Newsday from New York, New York • 7

warn muifg nmm FDA Panel: Keep Breast Implants On the Market More studies recommended By Ridgely Ochs STAFF WRITER Despite voting that the manufacturers had failed to prove that silicone gel breast implants are safe, an advisory panel unanimously recommended to the Food and Drug Administration that the devices remain on the market. The panel also recommended that manufacturers conduct more safety studies. Panel members said they were concerned about the lack of data on the implants, which opponents say are dan- City May Hold Court In Theater gerous, but added that they were equally concerned that denying the devices to all women could prove psychologically harmful. The FDA, which generally but not always follows a panels recommendations, is to make a final decision by Jan. 6.

The decision follows an often emotional three-day hearing at which the panel heard from dozens of women, plastic surgeons and the four manufacturers. Many of the women argued that implant recipients especially cancer patients should have a right to choose to have breast implants; others believe the devices are dangerous and should be taken off the market. The recommendation is tantamount to saying lets sell poison to women, said Sybil Goldrich, a cofounder of Command Trust Network, an information clearinghouse for women who have had problems with breast implants. If theres not enough data to say theyre safe, why would anybody in their right mind say they can Btay on the market? Unsafe is unsafe. Sharon Green, executive administrator of Y-ME, the largest support group for women who have had breast cancer, was elated by the recommendation.

I feel good about it. Our data has shown this along, she said. For our women it will be a breath of relief. Were very pleased, said Dr. Robert LeVier, technical director of health- care businesses for Dow Corning Wright a subsidiary of Dow Corning Corp.

Dow Coming Wright makes about a quarter of the breast implants. Were not surprised. So many women who came here made their needs fantastically clear I believe that Please see IMPLANT on Page 28 Hewidajr Danirl 8heehan Ferraro on the Run Geraldine Ferraro formally announced yesterday that she was running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. senator at a junior high school auditorium in Brooklyn. (Story on Page 33.) Study of TA Cops: Too Few on Patrol Says too many sick or at desks By Anthony M.

DeStefano BTAfT WRITER Could it be a case -of wiseacres at the Longacre? The Longacre Theatre, dark-' ened for several months, may get a new life as a criminal arraignment court under a plan being studied by dty and state officials. New York Newsday has learned. Court and law enforcement officials are conducting a feasibility study to see if the old 1,1 15-seat theater at 220 W. 48th which opened in 1918, can be converted to a court'to handle the processing of misdemeanor cases. Some private foundation mon- ey could be used in the prqject, officials said.

The added space could also allow other services to be expanded. If this in fact becomes operational, one of the major benefits would be availability of varying degrees of sentencing options that are presently unavailable, such as increased treatment for drug offenses, health programs and local community service, said Robert QJd. Keating, administrative judge of the dty Criminal Court. The plan is under review by' Deputy Mayor Milton Mollen, criminal court officials, and officials of the Shubert Organization, which owns the Longacre, persons familiar with the study said. Mollen could not be readied yesterday.

But a dty official, who asked not to be identified, said the study will be completed in about two months. If the conversion takes place, -the Longacre could process scores of misdemeanor offenses that are usually handled in lower Man-. hattans criminal court building on Centre Street. Officials said-'that 55 cases could be handled a day at the tdwut average for a courtroom. By Mark Lowery STAFF WRITER Sick leave and administrative tasks that could be performed by civilians are keeping more than 300 Transit Authority cops from patrolling the subways, according to a state audit released yesterday.

The audit, conducted by the office of State Comptroller Edward V. Regan, said that on an average day only 23 percent of the TAs cops are patrolling subways, with more than 50 percent either on leave or performing other duties. The highly critical report was released on the same day TA officials released their own report citing a 13 percent decrease in subway felony crimes during the past year, which they attributed to more police. There could be 300 more officers on the platforms, in the trains today, Regan said during a press conference near City Hall. It's safe to ride the subway, but it could be safer.

Regan said straphangers are not get- been better utilized, Regan said. Chief William J. Bratton yesterday said he was concerned with Regan's report, but said the TA has already taken steps to free more officers by tightening Bick leave and by reassignments. I see the comptrollers report as coming at a good time, Bratton said. He has begun to address the problem, but obviously we have a long way to go.

Regan also said the average Transit officer took 18.3 sick days in 1989 more than double that taken by the average city police officer. Bratton said that was a contractual issue, since the Transit Police have unlimited sick time at full pay under their most recent pact with the dty. In the 12 months ending in September, 16,184 felonies were committed in the subway system 2,414 fewer than the prior year, the report said. The report said the decline in felony subway crime was the first in three years. The report listed 4,796 grand larcenies, down 21.8 percent; 8,537 robberies, down 9.1 percent; 1,156 assaults.

NEW YORK NEWSOAY. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15. 1981 Newsday Aten RaU i Vftfs jfU leaye -Ori' Trial ur I to ting what theyre paying for and called TA ads touting safer stations and trains down 14.2 percent. Ya hoaxTiV 'Homidde declined bv one to 28, and Y'TheM IfiebeatV theW were 34 rapes ot attempted rapes, thVvfblitlitedrS by five. Felony arrests dipped by not to mention that the $21 million In 8.1 percent to 6,601, the report said, salary that went to pay for the 80,000 This story was sujiplemented with lost patrol hours in 1990 could have new8 service nports ing gay trial.

(Story on Page 21.) i 1 j'.