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IJune 28,1973 PHOENIXCOUNCILMAN'SCORNERA Report on A ctivities of O ur City Council %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605iiiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiimiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiBV COUNCILMANFRED RICHMONDThe 1973-74 Budget, as passed on June 19, by the City Council and the Board of Estimate, is an encouraging improvement over the Executive Budget as originally submitted by the Mayor.Citizens must be aware, however, improved as this budget is, several ominous fiscal problems lie ahead. This budget has simply postponed them; not eliminated them. Among the changes made by the Council and Board of Estimate, which I feel are particularly important, and in which I am especially proud to have participated are:Reduction in the Property Tax Increase: The Mayor%u2019s budget proposed a property tax increase of 74 cents (later revised to 77 cents) per $100 of assessed valuation, which would have been an intolerable burden on the City%u2019s economy. The budget which passed cuts this increase by 52 per cent; forcing taxpayers to endure only a 5.6 per cent increase from last year. Although this is far from ideal, it represents an important acknowledgement by the Council and Board of Estimate of the severe economic damage that would befall the City and its citizens if the Mayor%u2019s full increase had been enacted.Increased funding for critical Health needs and Medical Research: In spite of the cut in the property tax increase, almost $5.5 million in extra funds have been allocated to important programs in the areas of health and mental health. I am especially pleased to note that more than $1 million for improved medical care in economically deprived areas of our City has been included. Moreover, funds are being allocated for several health research projects, including hypertension and alcoholism, two of the most prevalent and least-recognized health problems facing the City.Public Safety: Over $19 million has been appropriated for additional officers in the Police, Transit Police, and Housing Police Departments. These funds will enable the City to recruit and hire 3500 uniformed policemen in addition to the increase of 3,150 officers in the Mayor%u2019s budget. This means that more than 6000 new policemen will be available for patrol and crime-prevention within the next year. In addition the budget includes $2 million for the Block Security Program which provides City assistance to Civic Associations and other community groups interested in supplementing the efforts of the Police.Parks and Cultural Affairs: $1.75 million has been added to reinforce New York%u2019s leadership in cultural affairs and its commitment to improving recreational activities. I am especially pleased to announce the allocation of funds for cultural institutions outside Manhattan, such as the Brooklyn Philharmonia, Academy of Music, and Chelsea Theater and the earmarking of $750,000 to hire 250 additional personnel to begin much-needed maintenance and restoration ot parks in all boroughs.Education: Almost $25 million have been added to the budget to support important educational programs. Due to tight budget constraints in the past few years, the Board of Education has had too few funds to fully operate programs of special need and%u2022 a m i . _ %u201e i i ___ %u2014 ~r r ---------- 1 _ r %u2014 m e m . m e a iiu u c iiiu ii u i i u n u a tu ibilingual education and schoolingRichmondfor the handicapped is especially welcome; inasmuch as these programs represent the potential of enormous benefit to groups which have been too often neglected by the educational establishment in the past.These are only some of the areas where I feel important benefits have been made by the Council%u2019s and Board of Estimate%u2019s budget changes. In the next year, however, the City will have to face a number of problems which this budget either has not addressed or* has postponed:The Transit Fare: The MTA has stated that, without any City subsidy, the transit fare will be increased to 60 cents. To maintain it at its current level will require approximately $300 million. The expense budget, as enacted yesterday, contains no funds for such a subsidy.We must begin now to develop plans for an equitable means of subsidizing the fare. We must try to obtain additional Federal and State support for our subways and buses. If this fails, the City will be faced with the unpleasant choice of imposing increased property or nuisance taxes, increasing taxes of some other type (such as the City income tax), or enduring the unconscionable prospect of an increase in the transit fare.Next Year%u2019s Budget: This year%u2019s budget has postponed payments required by law and the City Charter totaling close to $400 million. Most of this amount will have to be paid next year. In addition, this year%u2019s large Capital Budget, considerably bloated by the addition of $200 million transferred from the expense budget, will result in a large increase in mandatory payments for Debt Service. In other words, we will be going into next year%u2019s budget with the obligation of paying as much as one-half billion dollars in mandatory increases without a penny%u2019s worth of improvement in services.To most people the budget is numbers on a balance sheet. But it is really a human document. More than any other single act of Government, the Expense Budget announces the plans of the City, its social priorities, and the direction our Municipal Government will take in the future.I am encouraged by the budget%u2019s emphasis on public safety, health programs, and relief to the taxpayer. I%u2019m discouraged, however, by its inability to fully deal with important needs ot nousmg and transit. The fact is that these are problems requiring national funding and regional solutions. As long as the federal government continues to neglect its responsibility for housing and theCongress refuses to uncork the Highway Trust Fund to aid mass transit, these problems will growAH ifoct re m a in s o f fire-ravaged p a rk building.Page NineDean St. Playlot in RubbleBY LYNNE GR1FOStan Mongin of Park Pi. recently wrote to the PHOENIX about the \the playground on Dean St. between Sixth and Carlton Aves. currently exists. A visit to the site made plain the fact that what was at one time a playground is now nothing but a lot full of debris, broken benches, equipment, garbage and glass.The \filled with the remains of a building that was torn down but never removed. The depressing setting is perfect for the dilapidated play area.The building that once housed the attendant%u2019s quarters and the bathrooms is standing full of gaping holes where windows and doors once were. The entire interior has been torn apart and fires have been set by vandals that have burned most of the roof away. Swings are gone and the sliding pond is no more than a bent ladder; the seesaws have been pulled apart and nothing remains but the metal cross bar. The fences are full of holes and in some spots they are falling off their supports or are missing completely.In addition to all this, the ground is literally carpeted with broken glass, cans and papers. To someone walking through the park for the first time the conditions are shocking, and deplorable.A spokesman for James Linden, Assistant Commissioner of Parks, explained that rr lintaining the playground in the face of constant vandalism was an almost hopeless task. %u201c We%u2019ve cleaned it up and boarded up the park house on the site but a short time later it%u2019s torn up again,%u201d he stated.(Note should be made here of the fact that the Dean St. playground is literally around the corner from the 78th Precinct House).The Department has begun using two types of \type does light cleaning (mobile pick-up) and the other makes repairs (spruce-up). %u201c We%u2019re working on an almost emergency basis because we%u2019re so shorthanded,%u201d the parks spokesman said.William Paschke at the Borough office of the Parks Department at Litchfield Mansion explained that the park is scheduled for complete renovation. %u201c Bids were received April 17 and the next step will be to award the contract to the lowest bidder. Thent h p r t a t p f o r r n n < i t m r t i n n w ill h p <;pt \Paschke also stated that he wouid have a crew sent out as soon as possible to clean up the debris and glass, which is, at least, a start. But what the Dean St. playground really needs is a community group that cares about its future, is interested in working with the Parks Department in order to k%u00a3ep tljearea clean, and that is willing to push for its rehabilitation. Anybody listening?Know AboutA Problem?Continued on Page 14