Page 87 - Demo

January 31,1974 PHOENIX Page 11Look Around; Your NeighborhoodIs Bigger Than Your Local BlockBY GAYE SIBIRSKYInsularity! Provincialism! Isolationism! Strong words, usually derogatory%u2014could they really describe block associations, neighborhood groups, who are working together to rebuild their city? I%u2019ve been wondering lately.I have only recently become the proud owner of a Federal frame house in Boerum Hill. I have joined the Dean Street Better Block Association and the Triangle Parks-Flatbush Avenue Improvement Committee; I am on the Drug Action Cooperative of the latter; I have just attended my first Community Planning Board meeting.Over and above the problems, projects and developments discussed, protested, enjoyed, I have noticed one thing common to all the problems and all the meetings%u2014the majority of members seem to have a narrowness of viewpoint which looks at the immediate area they live in and tends to think only of removing a problem from %u201c hereto there%u201d regardless of where %u201c there%u201d is and of getting money for a project to help their immediate block or two regardless of whether anything similar is being done nearby which they could help and enjoy.Most of the people I have met are goodhearted and deeply concerned with the deterioration of life in this city and with doing something practical to reverse it, to build up neighborliness and %u201c enhance the quality of their lives%u201d as the experts love to put it. When appealed to they can indeed see the wider view and cooperate on broader than a two or three block basis%u2014then, oh my, how things move and get done! Nevertheless, too many meetings tend to degenerate into discussions of problems and activities within a very small area and activities within a very small area and sometimes lead to piecemeal proposals which don't really handle problems, or help development overall. It may even hinder things, as when numerous organizations arecompeting for the same small funds from agencies and foundations, for instance; or cause duplication of efforts to the same ends.There are so mamy problems, so much to do. it is indeed very hard to find the time and energy to even know about them all never mind actively participate. Still, many beautiful things have been happening in recent years because of individuals' concern in this city of ours which used to be great, which used to be a shining light to %u201c outsiders%u201d around the country and across the sea. In our struggles to make it again a beautiful and exciting place to live for everyone, let us try always to focus on cooperation between neighborhood groups, let%u2019s try to see whether something really has to be handled on the two or three block level, and when it should be done on a much wider basis.Somethings lately have in fact been discussed in this way, with cooperation and communication between groups all over this end of Brooklyn, with completesuccess- but oven at one or two of tnose meetings I have heard arguments and disputes among individuals that threatened to push neighborhoods apart and draw lines, although I am certain the people involved would none of them want this to happen. In the heat of the moments, in the ! anxiety over one%u2019s immediate difficulties it is hard always to see exactly what is happening and what may happen on the larger scale.You've probably noticed that 1 recently, from the Heights to Park Slope, from Fort Greene to the Park, we are becoming one big%u2014but not too big%u2014 neighborhood of pieople who have many, many things in common, not least of which is a love for the city in which they live and which they want to make great and beautiful again. I for one, would like to validate and thank the groups who are working this way. Let's foster that trend let%u2019s make sure we always cooperate-even though a little friendly rivalry is fun and stimulating.Seek RecycleExpansionTo the Editor:Last year, the Environmental P rotection A dm inistration established a pilot program of curbside pick-up of newspapers for recycling in three (3) Sanitation Districts %u2014 one of which is your community (District 30). Under this program, residents place their newspapers, tied in bundles, next to their garbage cans or bags on the same days as their regular refuse collection. In your area, that means any day %u2014 Monday through Saturday. The Sanitationmen then place these bundles in specially designed newspaper recycling racks, which have been fitted under the chassis of the collection truck. The bundled newspaper is unloaded at the disposal site and sent on its way to a recycling plant in the metropolitan area.So far, over 300 tons of newspapers have been collected in District 30 alone! Because of this success, EPA will expand its recycling operation over the next eighteen 18 months, adding two districts every six weeks. In this fashion we estimate that we could i tre\\ it: u i i c f .