Brooklyn Heights Press from Brooklyn, New York • 1

I nn ttt.i 1 KU II IK I fi CENTRAL SERVICE 11 BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY u. FLA2A mm jun -1961 HTB SEfflBGE I II L1WJL1VU11 i ri rue 57 Li a progressive but proudly preserving people Twentieth Year, No. 1,063 Thursday, June 8, 1961 10 151 Montague Brooklyn, N. Y. Fear Gerrymander In Drawing Off New 12th CD.

Boundaries iWjl vy, I'V-' fv Map shows 12th C. D. running across further this fall when the borough will lose a-the midsection of Brooklyn. It is feared that the Representative and the lines of all the districts contours of the 12th CD. will be altered still will be redrawn.

Charter Debate: Women Voters Feel Board Of Estimate A "Divisive Factor Brooklyn's 12th Congressional District, which includes all of the Heights, is one of the most gerrymandered election units in the country. Snaking from the East River almost to the Queens County line, the skinny misshapen political monstrosity virtually dissects the Borough. The patchwork precinct was forged ten years ago, after the 1950 census, and resulted in the four-time election of Francis Dorn, a Republican, to Congress before he was unexpectedly defeated last year by Democrat Hugh Carey. Next fall, at a special session of the New York State legislature, the 12th CD. faces either further contortion or complete elimination.

As a result of the 1960 census, it was. determined that Brooklyn will lose a Representative. Most observers doubt, however, that the Republican legislators would eliminate a district where they have had some of their strongest Kings County successes. The prevailing feeling is that the legislature will try to strengthen GOP support in the 12th and possibly eliminate a district where there has been little or no Republican success. One dissenter from this view is Assemblyman Samuel Bonom, a Manhattan Beach Democrat, who has forecast that the 12th CD.

"long labeled the worst example of gerrymander for GOP benefit will be hacked at once again to oust Rep. Hugh Carey." This would represent a shortsighted view on the part of the GOP, and as Carey points out "they'll probably try to carve out a district which will be more favorable to them. But any Democrat in this area has a tough enough fight already." "I hope they will make the district compact and contiguous," ho said optimistically. When the reapportionment legislature meets in November, "Democrat? will naturally oppose any district changes favorable to the Republicans. GOPers in turn will deny that they are trying to improve their own political position.

In any case, the fight will be bitter and partisan. Even at this early date, Kings County Democratic leader Joseph Sharkey has warned that a suit will be instituted at the first sign of gerrymandering. In another move. Assemblyman Joseph Dowd has requested that public hearings be held In the city "to give the people an opportunity to express their views on the revision of congressional districts. "Dowd called on the legislature to place reapportionment "above partisan party politics." Housing Group Hopes For More Cadman Co-ops The Citizen's Housing and Plan ning Council, a highly-respected city-wide civic group, went on record this week as opposing the rehabilitiatlon of Cadman Plaza and reaffirmed its support of present plans.

According to the group's Executive Director Roger Starr, the CHPC felt that Cadman Plaza is more suitable for redevelopment. We would prefer It if co-ops were extended to the entire site," Starr said, "But we would not oppose the part co-op, part luxury compromise." Starr Indicated however that he felt that there is still a possibility of negotiation "and perhaps Mr. Bonan can be convinced of the economic soundness of building co-ops." "A lot of pretty good realty people think it would work out better that way," he added. The Housing and Redevelopment Board, whose hearings on the Cadman Plaza site are expected some time in the near future, has gone on record as having a "moral and legal commitment" to S. Pierre Bonan, the tentative sponsor of the luxury portion.

There is considerable sentiment in the Heights community for extension of co-ops to the entire site. "The Board of Estimate 'should be abolished'," said Mrs. Samuel D. Span, speaking at a recent hearing of the Mayor's Charter Revision Commission in Brooklyn. Mrs.

Spatt, Director of City Affairs of the League of Women Voters of the City of New York and past Chairman of the Brooklyn Heights Branch, represented the non-partis an organization of 3500 members, 500 of whom reside in Brooklyn. -The members of the League of Women Voters, after many years of study, have discovered the in creasing inability of New York City to meet its needs. In an Museum Head Moves To Rescue Art Works At Manhattan Bridge In the apparently ceaseless 99 "The separation of powers is a significant factor in our federal and state governments. In the New York City Charter we do not find this clear separation of powers. The Borough Presidents, as members of the Board of Estimate, administrate as well as legislate.

pass on the Capital Budget and then administer the Capital Budget. They propose and dispose. Therefore, the" members of the League, of Women Voters favors placing the Board's administrative powers in the office of the Mayor and its legislative powers in a true legislative body," Mrs. Spatt continued. The League of Women Voters also opposes any substitute for the Board of Estimate.

There should be no dichotomy of responsibility for planning and it should not be subjected to local interests and pressures." Planning for Brooklyn, as well as the Their Bite Was Worse Than Bark It may have been the weather, or it may have been coincidence, but two Brooklyn Heights canines inexplicably began a biting binge last week and one of them got a double portion of human. Last Wednesday, Francis Lindaman, 2 Piereepont was bitten by a German Shepherd owned by Slyvia Palo, 11 Montague St. The victim was treated at L.I. College Hospital, police said. The following day, Thursday, a dog allegedly owned by luncheonette proprietor Sal Ramirez, 170 Fulton bit 68 year-old Joseph Laws, 6 Henry St.

and later the same afternoon attacked an 11 year-old girl, Luz Colon, 383 Atlantic in Cad-man Plaza ark. According to police owners of both dogs will be instructed to have both their dogs checked for rabies. area as complex and dynamic as New York City, with conditions changing constantly, governments must change accordingly, she said. The League believes that the Board of Estimate should be abolished. The five Borough Presidents, who sit on the Board, representing five different political entities, depending upon these separate organizations, seeing to their perpetuation, and satisfying their needs, are a divisive factor which hinders the satisfactory administration of the city as a whole, the League believes.

by Robert Moses who is coordina tor of highway projects involving the city. However, before anything can be done, it must be approved by Art Commission of the City of New York, which is composed Thomas Buechner Moves To Save Art of the Mayor, museum and library officials, a painter, two architects, a sculptor and three other residents of the city who are unconnected professionally with the nm in contest between art and progress the Brooklyn Museum this week took the side of art, without opposing progress. The Museum offered to save several statues and a frieze from destruction in the path of new approaches on both sides of the Manhattan Bridge. The historic statuary, depict- ing New York and Brooklyn, was commissioned by the city in 4916 to decorate the bridge approaches. The statues are by Daniel Chester French.

The frieze of a buffalo hunt was done by Charles Sumset. Thomas Buechner, 71 Rem-sen St. Director of the Museum cabled Commissioner of Public Works Meyer F. Wells on Mon- day with the offer to have the art work accepted "and display it in an appropriate setting." Coincidentally, Wiles had already ordered a study to determine the comparative costs of demolishing against preserving the sculpture. After the study has been completed Wiles indicated he' would be prepared to meet with the Vv museum director to discuss the matter.

The original proposal to destroy the art works was made At 3rd A.D. Republican Club dinner last week many prominent Republicans (as well as Democrats) showed up to honor Mrs. Anna Dixon (center). L. to r.

are Frank Dorn, former congressman; State Senator William Conklin; Mrs. Dixon; State Arty. GenL Louis Lefkowitz; John Crews, Executive Member, 3rd A. D. Republican Organization and William T.

Cowan, President of the club..