FIRST OFF . . .

Paul Simon has hired civil rights activist Julian Bond to help boost black attendance on his “Graceland” tour, despite Bond being caught up in allegations that he abused cocaine. “I consider it a real honor to be involved in this, not only because I enjoy the music but because I share his (Simon’s) belief that music can bridge cultures,” Bond said. Part of Bond’s duties will be to choose the charities that will receive money from each Simon show. The Grammy-winning album “Graceland,” which includes many black South African artists, has topped the charts, but Simon is concerned that few blacks have been to his shows. This week a federal grand jury in Atlanta begins its investigation into allegations that Bond used cocaine and that Mayor Andrew Young stalled an inquiry into the allegations.