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E d it o r ia l sFestivities Over, But We Live It Every DayThere were two celebrations in New York City last week that marked the centennial of the Statue of Liberty. One was a contrived series of events sculpted to the beat of a Hoiiywooa-styie musical %u2014 great material if you like that sort of thing, but pretty boring stuff if you like a little realism in your life. The other was a wham-bang celebration of the Fourth of July in the best traditions of New York City %u2014 real live events that involved real live people who every day live the kind of %u201cmelting pot%u201d lives that give the truest kind of testimony to the spirit of the Statue of Liberty.The official extravaganza has been written to death in the newspapers and %u201creported%u201d on television from just about every angle. All those millions of folks out there across the land who were on the receiving end of that blizzard of coverage must have thought we were all having the time of our lives here in NYC. Many of us were, as our reporters%u2019 notebook coverage in our pages this week tells, but thankfully not the kind of time television was talking about. Of course, how were the viewers to know that what they were seeing was only a single perspective on what was really happening here. We all saw the same %u201clighting%u201d of the statue, the same tall ships sail across theharbor and the same fireworks. But the vantage points were different, and that%u2019s all the difference in the world.From the common ground of city streets %u2014 not the rarified atmosphere of a %u201cprivate%u201d island %u2014 it was a very special time in the normal kind of places. Kids of all ages on the streets proudly wearing their caps, T-shirts, buttons and pins. Crowds of New Yorkers flocking to visit the ships around the harbor, talking to sailors of all nations who proudly showed off their vessels. Fireworks galore %u2014 not only the official ones, but from our own perch in Sunset Park, just as many to be seen in the streets and shooting up from the various parks to celebrate the day. And tourists (many of them white-uniformed sailors), bless them, come to see our town and our festivities, and filled with questions, wide-eyed observations and awe.With the official events over and the dignitaries all gone, we are left to savor the joys of the weekend past %u2014 the slowing and stopping of the normal bustle of the city for a few days and the special sights and sounds that filled our eyes and our hearts in its place. And with all those Hollywood types and their hoopla gone, we%u2019re left with the object of all that affection %u2014 a statue that sits in our harbor and every day is there for us to see as a symbol that our city itself is the living embodiment of the spirit of the Statue of Liberty.%u00a7 O U N D FE E D B A C K FR O M READERSSupports Sister CityI was thrilled to see Liz Koch%u2019s piece on %u201cSouth Brooklyn Activists Push Idea of a %u2018Sister City' in Nicaragua%u201d (June 19).I am one of the many Brooklyn residents who have joined this campaign to link our borough with a community in Nicaragua. I believe this is a sensible way to protest the Reagan Administration%u2019s support of the contras, while both increasing public awareness of American policy in Nicaragua, and doing something meaningful for the people of Nicaragua by sending down medicine, books and other supplies.I felt Ms. Koch did an excellent job of explaining our goals and our proposals, and I hope The Phoenix will continue to cover the Sister City Project as we continue our campaign to have Community Board 6 formally endorse the idea in September. Anyt formally endorse the idea in September. Any Phoenix readers interested in joining the Sister City Project are invited to take part in a parade we are planning for Saturday, July19, that will end with a picnic in Prospect Park. We%u2019re assembling at 10am at Smith and Carroll Streets. Please join us! %u2014 Beth Jackendoff, South Oxford Street.Library CorrectsAs editor of the Literacy Program%u2019s newsletter, THE KEY, it has fallen to me to write to you regarding the article of May 29 about our Spring Reception. (Phoenix Reporters%u2019 Notebook, %u201cHonors At tHis Reception Mark A Real Personal Triumph%u201d ).We all appreciated the expansive coverage you provided; however, there were a few inaccuracies: the 700 hours of tutoring attributed to May Bohanan were actually compiled by her husband Wallace, and Jeannette Smith is his student; in the upper photo, the lady in the dark glasses is not Jeanne Cowen, coordinator of the Literacy Program. Both of the women are tutors.But the main reason for this note is the statement that prospective tutors arerequired to attend an 18-session workshop. One of the tutors who noted that error was really upset about it, declaring that she would certainly have been put off by such a lengthy commitment for training. Another remarked that her college%u2019s summer term isn%u2019t that long.We do fear that other potential volunteers may have been discouraged, and we have a continual need for more tutors %u2014 there is a long waiting list of would-be students. The actual duration of training is 18 hours, spread over five or six consecutive weeks. We would appreciate your printing a correction for this important fact.Again, we thank you for an otherwise fine story. %u2014 Joan D. Banks, Literacy Program, Brooklyn Public Library.Thanks To LeaderWe know we speak for many people in the 52nd Assembly District in wishing all good things to John Mazzittelli who resigned his position as State Committeeman. As District Leader, John was hard working andSIGN OF THE Yimesdedicated to the needs and concerns of his constituency.Among his many accomplishments was the establishment of the Bay Ridge Democrats. After the 50th Assembly District was reapportioned, the Democratic Club in Bay Ridge vanished. John worked long hours, days and weeks to reorganize a club to keep the Democrats in that area together - to the advantage of the community and the Democratic Party.John is a warm, cordial, endearing human being with a combination of sensitivity, humor and compassion. We miss him and with sadness and joy, wish him success in his new career. %u2014 Nino Pantano, Carroll Gardens; Diana Farrell, Past President, Bay Ridge Democrats.Thanks For CelebrateYour editorial support of the Celebrate Brooklyn festival is well merited, and in keeping with the Phoenix%u2019s traditional support for the arts, I have written letters and made contributions to show my own support, but I fear that this schedule marks an artistic decline. Why has Burl Hash replaced the outstanding Shakerspeare & Company with the New York Shakespeare Festival Players?Shakespeare & Company%u2019s annual appearance has been the high point of Celebrate Brooklyn for me and surely for many other persons the past few years. The sparkling performances of this troupe were favorably reviewed by New York Times critics, a rare but completely deserved tribute. People come from many parts of the metropolitan area especially to see Shakespeare & Company%u2019s innovative interpretations.Please Mr. Hash, bring them back! %u2014 Alfred Kohler, Remsen Street.Problems With SALT%u201cToo much SALT isn%u2019t good for you,%u201d quipped President Reagan. This tasteless, macabre joke came shortly after he admitted the Soviets had made %u201cserious%u201d arms control proposals. The President could be quipping our future away as his Administration proceeds to kill the SALT II Treaty.The President never favored SALT II, which limits nuclear arms. First, he said it sets the limits too high. Now he says he can%u2019t be bound by those limits. That unleashes an absolutely unlimited arms race. Actually, every nuclear weapon we add to our fantastic stockpile is double-edged, since the Soviets clearly state they will not let us achieve superiority. The fact is, the only restraint on the suicidal arm s race is SALT II.Besides, as William Colby, former CIA Director, said, SALT II contains %u201cverification provisions that help each side keep track of the other%u2019s nuclear weapons.%u201d He added, %u201cFor the most part both (sides) have observed these rules.%u201d This will be lost if we kill SALT II.There is a bill in Congress to require the President to comply with SALT II (H.R. 4919). If this is passed, further nuclear testing would be doubly unnecessary and irrational. Before the Soviet Union resumes testing, we could match their unilateral ban, thus placing strong brakes on the deadly arms race. We would then be able to set our sighjts toward better lives %u2014 jobs, housing,O /^ IIO o fin n V m n ltK n o r n in n f n r , r l 4 n %u00ab ,n %u00ab /lr,more likely nuclear war and death.Let your congressman know- your view. %u2014 Alice Gordon, Surf Avenue.Page 26, TH E P H O EN IX, July 10,1986