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. Ed itor ia ls ,Chorus of DespairThe new political district for Brooklyn and Manhattan unveiled this week by the Republican-controlled State Legislature, are filled with irony. The purpose of the redistricting was to further equal rights by redrawing district lines. But, to listen to the chorus of despair after the newlines appeared this week, it would seem that everybody%u2019s rights have been violated by this redistricting.The idea of reapportionment to achieve better minority representation was a fragile one from the beginning, given the mandates of the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years requiring one man/one vote, and compact and contiguous districts. To pursue all these considerations at one tim e was a near-impossibility, particularly for a partisan mapper, whose natural inclinations were to strike a blow for the Republican Party at the same time.The local result of the redistricting, if enacted into law by this legislature, seems to do the following: (1) Eliminates the district of a very effective and promising local State Senator, Carol Bellamy, and makes her return to Albany a slim possibility indeed; (2) Do likewise for another Brooklyn Senator, Chester Straub, who has been building up an excellent, independent record this year; (3) Makes the already Republic 51st Assembly District very safe indeed for Assemblyman Vincent Riccio by putting all his possible opponents and their base of strength into a different district.We said at the beginning of this redistricting folly that if the decision of the courts was that Brooklyn was under-represented, the best remedy of all would be a massive registration drive, particularly since registration difficulty has been the bane of every political reformer of recent years. The U.S. Department of Justice decided otherwise. Now today, in the aftermath of boosting the population of the 14th Congressional District, for example, from approximately 40 per cent black to nearly 65 per cent, one black Councilman says that it%u2019s still a district that a black can%u2019t win because they can%u2019t all vote. How%u2019s that for irony. Too bad it hurts to laugh.How About Auction?The news elsewhere in the PHOENIX this week about the collapse of the deal that would have given away seven buildings on Atlantic Avenue to a group of outside developers is only welcome if something positive now happens to these structures.These buildings sat for years while the Atlantic Terminal Urban Renewal effort itself languished. The recent rush to do something with them-quick, before some unrelated deadlineis no way to make up for the lost time because of the inaction of the City%u2019s Renewal Project Administration.If the City is now anxious to see something happen to the block of Atlantic between Third and Fourth Avenues, we think one way to stimulate it would be to put these buildings up for public auction. The kind of renewal that is taking place along Atlantic Avenue now has been unassisted and unaided by government. If the City is now anxious to quickly see results on this block, then we propose that it set up the terms and conditions it wants in regard to the renewal and use of these buildings, and then offer them at public auction, with an upset price pegged at the $500 per building it was willing to give to the outside developers, giving preference to potential buyers who come from the downtown neighborhoods, and bone fide former residents who were uprooted from the renewal district.Given the response we have received from the publication of the stories we have written, we believe this route would produce both sales and results, putting the buildings back into private hands, back on the tax rolls, and back into productive use.lh%u00bb- PHOENIX is published 50 times a year by Advocate Press, Inc., 155 Atlantic Avenue . Brooklyn, NewYork !!%u2022>%u00ab! %u2018vt%u2019gie copy %u2022?*%u2022%u00bb%u2022%u201c U is rents annual subscription by mail in New York State, effective July l,I!l7:i is $.5; outside New York, $0.MICHAEL A. ARMSTRONG, Editor & Publisher EILEEN BLAIR, M anaging Editor155 Atlantic AvenueBrooklyn 11201II Cl, A A O CJ *%u2022+ \\J ~ i n o o> sJi BA? K WHEN: Before Robert Moses worked his magic with Thei Brrwkiyn-Oueens Expressway, this was Hicks Street in Cobble H ill, near the comerE %u00b0 ' DoGraw. The Public Baths, in center, are gone, but large building in rears remains..................................I ...................