent is too big, and none is too little."

The day he met with the community journalists was the day after the senate passed, by one vote, the "gun show loophole" bill. Schumer, author of the Brady Bill, called the event a big victory for gun control.

He said his next goal was to work with Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D,I - 4CD) to make sure the bill passes through the House of Representatives.

"It's a struggle. No one thought we would win the gun control fight, but we did," said Schumer.

In the wake of several school shootings across the country, Schumer has been impressed with self-sufficient programs run by volunteers, including students, that deal with social problems before they become serious problems. SMILES, a program out of South Side School in Carle Place is one such program.

Schumer also has plans to aid the school districts in their educational efforts. He said, "We must make education better without raising taxes."

To do this, Schumer supports lowering property taxes by using the money paid to the government as a result of the tobacco company settlements. As it now stands, 50 percent of the money will go to the federal government, 25 percent to the states and 25 percent to the localities.

To combat the 20,000 to 30,000 shortage of math/science teachers, Schumer supports attracting young people into the teaching profession by forgiving the student loan payments, if the individual stays at least five years teaching in public schools.

He also said he was pushing to see all school tuition be tax deductible.

Over the years over $700 billion has been taken out of the Social Security fund to pay for the other general funds, according to the senator, who is against privitization of Social Security.

Schumer supports President Bill Clinton's plans to use the 52 percent of the budget surplus to pay back the Social Security fund as well as 15 percent to be used for Medicare, until 2025.

Schumer also supports strengthening the Clear Air Clean Water Act, a patients' bill of rights that would force medical decisions to be made by the doctors as opposed to the HMOs and adult penalties, but different imprisonment facilities, for youthful felons.

Schumer said he believes that the job base on Long Island that benefits from good location and good educational opportunities, can continue to grow by perhaps attracting high tech companies.

Said Schumer, "I think Long Island can grow in a moderate careful way."