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Page 8 PHOENIX March 2 1 ,1 9 7 4E d i t o r i a l sLICH DeceptionOnly IncreasesLocal III WillThe approach of Long Island College Hospital toward meeting its obligation to its neighbors is a curious blend of optimism and deception. The Hospital chose to unveil its plan in public print in a set-up situation in one neighborhood news sheet%u2014 after it had submitted the plan to the State Department of Health. Already more than a month old, the implication was strong that there was local support for the plan, when, in fact, no one of the community groups who had been critical of the hospital%u2014 neither responsible nor irresponsible ones%u2014 had seen a copy of the document.The Executive Director of the Hospital has, on occasion, called the editor of this newspaper on the telephone to comment on a couple of instances of what he regarded as slipshod reporting about the Hospital. In those conversations he demonstrated he had more than an elementary knowledge of journalism. We can only assume in this situation that a deliberate attempt was made to set a favorable climate for this new plan, though it%u2019s difficult to imagine how deception can ever set a favorable climate for anything. The merits of this plan are certainly lost in the anger of many responsible community leaders over the manner in which it became public.N o P l a n s In D i s t . 6While there certainly has been no public outcry over the subject of our editorial in this column last week regarding the District Six Planning Board, it is interesting to note that of the three communications we received, two were anonymous and threatening and one was from someone who didn%u2019t want to be quoted. No response from a single public official came to us, and since we have had no response from Borough President Leone, we must presume that no one joined us in our piea to him for answers.Once again, we ask the Borough President for some kind of accounting of the actions of this local board in the matter of the Pathmark Supermarket. While it may be to the Board%u2019s credit that it voted overwhelmingly in favor of the already overwhelming sentiment of the South Brooklyn civic leadership for designation of the gas company site on the Gowanus Canal as a public place, the questions about procedure and conduct of the sessions still ^tand.Speaking to the larger question of this board's role and responsibility in the planning process for the area it services, we think there should also be some kind of explanation of why this particular public body has shown no leadership and has seemed to avoid any responsibility in carrying out the planning role it was created to play. The shabby record of this Board contrasts sharply with that of the adjacent District Two Board which played an important role, for example, in the drive to bring Baruch College to Brooklyn. We think the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope and South Brooklyn deserve to know why this body exists, but appears to deliberately shun a responsible role in the planning process.a iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiH iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiu iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiti;| 2i6 City jM & Court J-iouse, Brooklyn, K Y.S * =W AY BACK W HEN DEPARTMENT: Nineteenth Centurypostcard scene of Borough Hall from what is now the CadmanPlaza Park. Building behind Borough Hall (then Brooklyn%u2019s CityHall) is old Court House and is now the location of Brooklyn LawSchool's new home. The El gave way after World War II in favor ofthe Civic Center. One thing about these good old days%u2014 a t leastyou wanted to go into Borough Hall by the front door!s iiiiiiii iiiiiiiim iiiiiiii iiiiiiiii iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii;.Beame Told CommunitiesNeed Task Force, AzadianTo the Editor:The following is a letter I have sent to Mayor Beame protesting his decision not to reappoint Commissioner Sam Azadian.Louise Fihney Dear Mayor Beame:I was shocked to learn this week that you have decided not to reappoint Commissioner Sam Azadian.My concern is not for Sam, who will prosper in whatever endeavor he undertakes; and, knowing Sam, I am sure that he will continue to find many opportunities for public service in our neighborhood.But I am very concerned about the future of the Park Slope-South Brooklyn-Sunset Park area, for which Sam Azadian has done so much as chairman of the Urban Action Task Force. And I am concerned that you have done yourself a disservice, for without Sam to help you, it will be much more difficult to deliver the services that people here expect from their city government.How is this decision to be explained--to the thousands for whom Sam Azadian helped cut through red tape and made government work the way it should? To the people who didn%u2019t know where to turn with housing problems, or when they needed to find health care, and turned to Sam? To the block associations he helped to found, and which looked to Sam tog e t a C tiG ii On a lG C ai C lin icproblem, or to see what the Parks Department could do to make the summer more gay?It would take many pages to catalog the good that Sam Azadian lias done for our neighborhoods. I know that everyone Sam helped and worked with will be as puzzled as 1 am that he was not reappointedWhen Mayor Lindsay cut out thebudget funds that had paid the office expenses of Sam Azadian%u2019s Task Force, citizens from all over South Brooklyn reached into their own pockets to keep the office open. What better testimony could there be to Sam Azadian%u2019s importance, than that the bills have been paid this way for three years?How many other government offices could stay open if they had to depend on voluntary contributions to pay the bills?When you were seeking my helpfor your campaign last year, I said that Sam Azadian%u2019s continued service to this community was one of my main concerns. I was assured that you understood how important Sam is to us. I am sorely disappointed.The loss is not Sam Azadian%u2019s, but ours-and yours.Sincerely Louise Finney Democratic State Committeewoman 51st Assembly DistrictLocal Tennis ProTo the Editor:As the manager of a Wall St. Tennis Shop, I come in direct contact with many Brooklyn Hts. residents who are avid tennis players. These residents have children who also are active participants. It%u2019s a pity that all these people are forced to play in other communities where public courts have been provided. It is also sad that many children of this community have no place to play, and are forced to take up other sports which they have less interest in. Children, unlike parents, are unable to drive to these outside courts.We now have an opportunity to give a good portion of the Hts. residents a recreational facility which is long overdue. All that is ijeeded is a few courts, not a takeover of the park, as many residents might fear.I emphatically vote yes to the park tennis proposal, and am willing to volunteer my services, if needed, to see this proposal become a reality.Sincerely, Mark Mason 49 Sidney Place Brooklyn Hts.Thanks for Notina Threat WTo the Editor:On behalf of the cooperators living in Cadman Towers, I wish to thank you for bringing to the attention of our community the threat which is hanging over us. Corrine Coleman%u2019s article was probably the best I%u2019ve seen yet on the matter, and we extend our~ %u201e u %u2014 - r *t. <%u2022 u u n i\\b iu tic i tu t t i lt ' C A C flltM ll UiSKof researching the problem.Once again, many thanks, and if there is any way the 700 plus adult cooperators of Cadman Towers can be of assistance to you, please let us know.Sincerely.Eugene J. Krinsky Cadman Towers Assn.!0F Clinton St