Page 106 - Demo

Politicos and Those Who Would Be, File PetitionsDemocrats have primaries. Republicans do not. That is the fact of political life in Brooklyn that continues to hold true this year as candidates completed filing their petitions Thursday, July 27 in hopes of eventually being elected in November.In all but a few instances, Republicans have nominated one candidate who will appear on the November ballot. Since Brooklyn voters, however, are overwhelmingly Democratic, the stakes are higher and virtually every major local elected official has a primary.State legislators, members of the House of Representatives, as well as locally elected party officials are up for election this year, with the first show-down in the September 12 primary.The big race in the downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods is the 14th congressional district, where incumbent Fred Richmond is facing a real battle from former Deputy School Board Chancillor Bernard Gifford. Richmond, who under normal circumstances would be a virtual shoo-in, is feeling the effects of the scandal he created three months ago after admitting to soliciting sex from a youth in Washington, D.C. Other candidates in the race are Owen Augustin and ftving Gross.Elsewhere in Brooklyn, Assembly Speaker Stanley Steingut faces his first primary in 16 years in the Flatbush/Canarsie 41st A.D. Steingut squares off against Helene Weinstein, a 26-year old attorney, who is being backed by a former ally of Steingut%u2019s, City Councilmember Theodore Silverman.And two %u201c safe%u201d regular Democratic seats are up for grabs in the state legislature. State Senator Jeremiah Bloom, a 20-year veteran from the Flatbush 19th S.D., will be running as the long-shot in the state-wide gubernatorial race against Hugh Carey and Mary Anne Krupsak. And longtime Flatbush Assemblyman George Cincotta will step down to accept appointment to a state commission.BLACK LEADERSHIP RACESIn Central Brooklyn, where most of the voters are black, there are several important races that may dictate a change in the black leadership for the next few years. Bed-Stuy Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, whose 12th C.D. also extends into Williamsburg and Greenpoint, faces challenges from Aubrey Kenan and Luis Hernandez. And Assemblyman Albert Vann, the leader of the Black and Puertor> :----tix ic u nhasdative Caucus in A!b?.nv a primary with former Assemblyman Calvin Williams. Williams has the support of the District Leader Carl Butler in the 56th, one of the few black officials who is also supporting Congressman Richmond. Vann became one of Richmond%u2019s most vocal detractors, after it was disclosed that the youth in the Richmond case was black. Vann will also challenge Butler for Democratic District Leader. (A district leader is the top elected party official in an assembly district.)In what promises to be another wild primary, Crown H eights/ Gowanus State Senator Vander Beatty and 53rd Assembly District Leader Maxwell Clemmons will square off twice: one race for Beatty%u2019s Senate seat and one race for Clemmons%u2019 leadership. f | | Clemmons edged Beatty for Leader l %u201d two years and has decided to meet ^ him head-to-head for his Albany | post. Beatty could emerge as one of 5 Brooklyn%u2019s most powerful blacks politicians%u2014or he could become an %u00a7 also ran, depending on th e ! outcome.And in East New York, Major Owens is being challenged by Alfred Sharpton, who earlier this year had been active in negotiating for jobs in downtown Brooklyn for black youths.In other local state legislative races, State Senator Martin Connor, who succeeded Carol Bellamy in a special election last February, faces his first primary challenge from Leanore Waller, a retired union official from Manhattan. Connor%u2019s district spans from South Brooklyn across the East River to Lower M anhattan. Park Slope/Sunset Park Assemblyman Joe Ferris will run against a county organizationbacked candidate, Beatrice DeSapio, who was given a %u201c le&ve of absence%u201d from her job with Assemblyman Steingut, after first being fired for challenging an incumbent in the Assembly.Another long-term State Senator, Republican Deputy Majority Leader William T. Conklin, announced his retirement this year after 22 years of service. Running in his stead will be Sunset Park Assemblyman Christopher Mega. Two Democrats are seeking to defeat Mega: John Zito, the County-backed candidate, and John W. Carroll, out of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democratic Club.OTHER RACESOther local legislative primaries are as follows: in the 57th Assembly District (Fort