Page 91 - Demo

'Don%u2019t Quote Me, ButBY SCORPIOWhile Mario thaggi makes quiet inroads into natural Beame strength in the Brooklyn Democratic organization local clubs, Jerry Kretchmer is doing the same thing to Herman Badillo among reformers here.Kretchmer pulled a stunning victory last week at the Independent Neighborhood Democrats Club that presages trouble for Badillo in what had been a previously-strong West Brooklyn Club in the Heights. Herman%u2019s strength has been slipping away to both Kretchmer and A! Blumenthal, more out of disenchantment with Herman, than from any great love for Al or Jerry.Fact is, however, some masterful political work has been accomplished on Kretchmer%u2019s behalf by Eli Sactownick, who masterminded the outstanding Eikenberry for Congress election day operation in 1970. Also, nobody's blood warms up for Blumenthal, even though everybody ooh's and aah's about his smarts. Kretchmer comes across with one basic theme about management,Casting a vote in favor of the NoFault Insurance Bill, South Brooklyn, Assemblyman Mike Pesce called the bill a %u201cfirst step in the right direction.%u201d Contending that the time had long arrived for the concept of no-fault to be introduced in New York State, Assemblyman Pesce joined with 25' other Democratic Legislators in voting for the bill.In briefly explaining the bill, Pesce noted that the bill provides for a 20 per cent reduction in the premiums, and 15 per cent if the insured chooses a $200 deductible.but he's got peopie listening seriously because he%u2019s got a point. And on the gut level, Jerry comes across as a %u201c real person.\We predict Kretchmer will get the nod from the Central Brooklyn Independent Dems and that WBID just might go the same way.%u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605Those trying to bring peace to the volatile community-hospital feud in Cobble Hill were shocked to learn that Assemblyman Mike Pesce%u2019s name was on a petition being circulated by a rump group that is trying to limit the apparently sound decision reached to use expressway air rights instead of Cobble Hill ground for expansion of Long Island College Hospital. Say it isn%u2019t so, Mike!Another signature on the document was that of Robert W ittich newly announced candidate for City Council here. Someone hasn%u2019t been doing his homework.%u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605 %u2605The local politicos of all persuasions are getting uneasy about the Urban DevelopmentThe bill aiso allows tor payment of medical and out of pocket expenses, and loss of earnings up to $1,000 per month for 3 years and a $50,000 limit. Such payments must be made within 30 days by the Insurance Company regardless of who is to blame or at fault for the accident.* Twenty percent of the loss of earnings amount will be deducted, representing an equivalent of an income tax.Further, under the bill, anyone may bring action for pain and suffering if the medical bills amount to $500 or more, or if it is aconnection with the StateSchermerhorn housing development. Seems almost certain now there will be no lowincome or moderate income units (or if any, only a mere token) in the new construction set for the empty blocks south of downtown. This, despite absolute private assurances to the contrary.The official excuse will be Nixon%u2019s freeze on new subsidies, but the fact appears to be that there were no serious application ever made for subsidies here by U.D.C., even though to date nearly a million dollars has been spent on an architect to bring plans to the brink of construction.When it all unfolds there will be crying and screaming by everybody, particularly those who pushed the concept of some new moderate income units somewhere in the area. The politicos who lined up behind this project assuming they would be covering their base with this interest group are going to end up with egg on their collective faces.%u201cserious injury%u201d such as %u201cdeath dism em berm ent, significant disfigurement, a compound or comminuted fracture or permanent loss or use of a body organ, member, function or system.%u201dAmong the advantages of the bill are the decrease in premiums, assured payments regardless of who is at fault, quick payments, and the fact that court congestion will be alleviated.Though the Republican sponsors of the bill refused to accept any amendments to the bill introduced,Continued on Page toStill RepublicanDear Editor:I appreciate the coverage you gave to my new organization in the February 8th issue of the Phoenix. However, there are some gross inaccuracies contained in the %u201cDon%u2019t Quote Me%u201d column by Scorpio.First of all, under no circumstances have I abandoned the Republican Party as suggested in the column. Secondly, the St. Francis College Republican Club is a totally different organization from the Kings County Citizens for Good Government. Thirdly, we are not exclusively concerned with Brooklyn Heights and South Brooklyn; we are county-wide in scope.Thafunction of the Kings County Citizens for Good Government is not to work against any particular political organization but to work For the issues which political clubs sometimes cannot crusade for and to encourage the support of candidates whom we feel will enhance the cause of good government.Sincerely,Robert Tomeo President Kings County Citizens for Good GovernmentBest Of TimesTo the Editor:As a founding member of the Central Brooklyn Independent Democrats, I read with great concern your little Scorpio %u201citem%u201d on the recent club elections.It appears that hard times have fallen on some Brooklyn Reformers: when any opposition is an attempted coup; when every wellmeaning president is a leader; when an ideal is an accomplishment; when community service is political inexperience; when every candidate is a hero; when naivete and ingratitude are virtues; when slander is criticism; and innuendo news.But possibly, with %u201cpolitical experience,%u201d this will be seen as the best of times.Sincerely yours,John P. ScanlonW h at%u2019s The IssueTo the