March 10, 1995

The observation deck of the World Trade Center, one of the city's most popular tourist spots, is about to receive a $5.8 million makeover chockablock with interactive gadgetry, suggesting that in these days of virtual reality, reality itself -- even from atop 107 floors -- may not be enough. Visitors who once merely gawked at the skyline will soon be able to watch a wide-screen movie that simulates a helicopter ride through the city, use multilingual computers to learn about local lore, view a nightly outdoor laser show and partake of other high-tech exhibits, all intended to improve upon what had been the deck's sole asset: its height.

Three Democratic Congressmen from northern New Jersey yesterday denounced Republican efforts to cut spending for social programs. "These cuts are deliberately not tough on Republicans' own constituents -- they're tough on the poor," Representative Robert Menendez of Union City said. Representatives Robert Torricelli of Englewood and Donald Payne of Newark echoed his remarks, saying families in their districts would be severely hurt.

International Mexico adopted a tough new economic plan that suggests a grim near-term future: recession, job loss and personal hardship as unavoidable in recovering from the financial crisis that has severely reduced the peso's value. Among other things, gasoline prices will jump 35 percent, and the value-added tax is to rise to 15 percent. [ Page A1. ]

People who are behind on their gas or electric bills may have less to worry about in the next wave of cold weather. The Public Service Electric and Gas Company has promised that when temperatures are expected to be 32 or below in the next 24 hours, it will not disconnect electricity or gas for customers delinquent in their payments.

Justin Bates, 11, lives in a room with a pretty mural of a shipwreck on a wall outside his window, but he cannot see it, and the silence is broken only by soft radio music he can barely hear. He arches his back when upset, and relaxes when caressed, but he cannot talk or walk, or breathe and take nourishment without tubes in his neck and stomach. Since Justin was 16 months old he has been in what doctors call a "vegetative state." It was in January 1985 when his mother rushed him, wheezing and listless, to the Broward General Medical Center here. He was suffering from asthma, the mother was told by the hospital, but by the next day mistakes by staff members had left Justin with severe brain damage.