Page 271 - Demo

Prim ary Day Primer %u2022 Prim ary Day Primer %u2022 Prim ary Day Primer e Prim ary Day Primer e Prim aryS p e a k G u t O n th e issu e sdeciding how it could be used.Alexis MirandaI am a community activist that has lived in the 57 assembly district for the past 20 years. As a resident of Williamsburg, I have fought to renovate more than 20 buildings, creating over 210 units of new housing, while at the same time 300 new jobs were made available. These are some of the projects that our present assemblyman has failed to bring in our community and through my efforts all the jobs and housing have been created.I have worked to create a better police protection for our senior citizens by obtaining $247,000, from the federal grant to educate private citizens so they can escort senior citizens and create a better and safe life for them.I have never been elected to public office but am one of our greatest advocates of human rights. I have fought for the people in the 57 assembly district, and ask you to give me your vote so that I can continue the work that I have done for the people of the 57 assembly district.I have received the endorsement of numerous tenants associations as well as civil organizations.I am running against the incumbent assemblyman because he believes that the time has come for a more aggressive and committed leadership. I have been disappointed with the present assemblyman performance. This is no time for lukewarm uninspired leadership; like other concerned citizens I have %u201crun out%u201d of patience. That is why I should be elected our next assemblyman to represent our district.Also Running:Harvey Strelzin56th A.D.:AS VannCandidates running for public office in the Central Brooklyn area, are in their final leg of what has proven to be a hotly contested campaign.In the 56th A.D., the incumbent assemblyman Albert Vann, is running a smooth and effective campaign because of an excellent organization. It is also probably the second most closely watched campaign behind the Richmond-Gifford race.In a recent article published by the Daily Challenge, Carl Butler attacked Assemblyman Vann claiming that he was incompetent and negligent for allowing model cities and other community action programs to be eliminated or cut back. Vann responded with a series of blows calling the district leader inept, and totally ignorant of the political process saying that Butler as district leader, and the person principally responsible for city services coming into the district, should not have allowed those services to be curtailed or eliminated. Vann said that while as the assemblyman in Albany, he and his staff have had to assume many of the responsibilities of the district leader.The real race in the 56th A.D. is for the district leadership between Vann and Butler. Two weeks ago, Butler recommended that the polling site which had been situated at the Marcy Houses for 15 years, be moved into the 59th A.D. Butler had labeled the polling site as %u2018undesirable.%u2019 Vann charged that Butler knew that the Marcy Houses were pro Vann in all the past elections, and by having the polling site shifted, it would discourage voters from participating in the electoral process.It is expected that Vann will win easily over Calvin Williams who while in office, was convicted of perjury, and has had a rather unimpressive record as a state legislator.Constituents beam when Vann comes into their neighborhood. Youngsters rally around him as if he were Muhammad Ali or O.J. Simpson. He is considered one of New York State%u2019s most effective and industrious Black legislators who has built a reputation in his four years as an astute politician, a man of unquestionable integrity, a fighter, and the lea.'.ing proponent for community empowermen.Also Running:Calvin Williams41st A.D.:M urrary W einsteinThere%u2019s still an assembly race in the 41st A.D., %u2022 although the pow erful Steingut political machine thought it knocked off its opposition in the Assembly race in that district. As a lawyer, political reformer, community activist, and now, challenger to Assemblyman Stanley Steingut, whose lawyers attempted to make the September 12th Democratic Primary a one-man contest as has been the custom in the 41st A.D. for the last 16 years, I have stepped in.Within one hour of the Court of Appeals refusal on August 30 to hear the case pertaining to the disqualification of my daughter, Helene Weinstein, from the primary ballot because of a questionable ruling by the lower courts on a residency issue, I announced my candidacy as part of the New Way Democratic Club%u2019s %u201canti-Steingut%u201d campaign I am joining New Way State Committee candidates Carl Garritani and Sandy Silverman on the Primary ballot. I would like to reiterate the New Way Club%u2019s campaign slogan, i t %u2019s time for a change.%u2019The residents of the 41st A.D. have been had for the last quarter century. The man who has been repeatedly elected to serve them in Albany has clearly neglected his constituents while increasing his power base and persona! wealth. Stanley Steingut is a perfect example of the use, misuse and abuse of power that has been part of the Brooklyn political machine for too long.It was Steingut who told Andrew Stein not to investigate Bernard Bergman then later told Congressional investigators that he couldn%u2019t recall the conversation. I have been serving the community in many unheralded roles for years, including elected member of Community SchoolBoard 18 from 1970-73; President of Political Action for Choice and Change, a nonpartisan group that supports political reform candidates regardless of party affiliation; founder and member of the Canarsie Beach Cultural and Civic Center; Founder and President of Temple Shaare Emeth; Past President of Redwood Civic Association; former vice-president and 12-year member of Community Planning Board 17; Recipient of the 1974 Israel Independence Day award; Board of Directors of Brooklyn Women%u2019s Hospital; and Graduate of Stuyvesant High School, Brooklyn College and Harvard Law School.Stanley SteingutCity Council President Carol Bellamy campaigned with me in the 41st district recently. A young woman approached us and asked Carol what brought her to East Flatbush. %u201cI think it%u2019s important that the people of this district return Stanley Steingut to Albany,%u201d she said. %u201cI care about him because he cares about you.