Rabbi Schrage Appointed by Lindsay to Head New Neighborhood Action Program

Rabbi Samuel Schrage of Brooklyn, administrator of the city’s Neighborhood Youth Corps, the largest youth-staffed anti-poverty program in the nation, has been appointed director of the new Neighborhood Action Program in the Bronx, designed as “another step to establish more responsive mechanisms to bring government to the neighborhoods,” according to Mayor John V, Lindsay, who made the Schrage appointment on the recommendation of Marvin Schick, his assistant for intergroup relations. The pilot project will center on the neighborhoods of Washington Heights, Manhattan; Laurelton and South Jamaica, Queens, and the Grand Concourse, the Bronx. Rabbi Schrage, who is 34 years old and who will be earning $23,000 from the city, will have “authority in every area” of those neighborhoods, Mr. Schick told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Mr. Schick said that while Rabbi Schrage will deal with non-Jewish as well as Jewish residents, the chief goals of the new program are the elimination of the “very serious problems” faced by Jews who are willing to remain in integrated neighborhoods but are afraid to. Of the six neighborhoods involved, three–Crown Heights, East Flatbush and Washington Heights–are predominantly Jewish. The action program will also concentrate on Improving the physical appearance of neighborhoods, using capital budget funds for new lighting, park benches and repairs. Rabbi Schrage, who will relinquish his directorship of the Neighborhood Youth Corps on Sept. 1 to devote full attention to the Neighborhood Action Program, will report to Lewis M. Feldstein. executive assistant to the Mayor for neighborhood government. Mayor Lindsay, elaborating on the importance of the action program, called it “an Innovative effort that recognizes the individuality of each neighborhood of our city,” and added: “Sam Schrage knows our city’s communities. Is sensitive to their needs, and. most important, is able to get things done.” Rabbi Schrage is a former assistant executive director of the New York City Youth Board.