April 18, 1997

Bergen County Tax Board to decide whether to obey State Taxation Dir Richard D Gardiner's order to set aside revaluation of Glen Rock while he looks into whether it was conducted properly; 900 homeowners in Glen Rock appealed revaluation conducted in January (S) (New Jersey Daily Briefing)

Measurements by scientists suggest for first time that universe has 'up' and 'down'; observation by physicists at University of Rochester and University of Kansas, if correct, would be one of most surprising and fundamental new insights about universe to emerge in recent years; notion that space is uniform, that it is same in all directions, with no north and south or up and down, is major tenet of modern cosmology, backed by Einstein's theory of relativity; findings could force scientists to reconsider aspects of Einstein's theory, rethink some ideas about birth of universe and possible existence of other universes; diagram (M)

New York State Gov George E Pataki says that Lieut Gov Betsy McCaughey Ross will be dropped from Republican ticket when he runs for re-election in 1998; Pataki, in letter to McCaughey Ross, says he can no longer work with Lieutenant Governor who does not share his philosophy, and he makes it clear that he considers her disruptive force in his administration; Pataki tells Republican officials that he is considering Rensselaer County Supreme Court Justice Mary Donohue and State Parks Comr Bernadette Castro as potential running mates (M)

Representative Charles E. Schumer, the Brooklyn Democrat, has dropped plans to run for governor and will challenge Senator Alfonse M. D'Amato. The decision suggests he views Mr. D'Amato as more vulnerable than Gov. George E. Pataki. Article, page B2.

New York State Senate majority leader Joseph L Bruno, responding to pressure from fellow Republicans, softens his stance on ending almost all rent regulations, saying that he would consider phasing out laws over four years instead of two; says that several Republican Senators from New York City told him that ending laws in two years would be too hasty, and adds 'I's listening'; continues to insist that he will accept nothing less than complete elimination of rent protections for all but the most vulnerable tenants (M)