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j E d it o r ia l sDemocratic Primary Election Endorsements for September 9 VotersMark Green for U.S. Senate %u2014 We believe the best opportunity for a choice between candidates in the general election in November will occur with the nomination of Mark Green over his Democratic primary opponent.Major Owens for U.S. Congress, 12th District %u2014 Constituents in Brooklyn are wellserved by this outspoken legislator and we strongly believe he merits a new term in the Congress. Owens has made a difference on issues of importance and we look forward to his contributions in coming years.Velmanette Montgomery for State Senate, 22nd District %u2014 Even in her first term, this activist representative displays the kind of qualities in a public official that rank her among the best. She has charted an independent course that promises leadership for our communities that is sorely needed. She has earned re-nomination and re-election to a second term.Eileen Dugan for State Assembly, 52nd District %u2014 Ms. Dugan%u2019s record of service to her district and to Brooklyn has been an effective one and we endorse her for a new term in Albany. Her position on many issues of importance to her constituents, is coupled with a strong record of participation and leadership in community affairs. While we deplore her determined opposition through the courts to keep her political opponents from entering a race against her and her outspoken defense of what we believe to be an anti-democratic position on the purposes of elections and competition for public office, we believe nevertheless that she has faithfully represented all the people of her district and merits re-nomination and re-election for a new term.State Assembly, 56th and 57th Districts %u2014 At this writing it appears that there maybe no race for the Democratic nomination for Assembly in these two Brooklyn districts, where effective incumbents have been removed from the ballot by the New York State Supreme Court for technical defects in their nominating petitions. These men, Albert Vann (56th-Bedford Stuyvesant) and Roger Green (57th-Ft. Greene/Clinton Hill/Boerum Hill/Prospect Heights), have merited our support in past Democratic primary elections and would have received it if they had been on the ballot this year. We have commented earlier in this political season about our views on the processes that have removed, in these instances, a decision from the voters and replaced it with a verdict from a judge. The political roots of the problem aren%u2019t likely to ever disappear, but the State Legislature had the opportunity to act to solve some of these problems and did not do so in a timely fashion. Our democracy and the people who make it work are the losers in this instance. We hope the cataclysmic loss of the opportunity to seek re-nomination will serve to dramatize the situation that has been faced by many lesserknown primary challengers over recent years and bring about long-needed reform of the hyper-technicalities of the election law that have been manipulated for political, not legal ends.John McElhinney for Democratic Leader, 52nd District %u2014 Any district like this one, which stretches through many, many communities is a difficult one to serve effectively. But, we think the best interests of those in our portion of the area, as well as of Democratic voters throughout the entire length of the 52nd, are best served by the election of Mr. McElhinney, who, working together with incumbent Democratic Leader Joan Millman, seeks to put a premium on community, not just political, service. We urge Democrats to elect Mr. McElhinney.%u00a7 o u n d FEEDBACK FROM READERSWrites About ArmsWe would appreciate publication of this letter to Harvey Robins, acting commissioner of the Human Resources Administration in your %u201cLetters to the Editor%u201d column of your paper. %u2014Hortense Beveridge, Executive Director, Pratt Area Community CouncilDear Mr. Robins:The Pratt Area Community Council (PACC) is outraged over the recent fire and deaths of the four children at the Brooklyn Arms Hotel. It is regretful that it takes a tragedy to raise the consciousness of city and state officials and prompt them to take action on otherwise forgotten and overlooked matters. It is most regretful that four young liveshad to be lost in order to focus attention on the Brooklyn Arms Hotel. To place the blame for this tragedy totally on parents for their negligence is inappropriate because that negates the responsibility of the city, state, and owners to provide good safe housing for its homeless.Revered Jackson said to the bereaved parents, %u201cWe sometimes lose the innocent for the benefit of those who remain.%u201d It is in this spirit that the Pratt Area Community Council suggests that the following action be taken.PACC is appalled at press reports of 500 violations and the widespread drug availability reported to us by residents and police. PACC wishes to join in monitoring of the correction of these violations. We assume that the Hotel owner will be treated as any other owner in terms of repair with %u201cRepair Agreements%u201d with timetables and schedulesto be followed. PACC wishes to receive a full report when the violations are corrected.PACC requests that a space be provided so that parents can leave the hotel and be assured that their young children will be supervised. This space should be available in the evenings and weekends.We are glad that the city has taken some actions to stop the sale of drugs within the hotel. A week later, we received reports that drug sales have resumed.The PACC Executive Board and membership feel that it is time for the city to begin addressing long term strategies for housing the homeless. These expensive short term solutions have been proven to be failures. PACC agrees to work with appropriate agencies towards developing long term solutions for the future.PACC will be calling your office to reviewSIG!S/ O F %u2122 E T im e sW h ile th e re a re m a n y m o d e s o f tr a n s p o r ta tio n , n o t m a n y a re a s lu x u r io u s as th is s n a p p e d in B ro o k ly n ( P h o e n ix /G a rc ila z o P h o to )the accomplishments thus far. We will also request further discussions concerning the other shelters in our neighborhood. %u2014 Howard Weiss, ChairpersonFine Reporting JobJust want to say what a fine reporting job Tracy Garrity did in your Gardeners%u2019 Harvest Fair story (%u201cAnnual City Gardener%u2019s Fair Proves Anyone Can Make A Garden Grow,%u201d Aug. 21) %u2014 even though you didn%u2019t mention us as a sponsor.You really examined the motivation of contestants, recreating a sense of what it means to City people (surprisingly) to go for the blue.Over the years, there have been few (if any) journalists who have taken the time to discover how serious the competitors are. And, in doing so, you have made it funny.Congratulations. %u2014 Sam Segal, Extension Associate, Cornell Cooperative Extension.Don%u2019t Add StudentsHie following is a copy of a letter sent to Robert Wagner, president of the New York City Board of Education:Dear Mr. Wagner,I recently received a petition from the UFT chapter at Sarah J. Hale High School protesting an enrollment increase of 500 at the school this fall. Since the school has already been targeted for special attention due to its high dropout rate, it seems rather foolish to add considerable stress to the school environment rather than take measures to reduce that stress.I urge you to reconsider the Board%u2019s action in this regard. Thank you. %u2014 James F. Brennan, State Assemblyman, 51st A.D.Thanks For SupportWe would like to thank you for your fine editorial on the need to continue funding I-ocal Economic Development Corporations in Brooklyn.We are still in a terrible position, no relief has come although all our elected representatives have met with us and promised support and efforts to find the money as soon as possible.I am speaking for all of us (LDC Directors and staff) when I say that we have considered ourselves professionals and public servants, working on the front lines of neighborhood revitalization for many years. Our Board of Directors have given innumerable hours of thought, time and effort in what they also believe is a service to their entire communities.The support we have gotten from both our Community Boards and the local press is a major affirmation to us that our efforts are significant to the people of the neighborhoods we serve. %u2014 Bette Stoltz, MASS Project Director, Merchants Association of Smith Street.HPage 38, THE PH OENIX, Septem ber 4, 1986

