Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 2

OCAL TATE SECTION Mi r. TINCS 2BI5B JUST ASK towns, vii.i.a(;i:s 3bI DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE MONDAY, JUNE 23,1997 Daily Digest Itoouro prop A citizens group plans to protest today. A legislative hearing is slated Wednesday. i- -rs! The money should be used for things like hiring more probation officers and working with police to issue more appear- built to hold just over 900. Doyle has said the county must build cells to make conditions safe for jail guards and humane for prisoners.

Jail expansion opponents say two prior county jail expansions over the past decade cost alxut $30 million but failed to solve the crowding problem. They believe the money could be better spent on jail alternative programs for those being held in jail awaiting trial. On Wednesday, two county legislative committees will hold a public hearing, then vote on Doyle's legislation, which would: Borrow $2.9 million to hire an engineering firm that would design the new jail addition. Amend the county's capital project plan to declare the county's intentions to spend the full $49 million to build the new cells. Borrowing for construction would require addi tional legislative approval, said Doyle spokesman James Smith.

Doyle's expansion plan includes a five-stery addition on the Plymouth Avenue side of the county lublic Safety Building. The project is the most expensive county undertaking since the $150 million landfill in Riga, which opened in 1993. As of last week, nearly 1,400 inmates were in the county's two jails, which were Doyle stration at the County Office building. The citizens group opixises Republican County Executive Jack Doyle's plan to build 400 new cells at the county's downtown jail. "This thing is being pushed through, and this may be the only way the public gets heard," said Clare Regan, a commission organizer.

BY STAFF WR1TKR MICHAEL CAPUTO Protests and public hearings are planned this week as Monroe County legislators lie-gin considering a $49 million proposal to expand the county's crowded jail system. Today the Judicial IVocess Commission plans a demon ance tickets," said Democratic Minority lender Kevin Murray of Rochester. JAIL, PAGE 4B THE LATE STATE BUDGET ANNirrrr. u.in suit photographer Greek feast Carolyn Dclvccchio, 8, enjoys a g)To sandwich at the Greek Festival yesterday. STORY, I'AGi: SB City wins awards for HUD programs Rochester has received three national awards for outstanding management of housing and community de Seabreeze ride had a previous safety problem problem was unrelated to the BY STAFF WRITER DONNA JACKEL accident that occurred later that day, he said.

-03 Norris believes Saturday velopment programs from Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo. The city won three of HUD's John J. Gunther Blue Ribbon Practices Awards for the Neighbors Building Neighborhoods planning program, for creating the HOME store to give advice and training to first-time homebuyers and for helping the the City of Buffalo computerize some night's accident occurred because a wheel locked as the coaster descended the first A Seabreeze Amusement Park roller coaster that broke down Saturday night, sending nine people to hospital, malfunctioned earlier this month, "hill, causing the ride to stop abruptly at the bottom of the hill. SV u-v Officials at the State De DAYS AND COUNTING ALBANY With their rent-control war ended, Gov. George Pataki and legislative leaders now have alxiut three weeks to reach a more than $60 billion budget deal, or they will shatter their own record for the all-time late state budget set last July 13.

Is a swift agreement possible? "I certainly hope so," partment of Labor conducted a preliminary inspection and will investigate further today, Norris said. The mishap on the 420-ton steel roller coaster didn't stop park officials confirmed yesterday. The earlier incident occurred when an operator stopped the Quantum Loop as it rode up the first hill because he noticed one of the lap bars hadn't latched properly, said John Norris, Seabreeze vice president. The passengers were led down from the ride, which was briefly shut down while park employees "went over it with a fine-tooth comb," said Norris. "We wanted to make sure there was no mechanical failure," he said.

hundreds from boarding the Seabreeze rides yesterday. But opinion about the Quantum Loop was divided. Five students cash in on their dreams Five members of the 1994 graduating class of the Flower City School yesterday won savings bonds for writing about their dreams yesterday. The students all members of the first class to graduate from Flower which opened in 1991 had to present their essays orally at an annual lun Mary Ann Pendrys of Buf falo, a member of the Western New York Coaster Club, said she would still feel safe aboard the Loop. "It's a rare incident JIRO OSE staff phdhigrajihc you rarely hear of accidents on a roller coaster," said Pendrys, who travels the said Pataki.

