Page 564 - Demo

Turnout Of 65% Seen in T uesday ElectionBY PETER HALEYWith only a handful of seats in any jeopardy, an estimated 530,000 voters go to the polls in p re d o m in a n tly D em o cra tic Brooklyn next Tuesday to help select a governor, decide the fate of Assembly Speaker Stanley Steingut, and pick a successor to retiring state Senator William Conklin.Although the entire Brooklyn Congressional delegation is on the ballot, along with contestants for every seat in the state legislature and dozens of lucrativejudgeships, most outcomes were predetermined during Democratic voting in the September primary.The exceptions, including Steingut%u2019s efforts on the Liberal line to reverse a primary defeat by political newcomer Murray Weinstein, are expected to draw approximately 65 per cent of the borough%u2019s registered voters to the polls, which are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Public schools, libraries, municipal and state agencies will be closed. Banks and federal offices are open, and commuter trains will run on normal weekday schedules.Interest statewide is focused on the gubernatorial race between Democratic incumbent Hugh Carey and his Republican challenger, Long Island lobster farmer Perry Duryea. Following a rigorous schedule of debates and a fusillade of changes, Carey is given a slight edge in most polls based on predications of a sizeable city vote.None of the Brooklyn Congressional races are races in the real sense of the word. The closest thing to a contest is Republican Robert Whelan%u2019s challenge to incumbent Rep. Leo Zeferetti in the 15th Congressional District (Bay Ridge, Park Slope.) The Park Slope portion of the district traditionally votes Republican in local races, despite a large number of registered Democrats.Most Democratic nominees for state Assembly and the state Senate are assured of election. But in Canarsie-East Flatbush, the outcome of the 41st Assembly District race between Weinstein, the Democratic nominee, and Steingut, the Democratic speaker, is far from certain.Steingut%u2019s loss to Weinstein in the Democratic primary was by 700 votes, a margin too small to give Weinstein a comfortable edge in the event of a large turnout. Weinstein, however, has the advantage of backing by the district%u2019s Democratic leadership,since pro-Weinstein forces wrenched the leadership positions from Steingut in the primary. Republican Frank Pinizze is not given much of a chance here.Throughout the bitter postprimary campaign, Steingui has taken his campaign door-to-door throughout the district. Repeated efforts to bring the contestants face-to-face in debate, however, failed until yesterday, when both agreed to a joint radio appearance. (Results were not available at Phoenix presstime.)The departure of longtime Republican state Senator William Conklin caught the Democratic organization in the Bay Ridge-Park Slope 21st Senatorial District flatfooted. Insurgent Park Slope attorney John Carroll beat the regular Democratic candidate in September and is now testing the depths of Republican power in the post-Conklin era. His opponent, Bay Ridge Assemblyman Chris Mega, has united feuding Republican factors and is generally considered to have taken popular positions on the death penalty (pro) and abortion (anti).Republicans expect to cover Mega%u2019s position in the 50th Assembly District with Florence Sullivan, an assistant district attorney, running on a law and order platform against Democratic nominee Sal Albanese. If he should win, Albanese would be the first Democrat elected from that district in more than 30 years.One race that has escaped media attention is the rerun of the Democratic primary in the Williamsburg-Bushwick 59th AD. Victor Robles, an aide to Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm squeeked by Democratic Assemblyman Peter Mirto in September but the Supreme Court has ordered another election.In the subsequent October 26 primary, Robles won again. Robles is now the Democratic nominee and faces Republican Miguel Gonzales and%u2014yes%u2014Mirto, who this time isthe Liberal Party candidate.Incumbent Assemblyman Harvey Strelzin may have no trouble regaining his 57th A.D. seat, although he lost the Citizen%u2019s Union endorsement. In an upset of sorts the Union endorsed neither Strelzin nor his Liberal opponent, Virginia Apuzzo. Instead its endorsement went to Republican nominee Nat Hendricks, with the good government group saying that %u201cwhile admittedly not so experienced in legislative specifics as the incumbent, he demonstrates not only an understanding of local problems but also effectiveness in utilizing political pressure.%u201dCandidates in some of the races in Brooklyn:CONGRESS11th C.D.