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February 7,1974 PHOENIX Page 13Dist. 15TeachersAsk WhyBY JOANN D%u2019AcquistoIt may be more blessed to %u201c accept rather than understand,%u201d but myself and a lot of other per diem substitute teachers who have lost their jobs demand concrete explanations as to what caused the $1.6 million deficit in the budget of School District 15, which includes most of South Brooklyn and Park Slope.That%u2019s an awful lot of money to have mismanaged. Why must all substitute teachers, 5 school secretaries, 5 guidance teachers, 3 bi-lingual teachers and many \teachers be the chosen ones to rectify this dificit? In addition, what about the school aides who have lost their jobs? And why must $20,000 be cut for supplies in this district?Are we all ostriches? I, for one, to see a statement for the expenditures for this district, and any other district for that matter which has overspent so much so that now so many must struggle even more to make ends meet.It%u2019s sad but all too true that some begin to recognize a crisis only after it has begun. The dirty laundry is now out, and perhaps some stains may be impossible to remove. Where, or perhaps, to whom did this money go?HospitalizedKids StudyThere was a time when a child went into a hospital and all schooling ceased in most cases. At Park Slope%u2019s Methodist Hospital all that has changed and an elementary or junior high school student hospitalized there can continue his work at P.S. 401-k a hospital classroom under the direction of Mrs. Florence Dean.The youngsters are encouraged to begin attending classes as soon as they are physically able. Since, in P.S. 401, a bed can be rolled right into the classroom, recuperation does not have to progress very far before a child can go to classes.This school was first established in 1946 and is operated in a bright and cheerful classroom on the fourth floor in the Pediatrics Department. There are two reasons for encouraging the students to attend the school as much as possible, says Mrs. Dean. First, of course, it prevents the child from falling behind in his schoolwork. Secondly, and equally liupoi Uuii, ii. is good therapy, tsy keeping the youngster in as normal a routine as possible, fears and tensions are lessened which is vital for recuperation.Mrs. Dean moves her classroom to the junior high school student who is not assigned to the Pediatrics Department. For obvious reasons, last class each weekdav Is with tha children in the isolation section.^jmiiimiiiiiiiiiimiiimiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiMiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiimiiitiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiij^==ESexual M inorities NeedProtection of RightsBY DAN ICOLARISome time ago, I wrote to the Phoenix, criticizing its editorial support for the re-election of Thomas Cuite as vice chairman of the City Council. My opposition was based on the fact Mr. Cuite has been the largest single obstacle within the Council to the passage of Intro 475, a bill which would guarantee civil rights to homosexuals in New York City.Ironically, Mr. Cuite represents an area of Brooklyn%u2014the Heights and South Brooklyn%u2014which has perhaps the largest gay population in the borough; an area whose middle-class,largely liberal constituency would probably approve a progay-rights vote. But Mr. Cuite voted his 19th-century conscience, and spearheaded the drive against passage of the bill. Intro 475 was presumed dead%u2014at least temporarily.No so. The bill, in slightly amended form, has just been re-introduced by Manhattan Councilman Carter Burden, and co-sponsored by 19 other councilmen as well. I was happy to note that Robert Steingut and Fred Richmond are among the 19 co-sponsors, as is Fort Greene-CIinton Hill%u2019s councilwoman, Mary Pinkett.Ms. Pinkett is well known to many in this community%u2014tome, largely because of her support for Fort Greene landmarks designation. When it comes to her sponsorship of the gay civil rights bill, I assume Ms. Pinkett voted her conscience, too, despite the fact her constituency is not particularly gay, at least visibly.i suspect Ms. Pinkett understands that the oppression of sexual minorities is not unlike the oppression of racial minorities; that both stem from incredible arrogance that makes a man believe he can grant or withhold people%u2019s rights. Come election time, Ms. Pinkett deserves to be remembered. So does Mr. Cuite.IIfiiiiiimiiiiHiiimmimiimimiwiHwimiuiitiHnmitmiiiitiuiiiiiKiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii'iiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiitimiiiMiiiiMiiiHe's Who?To the Editor:fte: Jan. 24 issue. In more than 40 years, I have heard Mr. Salvatore %u201cBuddy%u201d Scotto called many things %u2014 but never %u201cMr. Carroll Gardens.