Page 224 - Demo

Editorialst here Are No Good GuysThe recent primary for six Civil Court judgeship nominations for theDemocratic Party must have been quite confusing even for the handful ofBrooklyn voters, the eight and a half percent, who went out to the pollingplaces. Squabbles between the two party factions spilling out onto thestreets must have confused the Borough's voters even more.Some members of the reform Kings County Democratic Coalition onprimary day went to the regular faction, the 39th Assembly District anddistributed cards with reform candidates' names but with the regulars'logo. Reformers say it was done as a prank, and didn't change theoutcome of the election,and was not meant to confuse the voters, butthe Regulars thought differently and went to court over the incident..Playing a trick or prank on someone is meant to confuse. We think thatif reformers stand for cleaning up abuses in the electoral system, thentrying to confuse voters is not the way to go about it. The reformers whooften piously accuse regulars of playing fast and loose in elections, noware also trying to confuse voters, showing that if the game is worth thecandle, ends have a wonderful way of justifying the means.Sound Off Readers Talk BackShocking HeadlineI've been a reader of the Phoenix for over four years and I've been a subscriber for over a year. Throughout this period of time I've enjoyed and supported many of the articles that have appeared in the Phoenix. And I've always considered it to be one -of Brooklyn%u2019s better newspapers. Your September 13th. 19^9 issue left me with some doubt. On Page 5 of that issue, the Phoenix did an article headlined, \and offended bv the use of the word \CHINAMEN, they are CHINESE. Even Nixon knew that!I think you should edit and proofread your articles more carefully. Another alternative is to hire writers who can write an article without offending and insulting more than 900 million people.--10%u00ae Wai-Shek, 18th Avenue.Not So SorryI am looking at the cover of your September 6. issue and am distressed by the negative message communicated by your cover photo. Why are you apologizing to children for telling them its time to continue their education?Most children I know are happy to be back at school. They enjoy the comraderie of their classmates, are interested in learning and appreciative of being involved in purposeful activities.I think the negative messages adults project about school is irresponsible and unwarranted and tells the children that they are expected to be unhappy about something which they by and large look forward to and enjoy.--Robert Arberman,6th St., Park Slope.Modesty and HeroismI'd like to report an incidence of heroism that occured August 31st, on State Street. It involves one of a group that risk their lives daily in yet another way.At two-thirty A.M. that Friday, a women's screams reverberated in the street. Running to my window on the fourth floor, I saw below, a couple of figures in front of one of the darkened, under-renovation brownstones. The next moment firemen, from the firehouse next to my building, were running across the street. They paused a second, then ran down State Street toward Nevins, and disappeared around the corner. They were accompanied by another man, whom I recognized as a neighbor.I called 911, but by the time I returned to the window, there was already a police car below%u2014as were the firemen. I dressed and went downstairs and learned the following: A women%u2014still very upset, she told the story between sobs%u2014had been returning from a dance, when a man intercepted her, and dragged her off the sidewalk toward one of the empty-looking brownstones. He said he'd hurt her if she resisted. She screamed nonetheless. The firemen came out. When the man found himself confronted, he at first said he was her boyfriend; when she denied it, he ran. The others ran in pursuit.At this point 1 looked in ihe police car, and saw a man silting silently in the back.Ihe policemen took the name and badge number of the fireman who actually made the citizen's arrest. and told the young man\come down with a commendation.%u201d The fireman was very modest about the whole thing.I understand there has been no commendation awarded, and know that in the days following the episode, no mention of it was made in the newspapers, t.v. or radio.1 think a little public acknowledgement and appreciation might be offered men who unhesitatingly chased what might have proved to be an armed and violent person, especially when their work calls for them to risk their lives everyday anyway.%u2014 David Shifren, State St.Life And LimbsNow that%u2019s not too good. I didn't give you permission to use my first name. My professional name is M.M. Graff. (Parks Department Removes Ailing Elms, Phoenix, Sept. 6) I didn%u2019t know about the tree pits for elms%u2014oh, the blithering dunces!%u2014 but the discovery of a new infection from the stump of a tree cut down in 1977 is certainly an argument against putting more elms in that massively infective ground.I am dubious about their \surgery%u201d which, if properly done, is no more cosmetic than an operation to remove a gangrenous foot. If trees have \portions,%u201d as th spokesman says, then they are too far gone for surgery. This can only be successful in the very early stages when only the outer part of one limb shows symptoms. It is necessary to get at least ten feet of clean wood%u2014fifteen is even better assurance%u2014between the last visible sign of disease (streaking of the sapwood) and the trunk.If they are taking off dead limbs, or dead portions, it is certain that the fungus has already reached the trunk and will break out even more extensively. As I say, the operation can only be successful if the tip of a limb shows yellowing leaves. By the time the wood is dead, the tree is. What they%u2019re doing is postponing removal and meanwhile, letting more beetles breed and fly. I wish Brooklyn had enough private funds to take over the job of policing park and parkway since a keen eye and early detection are essential.%u2014M.M. Graff, 45thSt.Anger And PrejudiceWhile reading through my copy of the Phoenix today, I came across a headline as 1 was talking on the phone. The title struck my attention with such an impact, that I forgot whai I was saying to read what the article was about. That is the type of caption that editors strive to achieve.However, the reaction was not a positive one, it was one of anger, confusion and prejudice. The heading read, \See Museum.