Sponsor (Oct-Dec 1963)

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Why station WABC-TV took a stormy stam IN Aii(UisT,1962, a movement started to have New York City acciuire Breezy Point, a beachfront area on the tip of Rockaway Peninsula. The ultimate plan was to convert this privately owned area into a MOO-acre park for all the people of New York. Its proponents foresaw it as the Central Park of this age. Opposition to the plan was bitter and immediate. The residents of Breezy Point decried the proposal vigorously. Builders, with private contracts at stake, strenuously voiced their disapproval. Even some of the Mayor's advisors suggested abandonment of the idea. Nobody, it seemed, saw a need for the park except the people of New York. On June 4, 1063, despite the vocal and influential opposition. Mayor Wajrner puV)licly announced his decision to /n this continuing after careful examination of the issues, express lead the fight for the creation of a Breezy Point Park First editorial aired Three days later WABC-TV, New York, went on the an with its first editorial. The subject. Breezy Point. Lik' the Mayor, the station took a seemingly unpopular stanc i' It supported Mayor Wagner's position in a series of ei;jh editorials in three days. On June 21, WABC-TV ran a half-hour documentary film, pre.senting the many viewpoints on the Breezy Pom controversy. The response to the editorials and the film was instai taneous. Letters and telegrams poured in. Phone ca Hooded the station's switchboard. Bouquets and brickbat were tossed at us with equal passion. Detractors chara^ terized our editorials as "...irresponsible journalism series, you will read how the ABC Owned Television Station their views in the best interests of the communities they se, i '"J rvM