"But I don want to predict at all." "I would hope the momentum from bringing this (the rent-fight) to resolution will work to jump-start the budget," said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan. Hopeful signs: Rent control is settled. Now leaders can focus on the budget in their closed-door meetings. Of course a budget was supposed to be adopted April 1. Some rank-and-file lawmakers say they are getting antsy, and that might help as well.

Danger signs: Republican Pataki and Democratic lawmakers who lead the Assembly still don't agree on the most basic aspect of a Are they slowing down? Dcbra Mitchcll-Ruranga questions whether speed humps are making Hillside Avenue safer for her 21 -month-old daughter, Umutesi Ruranga. country riding coasters. Phillip Denton of Dans- ville, Livingston County, said Do speed humps slow drivers? On Saturday, the Quantum Loop, which travels at 56 miles per hour, jerked to a stop. Nine riders complaining of neck pain were transported to local hospitals, where they were treated and released. The two incidents do not appear to be related.

A malfunction like this occurs about once every 10 years, Norris said. Saturday morning, during a routine morning check, a Seabreeze employee noticed that a chain on the Quantum Loop needed adjusting. "The timing was off a little bit," said Norris. But that cheon at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The five winning 250-word essays were selected from about 15 applicants, and discussed "what the students would like to be in the future and what they can do to make that dream come true." The following are the winners of the Give Voice to Your Dreams Contest: First place, Nicholas Coulter, $500, second, Dondrill McFarland $200, and third Takara Gray, Richard Lawrence and Reginald Blow.

Some Hillside popular speed bump, were installed a year-and-a-half ago in an attempt to slow down speeders. with data that shows the speed humps have slowed and reduced traffic on Hillside. The speed for the majority he doubts he would ride the Loop again. "If it happened once, I have a strong feeling it could happen again," he said. "Why take that chance?" Norris said State officials inspect every ride before the park and then spot-check them throughout the summer.

Seabreeze's insurer also inspects each ride before opening day. A Seabreeze crew inspects them daily. Avenue residents say yes, but others of northbound traffic has been reduced from 36 mph pre still have questions. speed hump to 32 since they were installed. Southbound traffic went BY STAFF WRITER SHERRIE NEGREA from 42 mph to 28 mph, the Whether they have worked depends on whom you're talking to.

"There's just as much traffic on the road," said Elizabeth Vroom, who i HUIuJe i CITY JOURNAL Jodcc Tbdd noticed it all of a sudden: a loud noise rattling outside the window of her two-story brick house on Hillside Avenue. There were trucks barrel ing down this normally quiet Young players hit homers for charity Young baseball players went into extra, extra, extra innings recently to help a good cause. Members of the Fairport Baseball Program raised more than $6,000 for two local charities during their "100-inning game" in April. Proceeds from the event went to the Headstart Program and the Megan Markus Fund. The Headstart Pro street in southeast Rochester.

budget: how much money the state has to spend. They are said to be about $2 billion apart. But then, who really knows? Pataki pledged to end the closed-door budget talks when he ran for governor in 1994, but hasn't. Some cynics wonder if Pataki really wants to get a budget deal done, since without one tighter reins are placed on spending. That means there would be more money to go around when the governor runs for re-election in 1998.

Outlook: This week should show how much work Pataki and legislative staffers really have been doing on the budget, throughout the months of rent-control negotiations. If they aren't starting from scratch, look for the governor and the leaders of the Senate and Assembly to push for a deal so they won't break the July 13 record. BILLY HOUSE ALBANY BUREAU "You almost can hear every citys study said. The speed limit is now 20 mph. In addition, the average number of cars traveling on Hillside has fallen from 2,100 to 1,500 a day.

"They were evidently successful in accomplishing the goals," George Stam, the city engineer, says of the devices. Because of the success on Hillside, Stam is recommending that the city offer speed humps to other residential city streets that request it. The streets would need to meet certain criteria, including a demonstrated speed problem and neighborhood support. Hillside Avenue was the has lived on Hillside for 30 years. "We don't see that there's any improvement with them." But Nancy Lanphear, a 34-year-old pediatrician, loves the speed humps.