Greene/W illiamsburg) innimhent Harvey Strelzin, Velmanette Montgomery, Virginia Apuzzo and Alexis Miranda; in the 57th A.D. District Leader race, incumbents Abraham Gerges and Theodora Martinez against Roger L. Green and Katie Davis; in the 51st Assembly District, Louise Finney and Anthony Carraciolo, incuftbent District Leaders, against Alberta Friscia, John Wojcik, and a candidate to replace John S.Carroll who declined. Also, in the 19th State Senatorial District, Lyle Silversmith, Howard Silverman and Martin Markowitz; in the 44th Assembly District, incumbent Mel Miller and Morton Itkin; in the 15th Congressional District (Bay Ridge/ Park Slope), incumbent Leo C. Zeferetti and Joseph Seminara. REPUBLICANSThere are a few local Republican primaries. Roy Vanasco in the 57thA.D. and Nathaniel Hendricks are vying tor the Republican nomination for Assembly. Vanasco and female leader Angela Guadagno are also being challenged by Mario DeFalco and Marie L. Terabasso.South Brooklyn Assemblyman Michael Pesce and District Leaders Salvatore Ferraioli and Eileen Dugan in the 52nd A.D. are running unopposed.Flatbush Avenue%u2019s Carlton Theater, undergoing conversion into a church.Carlton Theatre Conversion Gives Hope to Flatbush AvenueBY DAVID HABERSTREITIn the past few weeks, construction crews have been busily working on the old Carlton Theater, converting it to a church. This is, hopefully, a major step in the revitalization of Flatbush Avenue between Bergen Street and Grand Army Plaza%u2014 %u2018 %u2018The Gateway to Brooklyn. %u2019 %u2019The theater, considered in its present, vacant state a detriment to the community by many people, closed almost a year ago. Last March, the Brooklyn Gospel Tabernacles Church bought the structure and now is putting %u201c a great deal of effort%u201d toward making the building %u201c as attractive as possible.%u201d The Church%u2019s minister, Reverend James Cymbala, said that the success in attracting businesses to the rest of the area is largely dependent on the church, and he is taking that responsibility seriously.Cymbala describes the renovattion of the theater as %u201c top to bottom,%u201d with %u201c roughly $500,000%u201d slated to be spent on the conversion. Work will include rebricking, recarpeting, and installation of stained glass.In addition to the theater, the church bought three adjacent storefronts%u2014formerly a record store, a used furniture store, and a used refrigerator store%u2014and will put in a classroom, a nursery, and church offices in those spaces.Cymbala feels optimistic about the church, which is scheduled to open in late September, not only from the viewpoint of the congregation, but from the neighborhood as well, %u2018i t %u2019ll be the prettiest thing on Flatbush Avenue, hands down,%u201d he declares. He added that the church hopes to supply community services, including a day-care center.Although the renovation of the Carlton is seen by both Cymbala and others as a great boost to the revitalization of Flatbush Avenue, the stores next to the Carlton between Seventh Avenue and Prospect Place remain vacant.The stores near the comer of Seventh Avenue were the site of a fire about a year ago and the owner, Lim-Con Enterprises, is now trying to resote them to useable condition. Although a sign currently advertises business space ready for occupancy by September of 1978, the management acknowledges that the space won%u2019t be ready by that time, or even soon after that.The other buildings on the block near Prospect Place are also owned by a private real estate company. The chances for quick improvement and occupancy there have been improved by the involvement of Brooklyn Union Gas%u2019 %u201c Cinderella%u201d project. The prospect for aid in renovation %u00abf the corner storefront will be a strong inducement for merchants to take the space.%u201cCinderella%u201d is planning to help the improvement of Flatbush Avenue in some places, although it is not embarking on a specific or massive renovation project, as it has in other areas of the city. Fred Ryder, director of the project, sees its function on Flatbush Avenue as %u201c patching up in some places. %u2019%u2019All in all, there is cause for optimism in the Flatbush Avenue area. It is generally agreed that there has been great improvement in the past ten years, and with the church%u2019s takeover of the Carlton, and other developments%u2014including the possible opening of a restaurant at Eighth Avenue on the site of the former Michel%u2019s Restaurant and the beautification of successful businesses in the area%u2014it seems likely that the improvement will continue.Newsbriefs:Landmarks