%u201d When foreign visitors tour the city, we do not title their race as such (i.e. Blackmcn visit U.S. or Spainards see U.N.) in publication. This type of reading leads one to believe that such reference to a person born in China is acceptable to the masses.I was born and raised in Brooklyn and was the subject to many prejudice remarks in my early childhood and beyond. The one filing that si uck in my mind as with those of my relations, is that CHINAMEN was always used and worded to mean a lower than standard person. My co-workers wereasked on this and they remarked to me of the same in meaning and tone of your article. The heading is not to explain the content of the information but rather insulting to the thousands of American born Chinese in the neighborhood.Please refrain from using \prejudices%u201d in titling your articles as I have enjoyed vour paper in the past.-Lily MoyPiro, East 12th Street.Thoughtful ThanksThank you for the thoughtful gift of the map of Prospect Park. It%u2019s the first time I could sec the Park plan in its entirety and learn its history.We appreciate having it sent to us.-Helen K. Serxner, Plaza Street.Funds Well SpentWith so much criticism of wasted governments funds, I want to share anexperience of funds well spent and wellsupervised. As Director of VolunteerServices at The Long Island CollegeHospital, I was responsible for theplacement and supervision of 60 youngpersons in the Summer Youth Employment(YEP), part of the federally-funded CETAprogram.These young people were chosen bylottery if they fell within CETA%u2019s economicguidelines. They were employed from July9 to August 23 at $2.90 per hour for 24hours each week and worked in variouscapacities throughout the hospital.The project was a tremendous learning cxplericnce for each of them from the time they filled out an application and had their interview to their daily work tasks. At LICH, the staff cooperated enthusiastically, making an effort to fully involve the YEP students in the job situation to which they were assigned. They were taught on the job so that at the end of the summer they knew all the ramifications of their work. The Volunteer Services department held weekly meetings with the students so that they could better understand the nature of their assignmentsl.The students reported to work consistently and promptly. If not, it was reflected in their paychecks. They were evaluated on their performance and copies were kept on file for future use. If the students did not fulfill their responsibilities, they were terminated, as would happen in a real-life job situation. The Volunteer Office was required to keep strict accountability of hours worked.Personally I saw growth and development in many ways, I particularly enjoyed seeing the sense of satisfaction they received from working and receiving a paycheck for their efforts.But the program was a two-way street in that it served the hospital as well. The students did not take anyone%u2019s job but helped out during a time which is traditionally depleted by summer vacations. They enhanced each area of their activity with their freshness and enthusiasm.fhere has been much previous criticism ot this program as a rip off of tax money because in many instances it was not a true educational training situation nor were the hours monitored, and it became a program that trained students to waste time and government funds. Fortunately, this year I experienced careful government super- \\ision of the program. I hope this was notunique to the Long Island College Hospital and had general application to all the programs in New York City.--Adele Bronston, Director, Volunteer Services,Long Island College Hospital, 340 HenryStreet.Ready For PollingUn September 25, 1979, there will be elections for the Area Policy Board in this neighborhood. The Area Policy Board (APB) is a new board which has been recently set up to oversee, set priorities and approve allocations of the $1 million of federal funds which is coming into the South Brooklyn community each year. It will be made up of 33 members; 17 representatives of the poor to be elected and 16 appointed members who will be political and private sector representatives. The writers of this letter are some of the candidates for the Area Policy Board in Bocrum Hill and Park Slope.Most community residents have never heard about the Area Policy Boards, and do not have any idea where the $1 million is going. We believe that community residents should be given the knowledge about what funds are available and participate in deciding what their own needs are. Community needs should be determined by all community residents and not by federal or city bureaucrats, or even by the handful of people who sit on the Area Policy Board. Open Town Hall type of meetings should be held where residents and organizations can speak to what they think are community needs. We also would pledge to put our $25, which we would receive as a stipend for attending the mopthly meetings, into distributing information to community residents as to what monies are available.Secondly we are deeply committed to maintaining Park Slope and Boerum Hill as communities where different racial, ethnic and income groups can live. We believe that no federal funds should be used to displace Park Slope and Boerum Hill residents either directly or indirectly. We are disturbed by the increasing tendency, particularly above 7th Avenue and in parts of Boerum Hill, for housing to become unaffordable to low income and even middle income people. Federal monies and grants could be used even if only in a small way, to counter this tendency instead of accelerating it.Finally, there is a great need for (1) job training programs for youth to provide meaningful skills and not just make work; (2) cultural and recreational programs geared to meet the needs of the varied ethnic, racial and age groups in our community. We realize that the monies involved are small compared to our needs; however, some of these types of programs could and should be developed.Because this Board is a small part of the process of organizing community residents to seek control over the things that affect their lives, we urge you to vote on September 25th. If you live between 9th Street and Carroll Street in Park Slope, the polling place to vote is at John Jay High School. For more information, rail: 768-0162; 768-2094; 788-1283.%u2014BemetteCarway, 9th St.-Carroll St., Jules Lobel,9th St.-Carrol St., Subunit 5; MimiRosenberg, 9th St.-15th St., Subunit 6;Martha Huntley, F'latbush Ave.-CarroIISt., Subunit 4; Linda DcJesus, BoerumHill, Subunit 7; Herb Williams, City-WideBoardPane 8. The PHOENIX. September 20, 1$79