March 16, 1998

Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History mounts exhibition chronicling career of Ella Fitzgerald; photo; David Hare play, The Judas Kiss, will premiere at Playhouse in the West End, directed by Richard Eyre and starring Liam Neeson; Russian National Orchestra, billed as first orchestra from former Soviet Union to be free of Government control since 1917, will begin 18-city United States tour with performances in State Theater in New Brunswick, NJ; Brooklyn Museum of Art mounts exhibit, Jewels of the Romanovs: Treasures of the Imperial Court; photo (M)

A Mall for the Meadowlands A developer plans to build a huge shopping mall in New Jersey's Meadowlands, but environmentalists are utterly opposed to the loss of 206 acres of wetlands. Page B1. Affirmative Action Cuts While defending affirmative action programs in Congress and the courts, the Clinton Administration has in two years made deep cuts in those programs. Page A17.

Elizabeth Kolbert column holds Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani has set back plan for 30 public toilets to be built by winner of contract to replace New York City's current hodgepodge of bus shelters and newsstands with esthetically coordinated set; notes Giuliani recently backed away, without explanation, from idea of one megacontract, notion he long championed, leaving other city officials perplexed (M)

Haitian-Americans, who have traditionally focused their political attentions on Haiti, are seeking to become force in New York City's ethnic politics; leaders credit activism spurred by alleged police assault on Abner Louima; hope to influence American policy toward Haiti and address local concerns; map; photos (M)

Mills Corp proposal to build $1 billion shopping mall, largest in New Jersey, Carlstadt, filling 206 acres of polluted but federally protected wetlands, stirs opposition from environmentalists; fight over mall is part of larger, decadelong battle over fate of Meadowlands as whole; Hackensack Meadowlands Development Commission, state agency with zoning authority in area, plans to allow limited number of wetlands acres to be filled, with developers required to pay for over $800 million in environmental repairs; Mills say it would restore 380 acres of wetlands, more than any other developer under plan; map; photos (L)