%u25a0%u25a0%u25a0%u25a0..........0%u00b0to the EditorNot A llChurchesFear GayTo the Editor:After a long struggle, the N.Y. City Council has acted on %u201c Intro. 2,%u201d a bill which will guarantee rights (employment, housing public accomodations) to homosexuals. Such rights have already been protected by law for minority groups, women, national and religious groups. Unfortunately, due to opposition by the church it is said, the outcome was negative.I want it to be known that much of the church is trying hard to deal with this issue in a fair manner. The position of the United Methodist Church is as follows: %u201c Homosexuals no less than heterosexuals are persons of sacred worth, who need the ministry & guidance of the church in their struggles for human fulfillment.%u201dLocalBuildersIndictedThe Department of Consumer Affairs has announced the indictment of two home improvement contractors following the investigation of those contractors by one of their staff investigators, Lou Reale, a Carroll Gardens resident. The two indictments were issued against Phillip Lori, owner of Interborough Fence Company, Hollis, Queens and Leo Regolini, owner of RES W rought Iron Products, Inc., Jamaica, Queens. Both were charged on several counts, including grand larceny, abandonment, false advertising and unlicensed activity.Mr. Reale, who has leaved in Carroll Gardens all his life, is concerned that consumers be aware of potential fraud in their dealings with various service suppliers. %u201c Home improvement contractors have particular relevance in our neighborhoods where so much renovation is underway,%u201d he suggested. Mr. Reale has advised any consumers who have complaints regarding such contractors to col 1 the following Brooklyn office: 434-1900.There is another principle which should be affirmed here: namely, a person%u2019s sexual lifestyle-unless it is publicly flaunted or forced upon another-is private. No public agency has the right to investigate, regulate, or inquire into its nature.Rev. A. Finley Schaef Park Slope United Methodist ChurchChurchDeservesCreditDear Editor:1 have read your article in this week%u2019s %u201c Phoenix%u201d about the crisis at the Heights and Hill Community Council, which quotes me. I feel I must clarify a point with regard to First Presbyterian Church.You mention a number of our community programs, including the %u201copen house%u201d , %u201c Hot Lunch Program%u201d and %u201c Arts Program.%u201d You say they are %u201c back-up%u201d for the Council.However, I should point out that these are sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, who receive no funding whatsoever from the Council. Indeed, they are our donation to the work of the Council.In this, we are grateful to the Session and Deacons of the Church, and to the many members in the community who support our efforts.Finally, I should add that the future of these programs is quite secure. The article suggested by implication that they too were under %u201c threat%u201d . This is not so. Sincerely,Brian Russell,Assistant to Minister, First Presbyterian ChurchRx: MoreGrowthEditor:The paper is growing so Healthily-keep up the fine work !!! Subscription please.Verdelle Standard 396 Grand Ave. Brooklyn, N.Y. 11238Crime Expo WillShow How PoliceReally OperateThrough the years the jolice officer%u2019s job has grown tnd changed a great deal.Many people take the protection and dedication of their iocal police for granted. Few stop to think about what police work is really all about and how the police work in a number of ways to service their communities. The general public will now be given a chance to see what Deing a iaw officer reaiiy means for on May 31 and June 1 the Brooklyn Academy of Music will have an exposition of the many facets making up police work. Detective Tim Cole of the 76th precinct informs us that %u2018%u2018thehours will be from 12 noon to 6 p.m. The exposition will include exhibitions from the Police Aviation, Mounted, Highway Patrol, Crime Prevention, Rape Analysis, Street Crime Unit, Auxiliary Police, Emergency Service and Community Affairs Divisions. No admission will be charged. If you have read the %u2018100 Hats of Officer Jones,%u2019 now you can come and see what a Police Officer * - - - * ' (A H ..._x %u2018 %u2014 %u2022A. X l_ uueo. vvny nui vioii mi6Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Avenue, and spend a pleasant hour or two getting to know more about those who work to make our lives and communities safer.-JOANN D%u2019ACQUISTOPHOENIX, May 30, 1974^