{> iu u i n u n u i eu ten,- %u25a0>! newsprint citywide each week %u2014t>i t >ok 1 \\ 11i 11- Jij %u25a0 m 1 .; borhooflS are included in tile program. Please cheek Hit enclosed map when encouraging participation in the program. We have flyers available see en ciosurei lor you. your neighbors, and your organization%u2019smembership. We will be glad todeliver them to you if you arewilling to distribute them. Just call566-1503, and specify the numberneeded. Ecology newsletters(enclosed) are also available toexplain the recycling of paper tochildren. If you prefer, an EPAstaff member could address one ofyour association%u2019s meetings toexplain the newspaper recyclingprogram and distribute literatureat that time.Newspaper recycling reducesthe amount of solid waste, the costof waste disposal, and saves treeswhich would otherwise be cutdown. But the program will notwork without your help. We appreciate your cooperation in thisprogram and look forward tohearing from you if you have anyquestions, if you are willing todistribute our publicity, or if youwould like a speaker for yourgroup.Sincerely yours.Rosemary Dunne (>flice of Program Analysis Environmental Protection AdminClean Air StandFollowing is one ot the five let tiers from the Brooklyn HeightsThe Brooklyn HeightsAssociation strongly objects to the present concepts of theEmergency Energy Act aspresently before the Congress. Wefeel that the provisions of this acthave been too hastily assembledwithout the necessary in-depthinvestigation that such a subjectrequires. If an energy crisis does,indeed, exist, the authorityprovided in this bill must be for alimited period, of no more thanone year duration.It is preferred that an increasein mandatory allocations of lowsulfur oil and natural gas begranted heavily polluted areassuch as New York City, ratherthan return to the use of coal.Further, the federal governmentshould not be allowed, in any case,to override local, state and federalpollution control lawsunilaterally.Those portions of the billprohibiting the Federal Environmental Protection Agencyfrom imposing transportation andland-use controls are not onlydetrimental to the cause of a cleaner environment, but actually serve to increase fuel needs Similarly, delaying compliance with the new automobile emission standards seriously weakens the nation s el forts to clean up the air without materially improving the Dnorgx > u pp K M iu d f-n nWt- urge \\ou to continue' toLanguage should hv substituted which would permit-only short term emergency conversion or ders. and oniy then where theywill result in a violation of aprimary air pollution standard.Sincerely,Edwards F. PullmanPresidentBrooklyn Heights Assn.Following is a response to theHeights Association on letterreceived from Brooklyn HeightsCouncilman Fred Richmond:Mr. Edwards F. RullmanBrooklyn Heights AssociationDear Ed:Thank you for your letter ofJanuary 18th regarding theHeights Association%u2019s objections tothe proposed Emergency EnergyAct.1 thoroughly agree with yourassertion that increased allocationof low sulphur fuels should begranted to urban areas and that theuse of coal should be restricted.In addition, I agree that theimposition of transportationcontrols by the Federal Environmental Protection Agencyshould be allowed to go forward.1 believe that the present crisis,either real or contrived, is beingused to weaken local anti-pollutionlaws across the countryIn any case, you are absolutely correct in your assertion that any emergency act should have built-in restrictionsAs a result of these views. 1 shall to support tho >tron mtorrument nl the present ( Jean \\ir Act and shall continue toA Bad IdeaLetter to the editor: i urge every voter :o write toGovernor Wilson and tell him todrop a bad ideaThe Governor wants a September primary.The last time the Statelegislature decided to change thelaw it cost us thousands of dollars,e g. in order for a mayoral candidate to win the primary he shouldhave more than 40 percent of thevotes. Well we went through 2primaries but no candidates wereeliminated they were all rightthere on the November ballot.This time the Governor says thereason is to shorten %u201cunduly longcampaigns%u201d (for himself?). I havenever heard a politician complainof that.Or consider this reason given bythe Governor: %u201cWe will have lessproblems with campaign financin g %u201d. Why should that lx* so?Probably a lot more money w ill bespent in a shorter time. We can bethankful that the Democraticleaders have decided to oppose theidea Let%u2019s convince theRepublicans too.Irene Van Sly ke208 Bergt n St.Axe to GrindDear Sir:Anyone who still (relieves that Pres Nixon is innocent of grievous wrongdoing against the American people is either unconscious or 'naan axe to grindN evertheless I am .1 trail %u25a0 i impeachment and trialministration.-- anti-American a< ticities ll l%u2019res Nixon were miC o ntinued on Page U