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A&S Lease InvestigatedBY ROB TAYLORAn investigation into the state leases of aformer Abraham & Straus warehouse is being conducted by Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau following a Statereport alleging %u201cquestionable practices%u201d ofthe department store executives and thebuilding%u2019s landlord.The inquiry stem s from a State Commission of Investigation report presented toMorgenthau about the business practices ofJoseph Siggia, a former official of the stateOffice of General Services and coordinatorof the NY State World Trade Center Relocation Task Force. On July 1, the District Attorney indicted Siggia along with RocklandCounty businessman, Harry Partridge, andone of his business consultants, Paul Adler,on charges of conspiracy, fraud, briberyand perjury.The 37-count indictment was made in connection with the selection of a lowerManhattan building, 400 Broome St. for astate agency. While working with the taskforce, Siggia was searching for office spacefor state agencies that were being relocatedfrom the World Trade Center. The indictment alleges that Siggia, Partridge andAdler made a deal renovating a buildingbelonging to Partridge at state expense,before renting the building back to thestate.The same day as the indictment wasmade, Morgenthau also confirmed that hisoffice was examining another business dealhandled by Siggia for the relocation of theWorkers Compensation Board to the formerA&S building at 180 Livingston St.The Commission of Investigation questioned the role of both Siggia and A&S executives, former president Robert Tammero and senior vice-president FrancescoCantarella, in the lease signed by the State.The Commission reported a $6,000 weekendpaid for by A&S entertaining Siggia andanother employee of the Office of GeneralServices, prior to the signing of a $30million lease for the warehouse.A spokesperson with the District Attorney%u2019s office says that the investigation iscontinuing but would not comment on anyprogress that has been made. All threedefendants, including Siggia, have beenreleased on their own recognizance pendinga hearing that has been adjourned untilNov. 14.B ro o k ly n .__________ i n cStudy Checks WaterA $2.5 million contract for a study toclean up pollution-plagued Paerdegat Basinin Southern Brooklyn was approved July 17by the Board of Estim ate and is expected totake effect immediately.%u201cSections of Paerdegat Basin arepolluted, posing a health threat and jeapordizing sensitive wetlands in this section ofBrooklyn,%u201d Borough President HowardGolden said when he announced the contract. This clean-up, coupled with workunderway and completed at Fresh Creekand Spring Creek, will help insure a safer,healthier environment for future generations and provide additional upgrading ofwater quality in Jamaica Bay.%u201dThe approval of the contract continues anongoing effort to clean tributary waterwaysin Brooklyn. Major work has already begunon the Gowanus Canal that include the construction of a new pumping station and therestoration of a seawater flushing tunnel.The contract for Paerdegat Basin is between the Department of EnvironmentalProtection and Hazen and Sawyer, P.C.,Engineers.In the garden across the street from theBrooklyn Academy of Music, Lukas Foss(left) Music Director of the Brooklyn Phiiharmonic discusses the current summer concert series with Bruce Wittmer, Director ofPublic Affairs for Con Edison that helpedsponsor the series.Music Gets FundsCHALLENGE: Generating resources for business growth%u201cMarineMidlandis expandingin Queens to meet the challenges of expanding t/owr business?Richard Kulbieda, Vice President, District HeadAt Marine Midland Bank, we re proud to announce the opening of our new Queens Commercial Banking District Office in Rego Park. The office symbolizes our commitment to the Queens business community and provides a dynamic new resource for your company%u2019s financing needs.Marine Midland brings you the resources of a worldwide banking network with over 150 years%u2019 experience in meeting business challenges.We offer below prime rate economic development loans, fixed rate commercial mortgages, working capital loans, cash management services, and foreign exchange transactions. We also provide a wide range of investment banking services%u2014 including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, private placements, and interest rate and currency swaps.Make Marine Midland a part of your corporate growth strategy. Call us today. Or stop into our new Queens office. Tell us the challenges your company faces. We ll show you how to turn them into opportunities.Turning Challenges into Opportunities.MARINE MIDLAND BANKM E T R O G R O U PDankaivi ITulkin/ioVice PresidentDistrict HeadT k n m o c H o f i l m r u sAssistantVice PresidentQueens Commercial Banking District95-25 Queens BoulevardRego Park, NY 11374(718) 897-8500Rrtkerf MoPkillinc - - - gCommercial BankingOfficerMarine Midland Bank, N.A., member FDICr( j a ^ e f rSollper.Ira b .An American Dining TraditionSince 1879.Minutes from Manhattan in theheart of historic Brooklyn.372 Fulton Mall near Borough HallFor reservations call: 875-5181Major credit cards acceptedD.O.T. 1636CALL KENNYLOCAL-INTERSTATEC O M M E R C IA L M O V E SN A T IO N A L A C C O U N T SA S P E C IA L T YStorage and Packing622-7777K E N N Y V A N L IN E S133 Seventh AvenueBrooklyn, NY 11215August 14,1986, THE PHOENIX/BROOKLYNJNC SECTION TWO, Psgs 15