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E d i t o r i a l sSmall Business Rents Is an Issue to Face NowThe M ayor%u2019s Sm all Retail Business Study Commission finally com pleted its work this m onth, issuing noi one, but two reports. The m ajority and m inority groups on the appointed body differ widely on the solutions to what both agree is a m ajor problem : unchecked com m ercial rent hikes and the exodus of local neighborhood services. If the comm ission%u2019s reports tell us anything, however, it is that this is a complex problem that defies both sim ple analysis and easy solution. C ertainly, the findings of the commission cannot be the final w ord on this issue.But w hatever solutions m ay be offered, we think both m em bers of the Koch adm inistration and of the City Council who will be confronting the subject would do well to seriously exam ine two of the points raised by the com m ission%u2019s minority.The first is that governm ent need not be sim ply a lightning rod for every crisis when it arises, but should also practice preventative m edicine that will insure against predictable problem s in the future. The cycles of both the economy and of neighborhoods them selvesm eans th a t these problem s have and will continue to repeat them selves %u2014 a w arning th at if not resolved now, this issue will becom e a crisis in other city neighborhoods again in the future.The other point suggests th a t no m a tte r how m uch statistical data is com piled to describe and define the p aram eters of a subject and m easure its im pact, those who are exam ining it m ust also consider how people feel about it. The fact is th at the problem of escalating com m ercial rents for m ost people strikes at the very h ea rt of the concept of neighborhood in New York City. Changes in neighborhoods are a fact of urban life. But the question of w hether to control, harness or slow the ra te of change is a public policy issue th a t m ust be p art of the exam ination of this subject. We think it is one of the m ost im portant factors.The problem of change is only im portant to a com m unity as it is facing it; but then it is too late to affect it. Dealing with the issue now, and finding som e solutions to am eliorate its w orst consequences will benefit not only the New York of 1986, but the residents of the city for generations to come.S o u m O %u2122 FEEDBACK FROM READERSThanks for CoverageMany thanks for the fine coverage of the Brooklyn Public L ib rary %u2019s Literacy Program , %u201cHonors at This Reception Mark a Real Personal T rium ph,%u201d May 29. The intensity of the occasion, the honoring of tutors by students (who are adults learning to read), was conveyed in a w arm , graceful manner. We appreciate the attention you paid to this annual and always m oving event. %u2014 Kenneth F. Duchac, D irector, Brooklyn Public Library, Grand A rm y Plaza.Good to be in BrooklynIt%u2019s both appropriate and typical, I think, that the first m ajor coverage BAM receives in observance of our 125 Anniversary comes from our own Brooklyn weekly, The Phoenix. (%u201c Happy Birthday BAM,\Section, June 12).Congratulations back to all of you for the wonderful supplem ent saluting our birthday celebration which w as published just in tim e for %u201c Welcome Back to Brooklyn%u201d last Sunday.The research and writing by both Charles Tarzian and Sharon Cucinotta was exem plary, and the collection of photographs, engravings, and program s reproduced in this special edition gives a splendid visual history of the Academy through the years.We are grateful to our friends who offered greetings in this publication, and deeply appreciate your efforts in putting it all together!We look forw ard to this very exciting year coming up %u2014 our 125th %u2014 and a re especially pleased that the Phoenix chose to kick off theS i o n o f t h e J W sfestivities in such a grand m anner. Many thanks to you and your entire staff. It%u2019s good to be in Brooklyn%u2014 H arvey Lichtenstein, P resident and Executive Producer, Brooklyn Academ y of Music, Lafayette AvenueWonderful Picture!A wonderful picture! (Sign of The Times, May 29, Photo by Liz Koch) Everyone had their own caption, I%u2019m sure! H ere%u2019s mine: %u201c Pollen from Brooklyn H eights%u2019 low-rise trees attacks M ayor Koch a t groundbreaking for M organ-Stanley%u2019s skyscraper %u2018One Pierrepont Place,%u2019 (which is, to those who know the Heights, the address of Pierrepont Playground).