(Canarsie-Rockaways): James Scheuer (D-L),Kenneth Huhn (R-C).12th C.D. (Bedford-Stuyvesant): Shirley Chisholm (D-L), Charles Gibbs (R).13th C.D. (Sheepshead BayFlatbush): Steven Solarz (D-L), Max Carasso (R-C).14th C.D. (West Brooklyn): Frederick Richmond (D-L), Arthur Bramwell (R), Ralph Carrano (C), Sharon Grant (Socialist Workers Party).15th C.D.(Park Slope-Bay Ridge):Leo Zeferetti(D-C), Robert Whelan(R), Ronald Seminara(L).16th C.D.(Flatbush):Elizabeth Holtzman(D-L),Larry Penner(RUnited Taxpayers Party)John Fox(C).CITY COUNCIL26th CouncilDistrict (Brownsville-East New York, special election for seat vacated by Sam W rig h t)E n o c h W illiam s (D), Garfield Bobo(R)Maurice Reid(L).STATE SENATE18th S. D. (Greenpoint-Central Brooklyn): Thomas Bartosiewicz (D), Vincent Alukonis (R), Vivian W a d lin g to n (L).19th S.D. (Flatbush-BoroughPark):Martin Markowitz(D), Bruce Kogan(R), Lyle Silversmith (L).21st S.D. (Park Slope-Bay R id g e ):J o h n C a rro ll(D ), Christopher Mega (R-C), Leonard Forbes(L).23rd S.D. (Crown Heights-Gowanus-Fort Greene) V an d er B e a tty (D -L ), Roy Vanasco(R).25th S.D. (Downtown Brooklyn, Lower East Side):Martin Connor(D-L),Erasmus Napolitano (R),Mabel Marion(C).STATE ASSEMBLY41 A .D .(F la tb u s h -C ro w n Heights): Murray Weinstein(D), Frank Petrizzo(R-C)StanleySteingut(L).43rd A.D.(Flatbush):Rhoda Jacobs(D-L),MaryFitzgerald(R), Josephus Canonico(United Taxpayers Party).44th A.D.(Flatbush-Park Slope): Melvin Miller (D), Henry Gargano(R-C), Andrew Kent(L).45th A.D.(Flatbush) Charles Schumer(D-L),Joel Savit(R), Rose Jacobs (C).47th A.D.(Bensonhurst): Frank Barbaro(D-L), John Castaldo (R), Jo Ann Taormina (C).50th A.D. (Bay Ridge): Sal Albanese (D), Florence Sullivan (R-C51st A.D. (Park Slope): Joseph Ferris(D-L), Alice D%u2019Emic (R-C).52nd A.D. (Brooklyn HeightsSouth Brooklyn): Michael Pesce (D-L), Patrick Kenny (R-C).53rd A.D. (Prospect HeightsCrown Heights): Woodrow Lewis (D-L) Carlota Benet (R).56th A.D. (Williamsburg,Bedford Stuyvesant): Albert Vann (D-L), Calvin Williams (R).57th A.D. (Ft. GreeneGowanus): Harvey Strelzin (D), Nathaniel Hendricks (R), Virginia Apuzzo (L).58th A.D. (WilliamsburgGreenpoint): Joseph Lentol (D-C), Richard Marcellaro (R).59th A.D. (Bushwick): Victor Robles (D), Miguel Gonzale (R), Peter Mirto (L).Crown Heights Scoffs at Report on M iller%u2019scontinued from page 6financial citadels,%u201d and to lift its protest to %u201ca higher level.%u201d On that same day the Front plans a %u201cday of withdrawal from jobs, schools, shopping%u201d by blacks citywide with a mass rally planned for 7:30 p.m. at New York Community College, 300 Jay Street, Brooklyn. The BUF plans to continue its protest at the United Nations November 18.Daughtry said that the Miller grand jury decision was like that of Clifford Glover, Randy Evans, Ricky Boden, and Claude Reese, all teenagers and children slain by citypolicemen.%u201c We cannot say that we are terribly shocked by the jury%u2019s decision, there is nothing in the history of these juries to have inspired hope that it would be otherwise,%u201d said Daughtry. The police actions in the Miller case, insisted Daughtry, were not within the %u201c normal course of action,%u201d as described in the report, but were instead the product of police overreaction.In Crown Heights there was an almost universal lack of acceptance of the grand jury conclusion. Manyfelt as did the Reverend Clarence Norman, pastor of First Baptist hurch of Crown Heights, that the decision was not a surprise.%u201cThe result is precisely what I expected,%u201d said Norman, \what happens in all these cases, no one is ever punished for killing blacks.%u201dDr. Vernal Cave, Black United Front member and former Health and Hospials Corporation member, called exoneration of police in the Miller case a %u201c sad, terrible decision.%u201d%u201c Our only hope for relief in thisracist city, the %u201c new%u201d Old South, is for a federal government investigation,%u2019%u2019 said Cave who likened the decision to the Randy Evans murder case where Ronald Torsney, the police officer who slew Evans, was said to have been temporarily insane and was found not guilty of murder charges.Along the Nostrand Avenue commercial district large size photos of Miller are still in the windows of the various stores. Miller founded the Four-Star Block Association and was chairman of its board. Four-Star is a non-profitSchool Board 15 Seeks More TeachersCommunity School Board 15 has adopted three budget priorities for the 1979-1980 fiscal year seeking the hiring of new teachers in order to reduce class size to 25 pupils in all grades and expand services to junior high and kindergarten.The priorities, set by the board at its October 25 meeting, are based on responses from principals and Parent Associations to Superintendent Alfred Melov%u2019s budget %u201c dream sheet.