%u201dDominick P. Polimeni 297 State St.Some TinkerDear Editor:Kenneth Boss, in his letter to the editor of January 31 opposing impeachment, has clarified my thinking in this matter.I have heard his argument before %u2014 that it%u2019s better to have a %u201cdiscredited President for the balance of his term%u201d than to run the risk of having Gerald Ford as President for the next six or seven years. I have heard it from John Kenneth Galbraith and other ideological liberals, and also, somewhat covertly, from professional Democrats.I think I am beginning to see the light. Call me naive, call me impractical, what you will. I feel it%u2019s better to face the possibility of continued economic chaos and little or no social progress for that period of time than it is to fail to bring to trial a man who has shown he doesn%u2019t give a tinker%u2019s damn for democracy %u2014 perhaps doesn%u2019t understand the meaning of the word. Not because he will continue, either directly or indirectly, to commit offenses against the Bill of Rights, but because this is a totalitarian precedent that shouldnnt hp tn lp ra tp dEleanor McGregor 40 Sidney PlaceSan Fran DidTo the Editor:Wp h%u00bbv6 noted with Intnmst the proposals for the redevelopment ofthe Fulton Ferry area in Brooklyn adjacent to the Brooklyn Bridge (The New York Times, 7-29-73 and various articles and letters in The Phoenix). We have also noticed the apparent success of Ghirardelli Square and The Cannery on the San Francisco waterfront as well as Canal Square on the canal in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. These three enterprises consist of 19th century brick, industrial buildings which have been filled with pleasant shops, restaurants, offices and public spaces in such a way as to preserve much of the original structure and character.The proposed ferry service between the South Street Seaport Museum in Manhattan and the Fulton Ferry area of Brooklyn could bring in enough sightseers from the Museum and office workers from Water Street to support such an operation, at least on a small scale, much as the Hyde Street cable car line in San Francisco brings people to Ghirardelli Square and The Cannery. Not to mention, of course, the residents of adjacent Brooklyn Heights, the other nearby brownstone neighborhoods of Brooklyn and the office workers in downtown Brooklyn.There are many buildings in the Fulton Ferry area, and in other parts of New York City, which are amenable to this kind of redevelopment. If San Francisco and Washington can preserve and develop their waterfronts for the enjoyment of their citizens and for the profit of their merchants and the cities%u2019 coffers, New York City can certainly do as well or better.Sincerely,Sandra and Frank Williamson9 1 ^ A H a m c Q t r a o tSee Light!The Heights Board of Trade has sent the following letter concerning thi danger of the Montogue and Henry intersection:Dear Sir:For several years, the BrooklynHeights Board of Trade has been asking the Administration to correct the dangerous situation which exists on the corner of Montague and Henry Sts. in Brooklyn. Many accidents and near accidents have oecured because the traffic signal, as it is now situated, is often obscured by parked trucks and cars. We have urged that the signal be raised so that it can easily be seen by drivers and pedestrians.1 am enclosing copies of letters dated June, 1973 which were forwarded to us by Councilman Richmond, in which your office advised that %u201cthe work should be completed some time in September or October, 1973%u201d . To date nothing has been done.Our member merchants and residents are aroused by this lack of attention and are ready to mount a protest if action is not taken without delay. We should like to be able to report to them at our next meeting in February, that such action by them will not be necessary.Will you please advise. Thank you for your attention.Yours very truly Allan Kaufer,Brooklyn Heights Board of Trade PresidentTake OverThe following letter to Mayor Beame is reprinted here as a public service:Dear Mayor Beame:In November, 1973, approximately 2,900 properties were listed %u201cin rem %u201d in the Borough of Brooklyn. These were tor buildings which had not paid taxes to the City of New York for the statutory time period. Many of these properties were redeemed by the owners. It is projected that there will be 10,000 units taken City-wide in 1974.As you are aware, our City is plagued with abandoned buildings as well as a reduction in the housing Stock, 65ptrCi0iiV amung the poor and middle class.At the present time there is an hiatus between the time that the City lists the property %u201cin rem' and the time that the City actually takes title to the property, which in some instances exceeds one year. During the interim period of time, rents continue to be collected by the %u201cabandoned%u201d landlord The landlord, knowing that the property has been placed %u201c in rem\repairs, causing stress and enormous hardships on the tenants. Thus, many of the tenants ask, %u201cWho is my landlord?\aware that the landlord has four months in which to redeem his property and, in some instances and under certain circumstances, up to a two-year period.May 1, therefore, suggest that, upon the properties acquired \rem\simultaneously take over the management of the properties.In my district, which consists of the 57 th Assembly District covering Fort Greene, Williamsburg and South Brooklyn, there are a number of buildings which fall within this category Additionally, there are many buildings which have been abandoned and are under foreclosure by the Federal Housing Administration. Many of these buildings are sound and can be placed back into the housing stock as well as on the tax rolls.It has been the practice of the City of New York to demolish many of these buildings. There are presently several buildings which can be rehabilitated by either City, State or Federal funds or even possibly by private financing Many of these buildings are structurally sound.We are presently developing several community groups which would be willing to take title to these properties and turn them into productive tax-paying buildings.May I suggest that the Housing &D p v p l n n m p n t A H m i n i c f r a t i o n > . - -.coordinate these activities as this would not only effect my district, but also districts throughout the City.Thanking you in advance for your consideration, I amSincerely,Abraham G. (Jorges Democratic District Leader, 57th A D