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Page 12 PHOENIX February 28,1974EditorialsReading SnafuThe snafu at P. S. 7-8 over reading scores is a particular insult to the parents of the children who attend the fifth grade in the two schools. Whether it makes editorial sense or not, the annual reading tests have come to be some kind of measure of progress or lack of it for city school children. This measurement seems to have been made at every school in town but our local Brooklyn Heights-Fort Greene paired two.The news story carried in the PHOENIX last week pointed out that school officials refused to comment on what was apparently a jump of 70 per cent in reading proficiency for local fifth graders over last year. Ou r story this week says that tremendous score only reflects the status of about 30-35 percent of the fifth graders, and that the scores of the other students would not be compiled. It seems, say local school officials, they took some other test.If the tests are %u201c phoney%u201d , in the words of the principal, it may just be that the deception is in the giving as weall as the conception. If there is in fact a %u201c hard%u201d and an %u201c easy%u201d test which may become interchangeably used in arriving at the single score, this fact has never been clear to those who cite these tests year after year in lamenting or praising scholastic progress in city schools.It bothers us that we get the impression school officials would like to leave the implication that there was a tremendous jump in eading ability at our local schools, when in fact this is apparently ot the case. As matters now stand, according to the local prin- .pal, we will never know the real score.Spare That StructureThe continuing battle of Clinton Avenue described last weekthis in Dan Icolan's \tner chapte' in the story of the ill-informed arms of the Citymiimiiii........................................................................................................................................I.................................. .ths: jaju *+%u25a0| This view of Methodist Hospital in Park Slope is from a turn of the century %u00a7= postcard form the collection of George Guzzio.Petition on Needs of Older AdultsTo the Editor,February 16, 1974, a group of older women including myself had a table at Henry and Montague Sts. and obtained 500 signatures for our petition favoring renovating the local hotels in Brooklyn Heights and opposing the senior citizen housing on Block 207.We are continuing our '1access to the mysteries of city government.It would be easy to outline the many, many ways that Mr. Azadian has been of value to block associations and other community groups in the past seven years, but 1 know that you have received enough similar letters of endorsement from other community leaders to realize the esteem in which he is held. His familiarity with Park Slope together with his know lodge oi the operations ol NewRed Cross Alert Security on $$To the Editor:As a resident of Brooklyn Heights and Chairman of SSI Alert for the American Red Cross, 1 had submitted a news release to your paper about three weeks ago. The story you printed last week was properly informative, but I think that you should know that the Red Cross is working for the Social Securin' Administrationnow the trutbtoo that those gaps in block bents in such neigh- %u2022or hoods as Boer urn H n. which was particular ly ravaged by the lemolition policy of the city in the early 1960's, are never fillet ith anything Everything around them can be reclaimed, bu .relict buildings destroyed will always remain parking lots o use.Voice of the PeopleThe visit of the City Hall Road Show to Brooklyn in the form of iblic hearings by the members of the Board of Estimate on apital Budget requests for the coming fiscal year is a welcome gn that some kind of local input is beginning to be considered or New York City's over-bureaucratized budgeting process, living local community groups the opportunity to appear before his august body to present local proposals for capital planning is %u2022nly a first step in making the entire budgeting process one that onsiders local priorities.the older adult in housing 1 spoliation, health nuintion We want to go on record that oki< r people must be par! of the decision making process.Our local officials should reconsider and make plans to help the elderly continue to enjoy life where they are living.Age and Youth in Action can be a coalition to return government to the people.Anyone old or young, willing and able to support or work with us on this issue, please write to Anne Cohen. Chairperson, Citizens for the Rights of Older Adults, 75 Pierrepont St., Brooklyn, 11201.Yours sincerely, Anne CohenThe officials or their stand-ins heard 12 hours of %u201c testimony%u201d rom Brooklyn individuals and groups. Now, what happens next will tell us what they heard. (The sessions are being repeated in each of the city's five boroughs.) We, and those who testified will anxiously watch for budget recommendations to see whether this traveling company was just another road show, or whether it was m fact a public hearing, listening for the voice of the people.Hie I%u2019H O IM X is published 511 tim es n year by AdUrges Mayor ReAppoint AzadianTo the editor:Following is a letter sent to the Mayor urging the re-appointment of Sam Azadian. We appreciate your recent editorial of support.Sincerely, United Block Association of Park SlopeHonorable Abraham Beame Mayor, City of New YorkV n u - \\ r r\\r*lzDear Mr. Mayor.'.m ate P ress. I tic.. Kill Clinton Street, Brooklyn. NewTurk lizn i Single copy price is 15 cents, annual subscription l>\\ m ail in New Yo rk State, effective Ju ly 1,lllTIt is $5; outside New York. $6.Shortly after you recent election we wrote to your office strongly recommending the retention of Sam Azadian as Chairman of theMichael A. Armstrong Publisherj 1 30 Clinton Street Brooklyn H 201 | Tel. 643 1032%u25a0***%u00bb '\ASouth Brooklyn Urban Action Task Force. Since your inauguration there has apparently been no firm decision made regarding the m-it'Muui iiuuu ut>k forers and wi m the Park Slop- community are liecoming increasingly concern'-| about the continued existenci of our prim- means of reason %u25a0 > ebranches and agencies of city government and, quite frankly, we in Park Slope tind it diilicult to expect that a more effective bridge over this isolation can be found than the local Task Force and its chairman.1 cannot urge you strongly enough to re-appoint Sam Azadian as Chairman of the South Brooklyn Urban Action Task Force and to do with as little delay as possible.Respectfully, Kevin P. BrooksCharges Cuite on Housing BillTo the Editor:Thanks for mentioning that the fair housing, employment and public accomodations bill IS NOT dead, but rather very, very much alive at city hall and that this will protect the legal civil rights of approxim ately eight hundred thousand citizens of this city.1 homas Cuite used all the power he could master as the majority council to defeat this bill not once, not twice, not three times but four times. If he were honest with himself he would realize that five to ten percent of all of his relatives and triends are gay. Furthermore gays usually always vote democratic and he is trying to keep the party moving ahead isn't he?? But just as the blacks (heterosexual) got their rights despite the Wallaces and Madoxs, we gays and bisexuals will get ours u- Turn Cuite.Keep up the good workDonald Jurewicz> Z4(i Baltic Street,ChairmDear Friend:The Red Cross has been requested by the Federal Governm ent to participate in P roject Supplemental Security Income Alert.Our concern is that SSI beneiits to which the elderly, blind, or disabled are entitled should be made known to all so that eligibile persons be found as quickly as possible and enrolled in the program.If you have any questions or wish further information, you may call the Brooklyn Red Cross Chapter%u2014 787-1000, Ext. 507, Monday through FRiday 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.Yours sincerely, Mrs. Morton M. Golden