%u201d The list, including eight other items, will be submitted to the Chancellor%u2019s office forDemos Elect NewBrooklyn Heights resident and lawyer Jeffrey L. Glatzer, has been elected chairman of the 52nd Assembly District County CommittAOThe 216-member committee voted him in October 26 for a two year term replacing Michelle Cangiano. Glatzer is vice-president of the executive committee of West Brooklyn Independent Democrats,possible inclusion in the final budget.The 11 items are part of the district%u2019s total S29.5 million budget and are not itemized separately. The district budget for the current fiscal year is $22 million.%u201cThere is nothing on our dream sheet which is not practical,%u201d said Melov. %u201c Sometimes dreams come to fruition. We%u2019ve submitted a request to reduce class size the last three years and now the new Chancellor has reduced the first grades to 25 pupils. Just how manyLeaderand was chairman of Assemblyman Micke Pesce%u2019s reelection committee.%u201c I hope to get this county committee to assume a leadership role in Democratic policies in the district,%u201d he said. %u201c Not only with positions on Democratic candidates and issues, but on all matters that concern the county.%u201dof our priorities are accepted will be a matter of money and the Chancellor%u2019s priorities.%u201dThe board%u2019s first priority is reduction of class size. Melov says the district will need about 150 additional teachers to accomodate the smaller class size. Twenty-six new first grade teachers were hired this year.Priority two calls for an improvement in the junior high school program, including an additional 40-50 remedial reading and mathematics teachers. %u201c Junior high is where problems come to a head, especially in the areas of reading and math. Children at this age really need close attention. We%u2019d Ike to enrich the atmosphere as much as possible through music, art, and science,%u201d Melov said.District staff is also planning a career education nmoram to introduce junior high students to various career possiblities within the area. %u201c We have a community which is perhaps unique in New York City,%u201d said Melov. %u201c We havemany vocations within it such as shipping, hospitals, various industries and the retail trades. We%u2019d like to explore the possibility of giving career guidance to students by involving them in activities in the area. We hope it will make them want to stay here.%u201dPriority three seeks to expand the district%u2019s present half day kindergarten program to full day program in every school and establish pre-kindergarten for fouryear-olds. The new programs would require 60 new teachers and possibly some para-professional staff.It was announced at the meeting that after-school activities will be held in all of the district%u2019s 25 schools starting December 7 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. for ages 6-11 and from 7-9:30 p.m. for ages 13-18. Starting in late November, the district will also sponsor a Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Read-a-Thon to encourage reading and raise money for the MS fund.%u2014M.D.Deathorganization aimed at revitalizing Crown Heights brownstone and apartment houses. The Four-Star headquarters, at 925 Prospect Place, is in the basement of a large apartment house where Miller lived and was superintendent. Miller was here on June 14 at 4:00 p.m. and left the office expecting to return for a 7 p.m. meeting. He never made it back and the CETA workers at Four Star are still embittered over his loss and the recent grand jury decision.%u201c It was just like it happened yesterday,%u201d said Fay, one of Four Star%u2019s workers,%u201d whose eyes began to fill with tears as she spoke. %u201cThere%u2019s no time to forget, it%u2019s still fresh in our minds. Not only was he someone who got jobs but he was a friend and a father to the people here.%u201dFour Star director Thelma Davis called the grand jury decision an \one.%u201c It was expected, everyone expected that decision,%u201d said Davis who read the DA%u2019s report while being interviewed. Davis took exception to the report%u2019s findings that Miller wasn%u2019t beaten and that police had acted in a controlled manner, saying that many witnesses had come to their office insisting the contrary, that police attacked Miller and that he had resisted only to defend himself. She felt that these w itnesses%u2019 testimony had been discounted by authorities and that the real purpose of the report was to quiet the Crown Heights community.But the Crown Heights community isn%u2019t likely to forget what Fay said was an %u201cobvious cover-up.%u201d%u201c Don%u2019t tell me that somebody got killed and nobody is responsible,%u201d she said.Page 8, THE PHOENIX, November 2,1978