November 27, 1997

New York Islanders defeat New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum, 4-1; photo (M)

Art Vandal Strikes Again A man who slashed a painting by Barnett Newman in an Amsterdam museum in 1986 has destroyed another work by the same artist in the same museum. Page E1.

Elizabeth Kolbert column speculates on why Sen Alfonse M D'Amato would attack the New York teachers' union during recent mayoral race; says recent polls show many New Yorkers consider eduation top priority, but D'Amato is not particularly well-positioned on that issue, having opposed numerous attempts to increase education spending and in some cases voted to cut it; says only teachers' union standing is more widely suspect than his own, thus his attack on union in effort to portray himself as fighter of entrenched interests; photo (M)

Directors of food pantries and social service agencies in New York City say there has been significant increase in hunger in city since end of summer, when Federal welfare law cut off thousands of immigrants from food stamps; city officials agree to spend extra $2 million to restock programs that have been running out of food; Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani formally adds $26 million to this year's budget to preserve food stamp benefits for 67,000 immigrants who are elderly or disabled or are children; this will not cover 50,000 other able-bodied immigrants in city who were cut off from food stamps; nor does it address average 10 percent reduction in food stamp benefit levels for all recipients as result of new calculations in welfare law; many of those affected by new rules are showing up at city's food programs, often exceeding supply of food on hand; photo (M)

Russia is quietly seeking American support for expanded program of Western assistance, concerned that global economic turmoil could overwhelm its financial system; is seeking aid to strengthen confidence in Central Bank, which is using up reserves in anxious effort to prop up ruble; prompted by crisis that has rippled through Asia, foreign investors have been fleeing from emerging markets, and have already moved to withdraw approximately $4 billion from Russian treasury bill market; charts; graphs (M)