Editor:Interim appointee Fred Richmond%u2019s letter in last week%u2019s PHOENIX complains that Reform Democrat Simon O%u2019Shea%u2019s opening remarks in his campaign for the 29th Councilmanic nomination fail to discuss the issues. What bossbacked Richmond insensitivity fails to comprehend is that the manner of his selection and his Manhattan-based approach to local problems are number one issues. Richmond cannot wipe out his disregard of Democratic norms by identifying some of the problems of the district. Richmond owes all of us an explanation of his role in the Rooney campaign and some explanation of where he has been for the last four years%u2014-since he ran for the Congressional nomination against Rooney and then ran out of the district. Most of all Richmond owes his captive constituency an explanation of why none of the County Committeemen in the district were consulted about his appointment, only regular district leaders subservient to County Boss Esposito.Richmond%u2019s elevation from obscurity to the City Council is an example of the same rotten politics that allows the County Boss to reward loyalty and regularity byContinued on Page 8ALBANY REPORT: No-Fault Insurance |Viable Middle Income HousingProgram No Longer Exists In CityThe Scott Commission, a study group of the State Study Commission for New York City, after an analysis of the management of the city%u2019s Mitchell-Lama Housing Program, has concluded that a viable city housing program for middle income tenants no longer exists.The study, entitled %u201cNew York City%u2019s Mitchell-Lama Housing Program ,%u201d was principally authored by Ronald A. Stack of the Study Group on the Housing and Development Administration. The study group is under the direction of Frank J. Macchiarola of the Graduate School of City University of New York and Baruch College.Stephen Berger, executive director of the commission noted in a memorandum to commissioners: %u201cFor 10 years, the city%u2019s MitchellLama program was able to produce middle income housing for tenants with incomes of $4 000%u2014 $10,000 a year. Since 1967, however, the program has deteriorated to the point where the eligibility standard for this subsidized housing can now be met by people earning in excess of $60,000. The study group has been forced to conclude that the city no longer has a viable middle income housing nrnffram %u201d rThe principal goal of the Mitchell-Lama legislation passed in1955 by the state legislature was to permit the state and municipalities to provide subsidized housing for tenants whose income levels were above those eligible for public housing and yet below those levels necessary to attain decent housing in the free market.Findings of the Scott Commission report include: (1) The HDA%u2019s administration of the Mitchell-Lama program is an overly cumbersome, fragmented, expensive contradiction to the presumed advantages of a superagency. Warnings of many of the present problems by agency staff as early as 1987 went unheeded by the agency; (2) Arrearages in the city MitchellLama program are not merely commonplace; they are nearly universal. At present, more than $20 million is owed by over 80 per cent of the city%u2019s projects. Thethe city which is of a comparable size, has no project in arrears. The city%u2019s refusal to mandate rent increases when necessary was an inexcusable breach of the city%u2019s responsibility to manage the program on a self-sustaining basis; (3) The city has belatedly begun to enforce the collection of surcharges. Tsnsnt resist sues is unwarranted; Mitchell-Lama tenants are privileged with asubstantial level of public subsidy from a financially hard-pressed city. The obligation to report income is a small price to pay for the opportunity to reside in a subsidized Mitchell-Lama project; (4) Mitchell-Lama costs haveescalated so that the housing can no longer be produced for the intended beneficiaries of the program. Skyrocketing construction costs (now up 12 per cent a year), increased operation and maintenance charges and high interest rates combined with the city%u2019s poor judgment in areas of fiscal responsibility andmismanagement bar the construction of new middle income housing. Such construction as presently exists has beenrestricted to subsidized luxuryapartments for the upper class. TTiis has been a clear violation of the legislative intent of the Mitchell-Lama law and a significantdefinition of middle class.The Scott Commission has recommended that the administration of the program be centralized within one department of HDA instead of being fragmented among nine offices; that HDA should have as a majoranal roctnrina nnnuniort nrniprts tn o '*'\a self-sustaining basis; that the city%u2019s belated policy of mandatingnecessary rent increases is to be encouraged, with increases continuing until rent revenue is sufficient to meet operating, maintenance and mortgage costs. In the event that such rent increases reach unacceptable proportions for a significant number of tenants, HDA should consider some mechanism to relieve financially hard-pressed tenants of the full impact of increases, which are in part necessary due to prior mismanagement of the program by the agency).Other recommendations include: The state%u2019s Mitchell-Lama program should be examined by HDA in order to give assistance and counsel to the city. Somecontinuous planning and development interaction should be established with the State%u2019s middle income housing program.The study cautions that reorganization and better management and coping with the questions of arrearages, surcharges and rent increases, while necessary, may not save the Mitchell-Lama program. %u201cThe fact remains that improvements in the administration of the program may still be insufficient to meet the problems of individual housing companies in severe financial distress. HDA will also have to develop some long-term plans for these projects including the possibility of recapitalization.S ta te'S M ifroK oll-T.Q m Q n m u r o m inU1SIUU1UU u i a u-------- i _ L I .O L t c p ia u IC