%u201d %u2014 Ann Gaffney, Henry Street.Outright DeceptionThe following letter to the Brooklyn Office of the New York City Board of Elections on June 12 should be of interest to your readers %u2014Rev. John H. O%u2019Brien, St. F rancis Xavier P arish, 225 Sixth Avenue, Brooklyn.As P astor of St. F rancis X avier Parish, I have never sponsored any candidate for election of any office. I have not felt th at it was the role of the Church to sponsor specific candidates.However, to m y surprise and anger, I discovered that som e people feel free to use the nam e of St. F rancis X avier, as they wish, without consultation, authorization, or previous notification.P ap ers were distributed a t the doors of the St. F rancis X avier Church on the Sunday before the School Board Elections, in bold letters w as the nam e: ST. FRANCIS, then followed a list of candidates%u2019 nam es.Catholc* for Quafity Educationc t f m m v r k m w ohtwct nINDMH TM OFFICIAL %u00abJ%u00bbTI FMS i. F ra n c is /S t,A u g u * tin e# i Jo h n T o n e rft 2 R o b e rt F . Dunn# 3 C a th e rin e D onovan# 4 B e a tric e A. De S o[ft 5 W illiam A ppelft 8 J a m e s E . G re e nft 7 N o rm an F ru c h te rft 8 Philip 1Kaplan# 8 H o ra c e A. T y le rVote School Board ElectionTee*. 1May 6thThe offending flyer.I will add m y nam e to those who are inquiring w hether such outright deception should invalidate the School Board Elections in School D istrict #15. %u2014 Sincerely yours, Rev. John H. O%u2019Brien, P astor.Greatly AppreciatedOn behalf of the Board of D irectors, staff and m em ber agencies of the Brooklyn Teen Pregnancy Network, I would like to thank you for the coverage we received in the May 15th issue of The Phoenix. Our May 9thA Court Street window. (Phoenix/Koch Photo)celebration was a special day for Brooklyn%u2019s youth and the agencies th at service them and The Phoenix article w as greatly appreciated. Yours in progress, M ary J. Canada, E x %u00adecutive Director, Brooklyn Teen Pregnancy Network, 30 Third Avenue.Be Part of the ProcessA curious dram a is unfolding in F ort G reene. (Community Forum , Ju n e 5, %u201cAtlantic Term inal Trees to Come M ean More for Everybody.%u201d ) A m ajor project is proposed %u2014 the ATURA project %u2014 that could be of trem endous benefit to the com m unity. Yet only a few are rejoicing. How is this paradox explained?By law, whenever the City of New York proposes a new developm ent, in appreciation and recognition of the invaluable viewpoints and contributions of the host community, public hearings m ust be held to solicit neighborhood reaction and opinion. This is called the ULURP process. In the present a tm osphere of m unicipal scandal, we are rem inded th at this process is an essential safeguard against m isguided developm ent. Some of us rem em ber the m isguided urban renew al which caused the em pty lots the Atlantic Term inal project now covets.The lack of enthusiasm for the Rose Associates plan for our neighborhood can be attributed to the short-sighted approach of Mr. Rose and his m ost vocal supporters, who are presenting the plan to neighborhood residents as an all-or-nothing proposition. Despite their paying lip service to the ULURP process, attem pts at com m unity input into the plan %u2014 not yet finalized %u2014 have been characterized as trivial, divisive, or parochial. Those from the neighborhood who voice legitim ate concerns about the im pact of the project on the com m unity a re depicted as %u201cspoilers.%u201dThe ATURA plan as now proposed can not becom e an integral p art of our vibrant com %u00adm unity. It is designed to be insular. F u rth erm ore, by closing som e streets, narrowing others, positioning parks to cut off traffic, and situating the garag e on a residential street, intolerable am ounts of traffic will be funneled into our historic residential com %u00adm unity. South Portland Avenue will be m ost severely im pacted, because it is the only twoway residential street, because of its location as an easy access route to the BQE and bridges, and because the g arag e entrace/exit is onto our street. But the im pact will be felt throughout the neighborhood.A typical Saturday is anticipated to bring 35,000 vehicles to the 50,000 square-foot superm arket and ten-plex cinem a. These cars will be cruising the whole neighborhood in search of parking and short-cuts out of the congestion. No street will rem ain unaffected. Yet the Environm ental Im pact Study does not address this area %u2014 all of Fort G reene north of Fulton Street has been excluded from the study. The D.E.I.S. also failed to address the im pact of the increased traffic on noise pollution, air pollution, or on the trees and brownstone facades in the historic district. At best, this is an inexcusable oversight; at worst, a calculated attem pt to avoid addressing a serious flaw in the plan.We have raised these issues in the forum provided by the Community Board #2 h earings. We are seeking a m utually satisfying resolution with the project planners. This is responsible planning for the com m unity%u2019s future. We encourage all our fellow residents to participate in the process, to m ake ATURA what we all w ant it to be. %u2014 Jo an R eutershan, for the Traffic Com m ittee, South Portland Avenue Block Association.Pag%u00ae 38, THE PHOENIX, June 19, 198t