As a Town of North Hempstead Councilman, Fred. L. Pollack (D) is looking to make a difference. Elected to a four-year term as North Hempstead Councilman in November 2001, Pollack currently serves as a liaison to Manhasset, New Cassel and Westbury. In this capacity, Pollack said he will be working particularly close with civic and community groups in New Cassel.

On the top of the list is New Cassel's housing problem. "There is too much illegal and overcrowded housing [which] leads to more problems. If there are too many people, that creates more garbage and more kids than the schools can handle," said Pollack. On the flip side, he said, people need a place to live. "You don't want people in the streets, but you also don't want anyone living in unsafe conditions," said Pollack. "People need to go, but where are they going to go?"

The town of New Cassel comprises one square-mile and currently has a reported population of 13,000. "That's not counting everybody," said Pollack. "A great deal of communities such as New Cassel tend to be undercounted. Like any other community, there are just too many people living in this small area. There's got to be a way to find new housing whether it be single owner homes, two family houses, rentals or condos."

Illegal and overcrowded housing in New Cassel is caused by absentee landlords who, in trying to make as much money as possible, allow large numbers of people to live in their home and senior citizen homeowners who, on a limited income, can't make their mortgage without tenants.

"Regardless of the reason, the impact is the same on the community, but it has to be handled differently," said Pollack. "Every situation will make someone unhappy. If you reduce illegal housing, landlords are going to be unhappy, as will the families who will have no place to live. Those on limited income need to live somewhere too and be able to meet their mortgage." He added that in addition to addressing the residential needs of New Cassel, the community is also in need of a business district, a bank, supermarket -- all those entities that make it a community.

"New Cassel has been ignored historically and it's time the community got the attention it deserves," Pollack said. "These problems are so huge [and] they are not going to be solved in six months, but we need to start getting it under control.

"Everyone started coming up with global solutions, but what we really should be doing is breaking them down and start dealing with one thing at a time. The housing problems in New Cassel are not something that will be eliminated in six months. Right now we are playing 'catch up.'"

To do so, Pollack said he will be looking to the community to tell him what they want. "I have been meeting with civic leaders one-on-one to discuss their concerns," he said. "My job is not to come up with solutions directly, but to see what's on the mind of residents."

In addition to serving as one of four councilmen for the 58 square-mile Town of North Hempstead under the direction of Supervisor May W. Newburger, Pollack is an attorney specializing in criminal defense and matrimonial law. He is currently a member of the Nassau Democratic County Committee and the Nassau County Bar Association. Pollack's political experience includes serving on the town council from 1994 to 1997 and president of the Reform Democratic Association. He was also a Democratic candidate for the New York State Assembly (17th district), commissioner for the North Hempstead Housing Authority and a district representative for New York State Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli.

As councilman, Pollack has been a leading force in environmental projects, especially for efforts to manage and protect local harbors and bays, sponsoring the creation of the town's Waterfront Advisory Committee and the portion of the town code that governs the waterways. He was instrumental in creating the Town of North Hempstead's Earth Day clean-up program and worked to have natural gas to replace gasoline in the town's vehicles. Along with Supervisor Newburger, Pollack developed a fiscally sound, environmentally responsible plan for the development of the Morewood Property, some 460 acres of open space in Port Washington which now includes the town's first public golf course, athletic fields, nature trails and a Life Care Community for seniors.

He also helped develop fiscal policies that eliminated inherited budget deficits and restored fiscal integrity to the town. Pollack was fundamental in the development of Head Start, an early childhood education program, in Westbury. In 1994, Head Start had a grant to erect a building in Westbury, but nowhere to put it and no money to purchase land. Pollack developed a unique approach, leasing open space at a senior housing residence operated by the North Hempstead Housing Authority for $1 to Head Start. This not only allowed the program to return to Westbury, but offers opportunities for intergenerational programming that will benefit both the children and the seniors in the community.

Pollack and his wife, Merryl, have lived in Port Washington for more than 18 years where he is involved in various community organizations, including the chamber of commerce and Harborfest Committee. He is also on the board of directors of the Port Washington Business Improvement District, the Community Chest of Port Washington and the Port Washington Senior Center.

Councilman Pollack's office is located at 220 Plandome Road, Manhasset. He can be reached by calling 869-7711 or e-mailing him at pollackf@northhempstead.com