MovesOn Ferry BuildingsThe Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) finally resolved last Friday, July 28, several points of contention with developers who plan to convert two Fulton Ferry buildings into multiple dwellings.The Commission voted in executive session to accept architect Bernard Rothzeid%u2019s latest fenestration plan for the Eagle Warehouse, located at the foot of Fulton Street on the Brooklyn waterfront and slated for conversion into residential lofts. Rothzeid and the Commission members had debated for months over suitable guidelines governing the size, pattern and style of windows that will be installed in the solid western wall of the massive structure.The rest of the conversion plan had been awarded a Certificate of Appropriateness by the commission during its June 27 hearing. Developer Ben Fishbein must still return to the commission with detailedplans for converting the existing truck bays into store space as soon as he obtains prospective commercial tenants.The LPC also approved a zoning change request that will permit developers Edwin and Eva Santer to convert the former 3-story concrete horse stable at 7 Everit Street into 7 rental units. The commission postponed a decision at the June 27 hearing after requesting more information on the intended use for portions of the lot left unoccupied by the dwelling and a planned private garden and parking lot.BAM Gets Grant ToMake ImprovementsThe Brooklyn Academy of Music has been given a *J.o million gram for major restoration and renovation work. The project has been made possible through a $3 million federal Public Works Grant with improvement grants from the City and from private foundations.The work, supervised by the Academy%u2019s architects, Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, and the New York City Dept, of General Services, will include three phases, the first phase of which will be completed this fall. The first phase calls for renovation of the dressing rooms; improved ventilation and circulation systems in the Opera House and the Playhouse; painting and renovation of the main lobby area with new lighting features; rehabilitation of the elevators ih the main lobby; addition of restroom facilities for the handicapped; and the renovation of the public lavatories in the Opera House.The second and third phases of the project, which will continue through August 1979, include the building of two additional floors which will be added to the St. Felix Street side of the building. TheseIIOOrS W ill U*C u a c u iu i a u i i i u .-istrative offices and rehearsal space. Plans also include a computerized lighting control system for the Opera House and the Playhouse; construction of a general access ramp for the physically disabled and handicapped; improvement of the building%u2019s exteriors; and repavement of the parking lot.Boro Bus Goes toBoard of EstimateThe New York City Transit Authority has approved the proposed B51 Brooklyn-Manhattan bus route and recommended a plan for the new interborough surface link to the Board of Estimate for approval.Councilman Abraham Gerges, who has been instrum ental in securing the service, announced the Transit Authority decision earlier this week, noting that Planning Board and Board of Estimate approval must be secured before bus service can begin.Under the proposed cription drawn up by the Transit Authority, the bus will originate at the junction of Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues and proceed down Atlantic, turning right on Boerum Place, then left onto Joralemon St. before continuing along Cadman Plaza west to Tillary St., headingleft on Adams St. and right onto Sands St., where it will cross under the Manhattan Bridge ramp into Fort Greene as far east as Gold St. before circling around to the bridge via Tillary St. Once over the bridge, the bus will follow Canal St. before turning south onto Lafayette St. to Park Row' and Barclay St., continuing as far west as W. Broadway before turning south to Vescey St. for the final stop at the World Trade Center. The return trip will follow a similar route, with short adjustments necessitated by one-way streets.In describing the heavy volume of commuter traffic between the downtown Brooklyn area and the City Hall municipal area and World Trade Center in lower Manhattan, the Transit Authority recommendation maintains that the new bus route will establish a %u201c direct surface link%u2019 %u2019 to %u2018%u2018facilitate travel for many persons who will not, or cannot, avail themselves of the rapid transit connections between the two areas.%u201d %u2014I.L.Page 18, TH E PMObNiX, August 3, i97oI