Page 116 - Demo

EditorialsTo Bad It%u2019s Not HotterSummer is a pretty slow season here in the Big Apple and so itprobably shouldn%u2019t come as a surprise that this summer is noexception. But politically speaking, things should be hopping, andthey%u2019re not. That this comes as no surprise is sad.The September 12 primary election (when most things in theseparts are decided) is only a month away, but you%u2019d be hard pressedto know that by looking around. W hat%u2019s %u201c happening%u201d isavigorouswaging of non-campaigns.The primary date has long served as a political plaything:seldom does an election year pass that the old debate overspring/fall primaries isn%u2019t brought up and bantied around. Thespring date gave way to fall several years ago and has remained ineffect since; unfortunately, that leaves barely two months for thewaging of %u2018 %u2018real %u2019 %u2019 campaigns.Trouble is, here in the Big Apple, the primary campaigns are thereal campaigns%u2014or ought to be. Under this sysieiu iiiey are not.Locally, the potentially hottest campaign is in the 14thCongressional District, where Bernard Gifford is challengingincumbent Fred Richmond. Neither of them seems to be saying ordoing anything, and few voters are paying attention anyway. It%u2019sperhaps understandable for an incumbent to lay low, but at thispoint the voters haven%u2019t had much opportunity to know who orwhat they might be voting for%u2014or against.The Richmond-Gifford %u201c race%u201d could and should be one of themore interesting, but it%u2019s merely one among many at fault. Maybethe voters are too hot to care; maybe they%u2019re all away at the beach;maybe the politicos are there, too. All good reasons for putting theprimaries back where they belong, at a time when weather andcircumstances invite issues and answers, not doldrums.Sound OffMoral CommitmentIt is difficult to ignore the recent attacks on Congressman Fred Richmond by Ben Tenzer and Jim Masters in PHOENIX %u2018%u2018Sound Off\everything is fair in politics, there are standards of conduct that transcend the political squabbles of the day. I have no real understanding of the history of Richmond%u2019s and the WBID%u2019s struggles, nor do 1 think they are important in the coming election. What strikes the fair minded citizen is that there is NOT THE SLIGHTEST criticism of the role that Richmond has played in Congress and the laws that he voted for and against%u2014and the legislation he supported.We all who have lived in this Congressional District KNOW the dynamic leadership that Congressman Richmond has given to the entire community, and many of us respect the man for his constant concern for the interest of all the people who live in his district. Why anyone would attack the character of the man as Tenzer and Masters have both done while politically understandable, is a form of yellow journalism, masquerading as letters to the Editor or as invited columnists. The character of a man is many things, and the character of Congressman Richmond cannot be stigmatized by throwing every aspect of his character out of the window and riveting the public%u2019s attention on one unfortunate happenstance.Congressman Richmond has shown a consistent courage in public office and a real integrity as a member of Congress. The Congressman has shown concern for the poor, the wretched%u2014for all those in need. Congressman Richmond is an individual of high moral commitment as shown in the totality of his career as public servant. It is un ortunate that Tenzer directly and Master obliquely assault the man for having a flaw and not being perfect.What great things are there to be said for Bernard Gifford? Let%u2019s ignore that he has been close to the Nixon group. But can we not face the fact that the Rand Corporation is the think-tank of corporate big business. Should we not also face the fact that the Russell Sage Foundation (in spite of some good work now and then) is the hand maiden of established interests and power. When has Bernard Gifford ever fought with and identified himself with the Black and Hispanic masses in this city? No matter how one might dress up his performance as Deputy Chancellor of the Board of Education, his accomplishments are insignificant and in no way made a real contribution to the education of the children of New York City. Does not his accepting the support of Hasidic Rabbi Chaim Stauber demonstrate an agressive opportunism%u2014given the recent developments in Crown Heights?The voters of the 14th Congressional District whether they are Black, Hispanic or White will judge the WHOLE MAN, and they will support Congressman Richmond because he has demonstrated compassion, understanding, and a commitment to their needs, the voters will not oe rauroaaeo into ignoring the admirable performance of Congressman in Washington or in the Community. 1 know that it is easy to criticize a human being. All of us have our weaknesses, and most of us have made m o^^inJih^Jife^ha^^^jir^jT O tproudPage 4, THE PHOENIX, August 10,1!Feedback from Readersabout and keep all knowledge about them from other people.I think we should all ponder the passage from St. John: \asking him, He lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone...%u201d %u2014Jesse A. Pavis, Clark Street.Found: Roebling Statue1 have just belatedly read your special edition of May 25 \95,%u201d which notes that there is no statue in Brooklyn to John Roebling, who planned the bridge, or Col. Washington Roebling, his son, who built it. In 1972, approaching the 90th anniversary (1973) of the bridge, the Society of Old Brooklynites (chartered in 1880) looked around for some way to mark the event. This was a year before David McCullough%u2019s book %u201cThe Great Bridge.%u201dIn preparing a talk before the Society on %u201c How They Built The Brooklyn Bridge%u201d I could find in Brooklyn itself, no plaque, no painting, no photo, no bust, no statue of Col. Washington Roebling, the young engineer who actually built the bridge. The Society appointed a committee of five to try to create a monument.We raised a fund and in 1973 erected a seven-foot marble monument on the lawn of the Supreme Court Building, to the right of the steps leading into the court building. On it is a 30%u201d x 24%u201d bronze bas relief, with a sculpture of the Colonel, adapted from a photo we found later in the McCullough book. There is stands, a modest compliment to the little Colonel. How did L.J. Davis who wrote the lead article, ever miss it?