%u201d It was a proud moment for me.Caring is what this Primary election is all about. Caring brings people together. It overcomes obstacles. It solves problems. We in the 41st have been able to accomplish much because we care about each other and the future. Together we%u2019ve secured: funds to revitalize the Avenue D shopping area; pilot Pre-Kindergarten programs for P.S. 119, 198 & 251; new classroom wings for 119 & 198; upgrading of athletic facilities at Tilden, Midwood and Brooklyn College; funds for the Amersfort Park project; improvements at Glenwood House; and the State%u2019s first local office to enforce antiblockbusting laws.Each of these program s originated with some local resident who cared %u2014 cared enough to bring a problem or an idea to the director of my district office, Pearl Anish.Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of public life for me has been the rate of success we%u2019ve had with ideas. My investment of many years in the Legislature has paid dividends for our district. My experience has benefitteo my constituents. And my election to the Speakership has meant increased power and influence for all the residents of the 41st. Their support on September 12th will enable us to confront other serious problems.51st A.D.:Joseph FerrisPolitical life is a commitment - to the people you represent that you will be accessible when they need assistance; to the community that you will fight to preserve, develop and improve it; and to your own ideals, that they may become reality.As an Assemblyman from the 51 A.D. fui llit; pool iour years, I have struggled to fulfill these commitments. I have been a full - time Assemblyman with two offices in the District. Our offices have serviced more than 4,000 individual requests for assistance. We will continue to provide this presence and service to the neighborhoods.Despite being in Albany much of the year, I walk through the communities in the Assembly District - Windsor Terrace, Park Slope, Kensington, Borough Park, Sunset Park - in an effort to learn its strengths and weaknesses so appropriate legislation can remedy its ills. That is why I have fought so hard and long against redlining, for redevelopment of the Brooklyn Waterfront, against suburban shopping malls which ruin the economic life of the backbone of the neighborhoods - the %u201cMom and Pop\It is often politically harmful to disregard the facile, simplistic approach for the more complex, yet effective solution. But one must remain true to his ideals. Our streets must be made safe, but through effective legislation, not hysteria. City services must be improved and that isn%u2019t done through laying off firemen.We have made gains, but fighting powerful interests is difficult and costly. I have tried to provide an independent voice in the Legislature and the measure of my success is how hard these interests are struggling to defeat me with one who will go along.The commitments I have made are not completed and that is why I need your vote in the Democratic primary on September 12.Aiso Running:Beatrice DeSapio44th A.D.:Melvin MillerI have served as your Assemblyman for eight years and have been called an %u201c outstanding lawmaker,%u201d by the New York Times. For two years I was Chairman of the Assembly Election Law Committee where I sponsored key legislation which permitted voter registration by mail and legislation which identifies delegates to the National Convention.I am a ranking member of the Assembly Banking and Insurance Committees, and I am in the forefront of the fight against redlining.I have supported the Governor%u2019s 1978 Anti-Crime Package, which I believe is the fairest and most comprehensive anti-crime bill in memory. It is tough, yet I believe a vital step in our effort to combat crime and make streets safe.In my district office, available to you, is information regarding voter registration, senior citizen cards, and most of all people who care to listen and help. In the past few months, we have assisted people in their filing of welfare and social security applications, and have acted as liaison to local police precincts in calling to their attention problems within our community, and we have also secured street lights and crosswalks on dangerous intersections. Further, 1 have a staff specialist who handles studentr i n x n ^ i M ------- L I -------- ------ I. . %u00bb l------ ** . . . . u u v n u i u iw p i v / u i v i l l d , n n w il lV I 11be a problem in completing an application or a delay in receiving ones award.I am committed to fighting to build this community, to preserve what we have, and to rebuild those areas in trouble. The prevention of the practice ofredlining, efficient and permanent solutions of local problems by my community office, and assuring good education to our children are all ways that I am working to build a better Brooklyn.Also Running:M arty Ipkin53rd A.D.:Woodrow LewisI am Brooklyn born and have served as a community leader and activist for years. I was first elected to the State Assembly in 1972, and am considered one of the most hard working legislators in Albany with a perfect six-year attendance record. 1 have been cited by the Citizens%u2019 Union and the American Civil Liberties Union for my outstanding voting record.Currently, 1 serve as chairman of the Assembly Election Law Committee; 1 have been a member for six years of the powerful Codes Com m ittee and the Judiciary and Social Services Committee.I have a broad community based support and have consistently won re-election irrespective of the changing district leadership alignments in the 53rd Assembly District.I recently sponsored the Nostrand Avenue Community Commerce Association $225,000 pilot project for community redevelopment and intend to extend it to other parts of the distret in 1979. I have brought $1,000,000 State funding programs into the district since 1976 and have maintained a full time community office since 1973.Many of my bills have passed both houses in Albany and are now law. I seek re-election on this legislative and community record.Also Running:Marlon Jeffries15th C.D.:Vito BattistaI have been leading the %u201ctax revolt\for twenty-five years. Back in the early 1950%u2019s I organized the United Taxpayer%u2019s Association, and led the fight for lower taxes ever since. Under state law, New York can%u2019t get a Proposition 13 on the ballot, but we can vote the tax-consuming politicians out of office.We can%u2019t let the politicians set the priorities for tax cuts. They%u2019ll only close libraries and take milk away from school kids. They don%u2019t care.\My platform includes an eventual phasing-out of the 8 percent Sales Tax (a 2 percent cut for four years to eliminate it). End the free rides. The Port Authority should be paying $100 million a year in real estate tnveo r%u00bbn %u00ab-v.~ - %u2014 %u00ab%u2022%u00bb*< v %u00bbv mtowers, as well as taxes on any industrial parks they build.Underassessed real estate means hundreds of millions of dollars in losses each year for New York City. Lawyers get lower assessments for clients who happen to contribute to political campaigns.September 7,1978, THE PHOENIX, Page 17