Page 136 - Demo
P. 136
Page Eight, PHOENIXLETTERS: CarrollCardens Insulted byCiurman%u2019s RemarksBaruch for BrooklynEver since he was appointed to fill the unexpired councilmanic term of Leonard Scholnick January 1, Fred Richmond has been working his public relations staff overtime. A week doesn%u2019t get by that we don't get several press releases emanating from Richmond%u2019s office. Most have been pure puff, and, we suspect, designed only to make Fred Richmond the latest household word.This week, however, we were pleasantly surprised by a release which announced Councilman Richmond's intentions to block all of the City University%u2019s capital and expense appropriations until CUNY officials decide to relocate Baruch College in Brooklyn.The relocation of Baruch College in the Atlantic Terminal Redevelopment Area is the shot in the arm that Downtown Brooklyn needs. As a member of the City Council Finance Committee, Fred Richmond is in a good position to make good on his promise to use the council's power of the purse strings to force Baruch into Downtown Brooklyn. We hope he sticks to his guns.Baruch committed itself to relocating in the Atlantic Terminal area back in 1967 and was originally offered a site over the railroad tracks. Later, the college rejected this offer, saying that construction costs would involve an additional $27 million to deck the area. Ever since, Baruch has been casting a greedy eye in the direction of lower Manhattan.Recently there have been attempts to woo Baruch back to Brooklyn. Borough President Sebastian Leone reopened the issue at a Board of Estimate hearing in January. Several city agencies followed suit. The college is now being offered 10 acres of solid terra firma east of the Long Island Railroad Terminal which is cleared and ready for construction.By promising that %u201cnot one book, faculty salary, one new building, not even one basketball will be allocated by the (city) Finance Panel until Baruch officials decide to relocate at the Atlantic Terminal,\political clout.To the Editor:In your March 8 issue, a letter from Parks Commissioner Richard Clurman stated part: %u201cCarroll Park should be more than a point for public debate. It is an important local resource. PRCA has devoted a great deal of time and effort to making improvements here; repairing the building, cleaning the monument, replacing paving stones, etc., only to have vandals negate our efforts. What we need is a commitment from the community to match ours.%u201dFor a former newsman, Mr. Clurman does not check his information. I suggest he do a little homework on his allegations:1. Repairing the building: The lights, plumbing, doors and windows have been repaired. They are today as they were when finished by PRCA, except one metal door that has some initials carved in the paint. The floor and boiler have not been touched, nor were the boiler or floor ever vandalized%u2014just neglected by PRCA.2. The monument was cleaned by PRCA and is as it was when PRCA left.3. The paving stones around one tree in the block-square park were replaced by the local park crew, and were cemented into place three weeks ago. That took four years to accomplish and only 30 Belgium blocks were involved.C a rro ll Park4. Community commitment: Irefer Mr. Clurman to a letter 1 wrote to Recreation Commissioner Joseph Davidson on Feb. 15 in which I offered full support in all activities at Carroll Park, including fund-raising. I can%u2019t imagine what more community input Mr. Clurman could want.A sampling of community opinion to Ciurman%u2019s letter brought forth cries of foul from members of the Carroll Gardens community. Statements ranged from hot to hotter. Had Clurman visited Carroll Park when school was in session%u2014rather than at 4 p.m. on arainy day%u2014he would have seen community commitment. I have answered his letter and disproved his accusations. Being in a position to say yes or no is not the question. PRCA said yes to us in November, said we were to have a floor and a toiler installed. PRCA said yes, but we are still waiting.Action is what we need; not rhetoric. Carroll Gardens is due an apology.Sincerely Anne FaulknerPresident, Carroll Park Pre School MothersClip & Mail This Couponto The PHOENIXLet Us Hear AboutLocal Park ProblemsLocationNature of ProblemYour NameYour PhoneI Want toAdopt a Parkk i %u2014 ____n u m eAddress Ph on e__Adopt-A-ParkLocal Parks Desperately NeedYour Tender, Loving CareiAre you familiar with a park in your area, large or small, that needs some attention and care? Would you like to see that park made into a safe, pleasant, well maintained recreational spot? If you are concerned about the parks in your neighborhood, then the Adopt-A-Park program recently initiated by the Parks Department should interest you.Adopt-A-Park is a practical outgrowth of Parks Commissioner Richard Clurman's recent call for greater community participation in the maintenance of city parks. Locally, the Mayor%u2019s Urban Task Force, under the direction of Commissioner Sam Azadian, has been boosting the program and holding meetings to obtain volunteers.The responsibilities of the volunteers have not been specifically defined, as yet, but basically community people will act as advocates who will make sure park problems are identified and brought to the attention of the Parks Department and that complaints are followed up and acted upon.The following is a list of parks located throughout tne Pm uEn ia coverage area, it you are interested in \form on this page and return it tc me PHOENIX. Anyone desiring further information can contact Commissioner Azadian%u2019s office at 566-6054.g 1. Borough Hall Park: Joralemon, Court andM a il to PHOENIX, 130 C linton St. B rooklyn 112011 2. S. Parkes Cadman Park: Fulton and Tillarv Sts3. Carroll Park: President, Carroll, Court and Smith Sts.4. Cobbie Hili Park: Clinton, Congress andVerandah PI.5. Edward Robinson Squibb: Columbia Heights, South East of Middagh St.6. Fort Greene: DeKaib and Myrtle Ave.,Washington Park, Willoughby Ave., and St. Edwards St.7. Fort Stirling: Columbia Hgts., Clark to Furman St.8. Unnamed: Atlantic Ave, Furman St, Joralemon St, Columbia PI, and State St.9. Unnamed: Middagh St. and Columbia Hgts.10. Pierrepont Park: Furman St. to Pierrepont PI bet. Montague and Pierrepont.11. Red Hook (Coffey) Park: Richards, Verona Dwight, and Pioneer Sts.12. Red Hook Recreational Area: Foot of Henry St on Gowanus Bay.13. Van Voorhees: Hicks to Columbia StCongress to Pacific St.14. Wait Wnitman Park: Washington, Tillary and Adams Sts.15. Unnamed: Schermerhorn at State and NevinsSts.16. Unnafned: Neviris, bet. Douglas and Degrawo lS .17. Unnamed: Union, bet. Columbia and Van Brunt Sts.18. Unnamed: 200 Bergen St!B1I1IIIIIiI81IIIIIIIiII%u00a7IiIi