She says her 6-year-old daughter, Rachel, can now cross the street because of the reduced traffic. "I think the street is much quieter," she says. "You don't have people honking at you or tailgatingyou." While residents disagree about their effectiveness, city officials say they are armed thing in the truck bouncing around," says Todd, a financial planner. "And that's even in the winter when the windows are shut." It's not that trucks have invaded Hillside Avenue. It's just that anything that moves across the four striped mounds of pavement on the street has now taken on a new decibel level.

The four speed humps, a smaller version of the more gram, designed to help disadvantaged youth in school, received $1,000. The fund for Megan Markus, the Fairport High School senior seriously injured in a November car crash, received $5,000. ANNETTE LEIN staff photographer Sudden stop The Quantum Loop roller coaster at Seabreeze was closed yesterday while investigators try to determine why a wheel locked Saturday. SPEED, PAGE 4B Now it's your turn at Voice of the Voter meetings Pupils take 9-month health adventure Pupils from St. Monica School in Rochester were honored at Strong Memorial Hospital this weekend for their nine-month participation in the Health Adventures Program.

The fifth- and sixth- Voice of the Voter ten ight and I hope to get an earful about our political coverage and the prosjxx-ts graders have studied health care employees at the hospital weekly since October. The pilot program was one of two in New York and one of nine wasn't a team player. Ross, who says she puts the public good above partisanship, said she's considering both state and federal office. There's a lot of speculation she might make a primary run against U.S. Sen.

Alfonse M. D'Amato just to make life difficult for Pataki's mentor. Ross, however, says she won't run for anything unless she has a chance to win. Why not for revenge? "I want to employ my time and resources for a more worthy goal than that," Ross said. Ross, by the way, told me she has-nt spoken with Pataki since he called in April with the news she was out in 1998.

for a constitutional convention in New York. Representatives from WXXI Radio and TV, and WOKR-TV (Channel 13) will join me at Greece Town Hall, 2505 W. Ridge Road, from 7 to 9 p.m. as we kick off four nights of meet than you ever expected," said John Cosmano, a retiree and a Democratic Voice of the Voter participant. "It was a very enriching experience," added George Irwin, a manager and a Republican member of the panel.

"It was a chance to share ideas with a very diverse group and discuss issues in a nonthreatening environment." Ifyou're interested, please look for the coupon in today's paper or sign up at this week's meetings. Not out for spite Lt. Gov. Betsy McCaughey Ross was in tewn Friday and told me she expects to make a decision about run-ningfor something in 1998 by the end of this year. Ross, a Republican, has already been dumped from any re-election effort by Gov.

George Pataki because senior members of the GOP said she $50 million convention to fix it? After tonight, we will meet: 6 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at the Iron-dequoit Town Hall, 1280 Titus Ave. 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Brookside Recreation Center, 220 Idlewood off Winton Road in Brighton. 7 to 9 p.m.

Thursday at the Anthony Jordan Health Center, 82 Holland Rochester. At Thursday's meeting, we will be joined by our Albany Bureau Chief Jay Gallagher, who is especially good at explaining the workings of the state capitel. We need you! We will also be looking for Voice of the Voter volunteers again. Our participants last year put in some long hours, but almost everyone said it was a good experience. "If you are at all interested in government you are going to leam more candidates, the party chairs or the political operatives.

Eventually we ended up with about two dozen folks Republicans, Democrats and independents who advised the media partners on all facets of our campaign coverage. They pushed us to provide more context and background in our stories about the workings of Albany and Washington. For example, all three partners have since done stories on why the Assembly speaker. Senate majority leader and governor have so much power in Albany. The newspaper and our television partners are especially interested in what you need to make an informed judgment altout a convention.

It's a tricky question. Voters will decide if New York's government is in such poor shape that it would be worth holding a $30 million to BLUR CLULIN INSIDE POLITICS Irish famine gets a local memorial The Irish famine of 1845-1850 was commemorated yesterday this weekend with the dedication of a Famine Memorial at St. John Fisher College. The Ancient Order of Hibernians in America sponsored the event at the Pittford college. The permanent display is behind the Lavery Library.

CUflln's pilittt al notrs column op- ings to give you a voice in how we cover politics and in this fall's referendum on a convention. We started Voice of the Voter last year to hel focus our coverage on the needs of the typical voter not the pfars pivry Mnmiax Call him with ytmr thtuhtn at 25ti 24H5 or ntc him at 5.5 Exchange Rr Hester, UfH I.