The-Leader_1971-03-04

              The LEADER
• I'^R.!!tI•.^{
EAST MEATOW, N y 11554
"NASSAU'S LARGEST WEEKLY"
FREEPORT
ZJD Code 11520
BALDWIN
Ziti Code 11§10
MERRICK
Zip Code 11566
ROOSEVELT
Zlo Code 11b7§
35th YEAR. No. 45 FREEPORT, NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1971 PRICE: TEN CENTS PER COPY
FREEPORT BUYS
LAND FROM CITY
Phone Company Asks for Rate Increase
The New York Telephone
(Company today petitioned the
Public Service Commission for a
two'Slage rale increase totaling
$3 91 million yearly in gross
revenues lo sustain service
programs that will cost about $10
billion in this decade.
The petition was filed in
Albany. It would, if approved,
provide the Company with ap­proximately
$190.8 million a year
after taxes.
Because of the urgency of its
financial situation the Company
asked that $284 million of the sum
be applied as a temporary rate
increase and that hearings on this
part of the request be completed
promptly. The temporary
request would raise virtually all
intrastate rates 20.7 per cent,
except those on coin telephone
calls.
It would be subject to refunds
pending final determination of
the full case.
William M. Ellinghaus,
president of New York
Telephone, said, "We have ex­plored
all avenues but there is no
alternative to a rate increase.
"We realize that service is not
up lo our standards in some of­fices
in the New York
Metropolitan Area and because
of this we have delayed this filing
as long as possible. However, if
we are to succeed in our service
improvement program we must
take all necessary steps to assure
the capital so vital to its success.
"We invested about |1 billion
test year to meet demands for
service throughout the Slate," he
said "We will have to invest as
much or more this year.
"In the 1970's we will have to
invest approximately $10 billion.
Improved earnings are ab­solutely
necessary if we are to
sustain this program."
He said the 1970 rale of return
on intrastate investment was 5.09
per cent, its lowest level in 21
years.
Earnings are continuing lo fall
at a time when "we have to raise
more capita! than ever before,"
Ellinghaus said.
"This year we must raise about
$900 million in new money," he
said. "To put this sum in per­spective
is is $100 million more
than last year and $600 million
more than in 1969.
"We must attract investors so
we can do the service job
demanded of us," he said.
The total request would in­crease
rates an additional 8.4 per
cent lo 29.1 per cent and also
would include increases in coin
toll calls as well as other ser­vices,
the Company said.
The basic lO-cent local coin
telephone charge would be
unaffected.
Ellinghaus said the temporary
increase of $284 million woidd
bring earnings to 8.45 per cent.
After adjustments for the higher
cost of capital and inflation, he
said, this was the equivalent of
the 7.87 percent rate of return the
Commission held to be in the
"lower end of the zone of
reasonableness" last July.
Cooperation Pays
Dividends
by Abe Hammer
M-^houl 11:15 A.M., Monday.
March l, a member of Freeport's
40,000 pairs of eyes program
noticed a disturbance on Main
Street, South, t>etween a truck
driver and a motorist.
The observer stepped into the
nearest store, Samet's, and
Warren Samet of the Freeport
Chamber of Commerce relayed
the message to the Freeport
police. FR 8-0700. Within two
minutes the police responded and
stopped the fight. However,
before the police arrived, the
noise attracted a meter maid,
Josephine Nespeca. who was on
duty at the time. This lady
stepped in between the com­batants
and kept them apart until
the police took over.
'Mrs. Nespeca should receive
some recognition for her heroic
act. Certainly, what she did was
beyond the call of duty. The story
<»me to the attention of the
Exchange Club of Freeport at
their executive meeting. Tli^e
men were so impressed with Mrs.
Nespeca's act that tme merayber
suggested a presentation of a
plaque.
W more residents of Freeport
will join the 40,«» pairs of eyes
jH^ram, Freeport will be made
unsafe for the unruly individual.
Land for I?reep«rlers' recreation, and for future needs,
is represented by deed held by Mayor Robert J. Sweeney.
New York City Mayor John Lindsay holds the check for
51,300,000 in payment for New York City watershed
property in Freeport. Freeport is being reimbursed for
one-half the total cost by the United States Department
of Housing 'and Urban Development. Looking on the
transaction with approval are Village Trustees Thomas J.
Lovelidge, left, and George H, Fairberg.
The land i.s comprised of (hirly
acres, extending from Mill Road
al South Main St north and east
to a point on Sunrise Highway
About 11.5 acres of the newly
acquired property, which i.s in the
Hanse Park area of the village.
wUI be used for a community
center that is expected lo IK*
completed in 1973 The remaining
18 acres al the eastern end of the
village will be used a.s a land
bank for future park develop­ment,
according (o Mayor
Sweeney.
A grant of $.563,750 ha.s been
made by the state to the village
for the development of the center,
which will include a pool com
plex. a gymnasium, an ire
skating rink and a game room A
bond issue of tx'tween $2 million
and $3million for the completion
of the center is expected to IM*
adopted soon by the village
t)oard. No vote by the residents is
needed.
The village expects to buy an
additional 6.5 acres from the city
for atKJut $275,000 for use as part
of the village's urban-renewal
program for moderale-income
housing
The village has received word
Ihiii its requesi for Federal funds
In l)uy the B.5 acre Lib<>rty Park
.silc for HKI garden-aparlment
mills has been reviewed
fiivorably
The Federal (iovernment
recently granted the village $5.5-
riilijion for its urban-renewal
projects m the Bennington^j^Park
area A 20acres tract in this
area, which is next lo the 6.5- acre
site, will be used for 200 units in
I he urban-renewal program
Ex-Navyman Congressman Norman F. Lent (left), adnrirei paint­ing
in a valiiaiila collection owned by the U.& Navy and shown at
SouHi Shore Feiierti Savings and Loan Associatioh last w o ^ Callod
"Operation Palette", the travelling exhibition vras gathered from all
parts of the United States. At ri^t ara Miss Genmrieve Vm Buran.
assittent secretary of South Shore Federal, and Chief EmantMl
Ratner of Freeporf s Naval Reserve Training Center.
Mobile Tax Office in Free|>orf
The mobUe tax office of this
•district's Internal Revenue
Service wiU be i^en for business
MI Monday, Blarch 15 through
March 26 at the c(»tier of
FVe^Mut Plaza East and South
Alain Street, Freeport.
The "taxmobile" was outfitted
lo give s^viix to taxpayer at
four strategic locations on Long
Island. Ifs a large, bus-like
vehicle furnished with desks,
chairs, and other office eqpp-ment
to enable tho% seekiog
assistance lo sit cranf^rtaldy
while two tax assistors jfiimish
information and help.
The taxmobile will be c^>en
Monday through Friday, fknun
10:30 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.
J