%u2014Jos. B. Milgram, Program Director, Society of Old Brooklynites.Brooklyn Born and BredI read the PHOENIX every issue kiver-to-kiver and wouldn%u2019t be able to do without it. How else would I know what is REALLY going on in Brooklyn?I particularly enjoyed the July 27 issue because of L.F. Davis%u2019 wry allusion to %u201c a writers%u2019 conference in a department store.%u201d It brought back some very pleasant memories of a first class event which he organized for (as a matter of fact!) Abraham & Straus. The idea and most of the initiative was all his and its consequent success was due to his ability to enlist as participants an admirable slate of Brooklyn born and/or based writers of the ilk of Jimmy Breslin, Frank Conroy, Joe Flaherty, Pete Hamill and Davis himself. Despite that rather absurd locale (behind the toy department with merchandise wheelers gently gliding to and fro), it came off splendidly. The \L.J. referred to so modestly included a New York State Award from the New York State Council on the Arts.It was all great fun though I truthfully don%u2019t recall the parochial school crowd. What I do remember is the literary cocktail party which was held in the executive board room.. In anticipation of satisfying our distinguished guests%u2019 thirst-require ments we had grandly ordered a case of excellent bourbon. Imagine our chagrin when the guest in question asked for ginger ale, of which we had not one bottle! I envy any crowd of literati that has L.J. as its conference-aegis. I think he could even carry off a successful literary top summit in a swimming pool!%u2014Jane Staropoli, Grace Q)urtTerrible, TerribleA word on that $140,000 monstrosity across from the LIRR Terminal: Terrible, terrible. How anyone could approve plans for something as gross as that thing is, is beyond my imagination. It offends my eyes every time I have to pass it. And think of the money spent to put it up. It could have gone toward renovations of some of the housing in the neighborhood and lowmoderate income could be living among the area.But NO...that thing had to be built. Who are the guilty parties that approved such a thing? Let%u2019s make sure they are removed from office at the next elections for whatever office they hold.%u2014Lew Smith, Berkeley Place%u201cArchitectural Gem%u201dNow that the great architectural gem of a hot dog stand at Atlantic & Flatbush Avenues across from the LIRR terminal has been finished, I feel it is only proper that an me politicians, and those other illustrious people who helped this project along, have the honor to have their names along with that of the architect engraved on a permanent plaque and placed on a permanent ictuiu un uiia structure. Maybe then an awakened citizenry will prevent boon doggies such as this from being constructed in the future.1 hope none of those responsible for this monstrosity have anything to do with the FultonStreetMallJhVba^up an intersection; I shudder to think of what they could do with several blocks. %u2014Bob Grana, B.A.M. Triangle, Ft. Greene PlaceRegrettable EventThe abrupt dismissal of Dr. Joseph Palisi from the post of Borough Historian by the Borough President is a most regrettable event. Borough Historians by tradition, serve in this non-salaried post for many years. (The U.S. Supreme Court owes its strength and position to the fact that the Justices serve for life.) Like vintage wines, certain positions are best served by longevity.The historians of other boroughs have served and brought honor to their communities and helped maintain the precedent of long tenures. James Kelly, the distinguished predecessor of Dr. Palisi served our borough for over 30 years. Dr. JdSeph Palisi, in the five years since his appointment, has focused the attentions of the world on our borough. During the Bi-centennial many nations, notably Spain, Italy and Holland, focused unusual attention on our Borough by their participation via diplomatic representation to honor the Martyrs at the Fort Greene monument. Motions have been set to make Fort Greene Park and its magnificent monument the national and international shrine of the war for independence.Their majesties King Juart Carlos and Queen Sophia of Spain appeared at the martyrs monument to honor the Spanish martyrs on June 6, 1976%u2014all through the untiring efforts of Dr. Palisi. Dr. Palisi labored on many a Sunday at his dual chores of chairman of the Brnnklvn Bi-Centennial Commission and Boro Historian. (Perhaps our Borough President whose office is closed weekends was not aware that Dr. Palisi in his efforts to serve our Borough never had the leisure time enjoyed by most.)There may be other reasons for this curt dismissal. The assistant Borough Historian Mr. Eric Ierardi, who gained prominence as the Gravesend Historian, is challenging the regular Democratic party machine backed candidate, in Gravesend for the state Senate seat formerly held by Mr. Lewis. Perhaps this is a source of irritation to some resulting in the dismissal of the Borough Historian. The post of Borough Historian is not a political post%u2014but rather one uniting the many communities of Brooklyn and awakening people to its distinguished heritage. This Joe Palisi has done to the fullest. Politics never tarnished the office.To cast out a human being (in the finest sense of the word) of the unselfish character of Dr. Joseph Palisi, from a position that he has filled so brilliantly is not only to destroy the historical precedent and tradition, but it has arbitrarily plucked from the office an individual of the highest caliber and integrity. One fears that much of the work begun by Dr. Palisi may not bear fruition because it has been stopped in mid-stream.All those who value individuals of rare 2nd outstanding c a i n t o n*.Joseph Palisi! We wish the new Borough Historian well, who ever he or she may be; but the shoes of Joe Palisi will not be difficult to fill, and the paths he blazed will hopefully not be covered with weeds. %u2014Nino Pantano, President Street