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Page 8, May 3, 1973, PHOENIXOnly Pat Answers To Wrong QuestionsThe Scott Commission, that creature of the Governor's which was to have probed and poked into operations of City Government and hand down remedies for all the ills that seem to afflict only those of us who dwell in New York City, has ended its term with more of a fizzle than a bang.The results of its work seem to be a monumental waste of time, energy and money. For all the mini-sensations it produced in its early days, in the final analysis it did little more than stir up already muddy water.The Commission, officially titled the Temporary State Commission to Make a Study of the Governmental Operation of the City of New York, has come to the conclusion that the city%u2019s resources were no longer able to meet costs, and that therefore, major cutbacks in services and programs were the only alternative.Carried to its logical conclusion, the Scott Commission would have us believe that the only answer to rising costs of providing city services is to eliminate at least some of them and cut back others, without regard to whether or not these services would be continued or be paid for elsewhere.We have reached a point in the course of government that it isPetrified Forest???cmu.JDoo-CQ.XzLU01 Q.No it%u2019s not the petrified forest %u2014 not yet. Just more of the scene across the East River from the barren area north of Fulton Ferry. This once historical area represents the greatest hope of our downtown communities for public access to the Brooklyn waterfront. Acres of unused land are owned by Consolidated Edison Company and sit idle just north of the Brooklyn Bridge east tower. Other land is city-owned. The possibilities for a public park here are mind-boggling. Are we the only ones who believe it can happen? If you support the PHOENIX demand for some activity along this dormant shoreline to bring back the people to the water's edge, let us hear from you. Write, Save Fulton Ferry, PHOENIX, 132 Clinton St., Brooklyn 11201.no longer a question of what services government (city, state and federal) shall provide citizens. Sanitation, police, fire, parks, education, social services for children, disabled, elderly and unemployed %u2014 these are all unquestionable needs. The question is at what level and with what efficiency the services are to be offered and who is going to pay for them.We New Yorkers, just like taxpayers and citizens everywhere, cannot settle for conclusions of any government officials or their proxies that tells us that we must have less service from government, instead of more. We are getting this same kind of %u201c leadership%u201d from Washington these days too. The President has decided government is spending too much on social programs, and has set about dismantling programs enacted by Congress. The Governor seems to have come to similar conclusions here about other local programs.-Government of special interests, with special privileges for those already privileged, special favors for the already favored, and special opportunities for the opportunistic seems to be more the vogue during this season. Social legislation designed to help those who need help most seems to be expendable.But, the President, thanks to Watergate and some court decisions, may not be successful in his aims. The Governor is up for re-election next year. The season seems to be changing again, and a little sunshine will be good for everyone.Do you have something to say?W e w e lc o m e your contributions totbe PHOENIX Community F o ru m P a g ePrefer 5 0 0 -7 5 0 word length.Send Your M aterial to: Editor,PHOENIX, 132 Clinton St., Brooklyn.Robert Burke Jones, PresidenfM ichael A. Armstrong, Publisher132 CLINTON ST.,BROOKLYN 11201TEL 643-1032'Don%u2019t Quote Me, ButBY SCORPIOe 9wThe counting of the ballots in the School Board races around town, expected to take at least a week, is being anxiously awaited to tell if New York City has developed yet another body of skilled political campaign managers %u2014 this time, the United Federation of Teachers. The UFT got involved with people and money, all over town, to influence the vote, generally in favor of incumbents. The local UFT push to reelect the leaders of the current board in District 15 was skilled enough to suck in the leaders of the Parent Association groups from around the District, intelligently sacrificing the possibility of taking all the nine seats in order to gain the certainty of winning a majority. In District 13, the campaign was a different one. It%u2019s difficult to tell exactly who is responsible for what, but the UFT worked to throw many of the candidates into court, and the result was chaos and confusion. There was virtually no campaign by anybody, in contrast to a spirited contest in District 15.%u2605 %u2605 %u2605The political climate in Park Slope is heating up in preparation for 1974 local races. Not only is the split reported inCentra! Brooklyn Independent Democrats by Scorpio some time beck rea! daspits to the contrary, but it is growing. Look for insurgents who failed to take over the club presidency to go all out to take the District Leadership away from Charlie Monaghan. The result may be at least one more new political club m the Slope.There is certain to at least be a second one if you believe the plans of Jim Tully, who has been involved in local Democratic politics for some time and is known as a man of his word. Tully and some friends are determined to put together a Democratic club that can return the 51st A.D. to Democratic control once again. For starters, his group is expected to challenge Monaghan too. Sounds like a real horse race is in the making.The effectiveness of the venerable James Mangano, Chief Clerk of, the Supreme Court and Democratic District Leader in South Srooklyn for as long as anyone pan remember, has not been dfyhinished, if his annual United Manzini Democratic Chutb dinner is any index. The annual dinner this past Saturday ni|ht was jammed with politicos and would-be%u2019s from all over Brooklyn who came to see and be seen at this local affair of affairs. The best numbers of .aH, however, are those indicating the dollars that the affair raised^ all to keep fat an a-building campaign coffer that is aimecj, at recapturing Assembly and {\seats lost last year to reform Democrats.The school board election court case is almost certain to produce %u2014 at long last %u2014 a serious move to change the mysterious workings of theBoard of Elections here in New York City. Even the most sympathetic politicos are appalled that the Board seems tobe piling one disaster on top of another. The worst spot in town seems to be the Brooklyn office. In spite of the tireless and diligent efforts of Chief Clerk Gus Galli, it just can%u2019t cope with the glut of political and patronage appointees who man th# office. The result is a new c l%u00bb s that has become a qi3jgmire of undone or mishandled work from which thdffc seems to be no escape. Stile Attorney General Lejfisewitz promised a thorough o^fhaul after the local Board's peplrmance in the RooneyLdMsnstein primary election last yip^ and many politicians from af^farties are wondering what opened to his brave words.LIpU*%%u25a0> %u2605 %u2605 %u2605^ je re Are They Now D lp irtm e n t: former Assembtfean and part-term State Senator William Giordano,Sted in the Democratic iry election last June by Senator Carol Bellamy, is a comfortable patronagea j^ n te e of Mayor John Lindsiy; He has found a temporary he** as general counsel to the City%u2019s Parking Violationshi it hoarhankering for a re-run of the race that the lady Senator took by a narrow margin in 1972. Local %u201c regular%u201d leaders, however, are leaning to a more articulate and attractive choice to make that race a winning one for their camp.