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Page 10 PHOENIX January 31,1974E d ito ria lsPolice IdeasWe like the idea advanced at a meeting last week of the 84t Precinct officials and community representatives from Brooklyn Heights to make the operation of the auxiliary police more efficient by allowing Heights volunteers to %u201c check in%u201d at the ministation on Montague Street, rather than treck to Gold Street to begin their %u201c tour%u201d .The difficulty of getting to and from their posts, makes the job that the hearty volunteers are already doing that much more valuable to the community, but we think we should get thct number of ready and willing potential volunteers up, if all it takes is to move the check-in post, and urge Capt. Tracey to make this change now.We were also intrigued by the proposal of James Mangano to open a second mini-station for patrolmen in the Heights at the St. George Hotel. The constant problem of fear and crime that seems to stalk the St. George might be changed for good if the constant presence of police were available at this location. We urge the precinct to consider opening this second post. It seems to us that if we are to only have one of these stations the Heights as a whole, might be better off by switching to the St. George location. We would like to hear from police officials on this question.Way Back When Dept.: Flatbush Avenue bustled in the 20's,| when this picture was taken. The view looks north from the intersection | | with 8th Avenue. Photo courtesy of the Long Island Historical Society.illlllllllllllllllltlllllllHIIIIlllllllllllllllllllllllim illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllim illllllllllllllllllilllllllllllllllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlIIllllHllllllllIIIIHHNnillHllltiNo DoubtThe picture of a deepening morass into which President Nixon seems to be sinking leaves little doubt that this manwill serve out his term in the White House. The decision by the %u201c tape\that there was deliberate erasure of the potentially damning evidence, followed by the possibilities that Nixon%u2019s former White House \for the beleaguered president to cling to.We hear a growing ground-swell of opinion throughout our Brooklyn neighborhoods for a change in government that would relieve our citizenry of the burdens of a leaderless country at this time of national crisis. Various shortages and economics problems are escalating into a state of national trauma because of a lack of any kind of moral, let alone political leadership.Skeptical as we are about the talents and abilities of the Vice President, we renew our previous plea for a change in government by whatever constitutional means possible. Rep. Wilbur Mills, whose plea and proposals for a decision by either the Congress or the President was heard in recent days, is properly setting the kind of calm, rational tone that such proceedings must take to avoid the specter of a political witch hunt. We hope for change to cleanse the posioned atmosphere that is slowly, but surely affecting every single person in this nation.Do you h a v e som ething to sa y ?We welcome your contributions to the Phoenix Community Forum Page. 500-750 word length prefered.Send y o u r m a teria l to:The Editor, Phoenix,130 Clinton St., Brooklyn,, N.Y. 11201rPesce Focusing OnNeighborhood Decayao B flo a a c********** ALBANY REPORT3 O O Q Q B 0 O CWhy do neighborhoods in ourCity deteriorate? How do we bringback to life neighborhoods that aredying? These questions are beingasked from Los Angeles to St.Louis to New Yorkk. And these aretwo of the major questions whichAssemblyman Michael L. Pesce(Democrat, 52nd A. D.) plans tozero in on during the 1974Legislative session in Albany.The South Brooklyn-BrooklynHeights Assemblyman hasoutlined at least two legislativeapproaches: one directed at thebanks and the other at the biginsurance companies. %u201cIt will be abig fight,%u201d Assemblyman Pescestated, as the 1974 Session opened,%u201cespecially since the big Banksand Insurance Companies controlso much of what goes on in Albany,but we%u2019re ready for it.%u201dThe intention of the proposedPesce legislation is to %u201cconvince%u201d,and perhaps even %u201cforce%u201d, the bigNew York City Banks and Insurance Companies to invest in ourneighborhoods more of the moneythey have gotten from theircustomers in these same neighborhoods (in savings and checkingaccounts, premiums, investments,etc.).The proposed Pesce legislationwill apply to all cities in the State\fleeing to the suburbs under the%u201cred lining%u201d persuasion of the bigBanks, Insurance Companies,utilities and real estatespeculators. But the major effectof the Pesce legislation, accordingto his staff, will be on New YorkCity.\blyman Pesce stated, %u201cthe Banks and insurance Companies must invest more of their money in the areas from which they take it. People in areas like South Brooklyn. Greenpoint, Park Slope, Gowanus. Bushwick and Williamsburg save their money in Savings Accounts and perhaps keep checking accounts in Com mercial Banks. They also pay premiums on life insurance and automobile insurance to the big insurance companies.But these same people find itdifficult to get mortgage moneyfrom those same banks for thepurchase or rehabilitation ofhomes or retail businesses. And inthese areas homeowners and retailbusinesses find out the hard waythat the Insurance Companies arenot very anxious to write outhomeowner policies, or to give fireand property insurance to retailers%u2014 at least not at reasonable rates.%u201d%u201cWe all know why so many of ourold neighborhoods in all the citiesare dying,%u201d Mike Pesce continued,%u201cand it is not because new peoplemove in. It is because people havelost heart and are moving out. It isbecause the big Banks, InsuranceCompanies and the gas, electricand telephone companies haveconspired to %u2018red-line%u2019 certainneighborhoods. These financialgiants get together in one way oranother and decide that they willpull their money out of certainareas. Then it becomes difficult tolive in those areas. Servicesdecline, mortgage moneyevaporates, insurance rates goup%u2014and then people start movingout. Good people of all races and of all economic levels.%u201d\have heard about again and again%u201d Mike Pesce claimed, %u201chas been midwifed and encouraged by the policies of the Banks, the Insurance Companies and the utilities. These institutions took money out of our neighborhoods, invested that moenv in the suburbs with land speculators and now these giants have big investments in the suburbs which thev have to feed constantly. This is the vicious circle that my proposals hope tobreak once and for all.%u201dAssemblyman Pesce plans toannounce the details of eachproposal as he introduces each billinto the Assembly. He hopes towork with other members of theAssembly and Senate so thatsimilar bills will be introduced ineach chamber. %u201cWe all know,%u201d ,Mike Pesce stated, %u201cthat as part ofthe minority Democratic Party inAlbany, there is little hope that Iwill be able to get these billspassed. But we have to begin 1focusing on these solutions.%u201cAlso, if the media gives thesesolutions enough coverage andwide public support developsquickly for them, the Republicansmay be forced to take an idea ortwo and enact them into law. Thatwill start the ball rolling. Up to nowit has been the vested interests of |the banks and insurance com- ;panies that controlled Albany jlegislation affecting themselves, *but let%u2019s see if we can change ithat.%u201d^ i . /veoJc&amsTell us what you're thinking aboutlocal issues.r J - j . ___C U I I U I ,130 Clinton St. u .