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Page 8 PHOENIX 1974We Believe...The special section on downtown Brooklyn progress in this issue could not have been written even two years ago. For good reason: The PHOENIX was not around.One of the by-products of the renewal of the downtown area and the residential neighborhoods surrounding it has been the growth of an enormous number of new business enterprises, and the creation of a communications medium-this newspaper.When we started the PHOENIX, it was because we had faith in the signs we saw that pointed to an enormous renewal of the historic area that was the old City of Brooklyn. Our faith was shared by many others, some who moved their families here to reclaim magnificent rows of houses from the clutches of abandonment, and others who, already here, saw the reality of what was happening here in Brooklyn and in other sections of New York, and plunged in to participate themselves. Some started new businesses, mostly on a shoestring, and many of these new enterprises are thriving.In a recent survey of regular advertisers in our columns, we were surprised to discover that more than 175 of our regular contract advertisers had not even started their businesses two years ago at the time the PHOENIX was launched.What is happening in the downtown area of Brooklyn is important to the whole borough and New York City, but it is probably most important of all to those thousands of us who live and work here. Our pages are full of the news of our activities and events. There is no more vital, dynamic area in New York City or any urban center than our neighborhoods surrounding downtown. We are proud of our own achievements and those of the business and civic leaders who are creating the climate of renewal in the downtown core. We are hopeful about the future because we believe in Brooklyn and in the future of our neighborhoods.Exciting Potential- WAY BACK WHEN DEPARTMENT: Nineteenth Century postcard scene of Borough Hall from what is now the Cadman Plaza Park. Building behind Borough Hall (then Brooklyn%u2019s City Hall) is old Court House and is now the location of Brooklyn Law School%u2019s new home. The El gave way after World War II in favor of the Civic Center. One thing about these good old days%u2014at least you wanted to go into Borough Hall by the front door!' %u2014 ------------------------------ -------------- -------------%u2014 ---------------------------------------------- ;V * '* * } * %u2022%u00bb i 4 '%u25a0%u00ab* K >.l ; i J \\ V i >. %u00abBrooklyn has been selected as the site for a revolutionary experiment in information that promises to benefit every single resident of our Borough. Now in development, through a special grant from the Federal Government, is the creation of a network of Citizen Urban Information Centers-one in each of the 55 branches of the Brooklyn Public Library-which will provide information to any person on city, state and federal programs, services or benefits, and refer the person to the proper agency to help with his problem. Questions about day care, senior citizen services, tenant problems, social security, help for small businesses and other needs will be able to be answered by specially trained information aides, drawn from each library branch%u2019s community. It%u2019s a program with an exciting potential because it fills an enormous need. We%u2019re delighted that Brooklyn has been chosen as the test model for the entire country, and proud that New York City has had the initiative and foresight to create such a program.A Public JournalThe PHOENIX is a public journal whose pages are open to its readers. We welcome and invite reactions and comment about both our views and our coverage. We are also interested in hearing about the views of our readers on subjects of local interest Send your letters and longer comments to: Editor, PHOENIX, 155 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn 11201. We reserve the right to edit all material received. Please include a stamped self-addressed envelope if you wish your material returned.r.---------%u2014 %u2014 vTht* PHOENIX is published 50 times a year bv Advocate Press, Inc., 155 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, New\\ork 11201. Single copy price is 15 cents, annual subscription by mail in New York State, effective Julv 1,l!)7:i is $5: outside New York. J6.Re-fundPovertyProgramsTo the Editor:Last week%u2019s demonstration (April 15) for the continuation of Community Action Programs must now be followed up by letters of support from numerous organizations in South Brooklyn.For almost two years, as a member of the Board of Directors of the South Brooklyn Community Anti-Poverty Corporation, I have seen firsthand the benefits derived by those who participate in the programs. Presently, the poor of South Brooklyn are serviced by a central staff under the direction of Thelma Martin and 17 neighborhood-based Delegate Agencies which offer services ranging from employment to housing to education. Without these programs people throughout the city will revert to seeking assistance from large, external, bureaucratic agencies.I urge interested, commited groups%u2014religious, social, civic political--to write their federal, state and local representatives demanding the refunding of the anti-poverty program.Salvatore A. Ferraioli340 President St.B eo m e s ReportC o rd : Ross o r Fol!To the Editor:As a result of the transit settlement and other indications, it is obvious that the disastrousM ichael A. A rm strong, Publisher155 Atlantic AvenueBrooklyn 11201 Tel. 643-1032economic policies initiated and refined by John V. Lindsay are being emulated by Mayor Beame. A majority of the voters of Brooklyn Heights (and the 53nd A.D. and 14lh C.D. of which it is part) indicated that they favored Herman Badillo. He alone among the various candidates demonstratedan in-depth knowledge of our City%u2019s fiscal plight as well as some of the possible solutions.The Nixon administration and the Republican gang in New Jersey have done a splendid job in dispelling the myth that Democrats are more corrupt than Republicans. Another fiction that soon will hit us in our purse is the idea that Abe Beame is a sound financial person. As the number one money man in town over the past two decades, our mayor must share some of the responsibility for the past.I was pleased to notice that Abe Beame%u2019s moving van took him from Queens to Grade Mansion, since he had capitalized on the notion ofbeing %u201c Brooklyn.%u201d If Abe Beame leaves us a building still nailed down, perhaps we fiscal conservative/social liberal people from Brooklyn will overrule the nonsense of the New York Times and other pundits. We won%u2019t give Beame high marks, but rather flunk him as we did Lindsay. And maybe, if there is a newspaper in town that can tell a straight story from a crooked press release (The PHOENIX?), we will then elect a mayor really our own-like Herman Badillo.B.E. Tenzer55 Henry St.Mandate for PathmarkDear Sir:As Editor you are aware that the Kings County Republican Club has been assisting the %u201c Ad Hoc Committee for a Pathmark%u201d on the Fifth and Smith Street (Old Brooklyn Union Gas Co. site). The situation that exists is rather unique in this respect. Traditionally, communities have resisted commercial development and opted for recreational use when given the opportunity. However, this mode of action does not reflect the present thinking of urban homeowners in the City of New York.Carroll Garden residents look upon parks as poorly maintained areas which are ultimately dominated by undesirables.With this in mind the Ad Hoc Committee has secured approximately 8,000 signatures supporting a Pathmark. This constitutes a clear mandate of the desires of the community. Our Club strongly urges that this community be permitted to determine it%u2019s own needs.George M. Spanakos Kings County Republican Club, 52nd A.D.3 More Stores OfferSr. Citizen Discountsinree ariaitionai snops have joined the ranks of local merchants in Brooklyn Heights participating in the Heights-Cobble HillCommunity Council-sponsored discount program for Senior Citizens. The program, aimed at helping to alleviate the economic burden many elder residents face, consists of a network of discounts on various products and services available locally.Over 20 shops are participating in the program, including the following new members: Bore-wider%u2019v 6l Audio, 35 Cranberry Sireei, 10% discount on repairs of equipment purchased after 1970; All Security Locksmith, 81 Pineapple Walk, 10% discount on locks, keys and serv ices^ and Pine TV Service, 76 Henry Street, 10% off on service calls, 5% off on repairs.Stores participating in the Senior Citizen discount program display a green identifying emblem. Persons qualifying need only present a Medicare or Reduced Transit Fare card to take advantage of these discounts.