June 22, 1999

Proposal to build mammoth movie-making complex at Brooklyn Navy Yard continues to lurch along; it is still not entirely clear whether project, proposed in May by Robert De Niro's TriBeCa Productions and Harvey Weinstein's Miramax Films, will go forward and what it would mean for other sound-stage projects being proposed in New York; potential lenders are still studying proposal, which has commitments for less than half the $150 million in financing it needs to go forward; Marc H Rosenbaum, president of Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp, is optimistic about plans for film production; photos (L)

National Hockey League, less than two days after Dallas Stars won Stanley Cup in third overtime on goal from inside goal crease, eliminates use of video replay to determine crease violations on goals, shifting responsibility to on-ice officials instead; photo (M)

Jane E Brody Personal Health column on report by two British scientists that it is only a time lag, not a so-called French Paradox, that accounts for fact that the French are not nearly as likely as Americans or Britons to be cut down in midlife by heart attacks despite having a diet rich in saturated animal fats; Malcolm Law and Nicholas Wald note that until 1970, the French ate much less animal fat and had significantly lower blood cholesterol levels than Britons, who were in no better shape than Americans; other scientists still say Americans would be wise to emulate the French in consuming more wine, fiber, nuts and other heart-friendly nutrients and in eating less; cartoon; chart (M)

Bill intended to clarify New York City's laws protecting children from lead paint poisoning, one that has support of City Council Speaker Peter F Vallone and Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani, comes under attack by Council Democrats at public hearing; they contend that bill favors landlords and city over children; say it would allow landlords and city regulators too much time to correct hazardous lead violations and would place too much responsibility on city's poorest residents to report suspicions of lead contamination; photo (M)

Clyde Haberman, in NYC column, opposes Mayor Rudolph W Giuliani's decision to create committee to study changing City Charter so that Public Advocate Mark Green will not succeed him if Giuliani is elected to US Senate in Nov 2000; contends that Giuliani can avoid messy political battle over Charter revision if he leaves City Hall couple of months earlier than he plans to; notes that if office of Mayor becomes vacant before Sept 20, 2000, present Charter says that special election, exactly what Giuliani wants, must be held that Nov (M)