WTC Records Folder 0123 Clippings label, Sept 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document 0o-member transition commit- tee broke into 13 subcommittees this week and began looking at scores of résumés from people who want to hold city commis- sioner jobs. "The scuttlebutt around town? It [the new government will look like Koch IV." political con- sultant Hank Sheinkopf said. "Bloomberg has political due bills, and he owes a big one to Ed Koch and Rudy Giulianı. so you can expect a lot of their peo- ple will be taken care of." But a transition committee member said it was "premature" to speculate who would get the city posts. "I don't believe there are a lot of people locked in," the committee member said. To ease the changeover, Depu- ty Mayor Joseph Lhota agreed to stay on in his post "for a lew months." sources said. A team of core Bloomberg con- fidants are interviewing deputy mayor and budget director can- didates, officials said. Other commissioners will be reviewed by the 13 subcommit- tees, which range from consum- er and cultural affairs to public -vea eotar yedl, WnIch Will include the first six months of Bloomberg's term. Bloomberg, however, have to bridge a gap of at least $4 billion in the next budget. With Frank Lombardi MICHAEL APPLETON The 30,000 red, white and blue lights of 81foot-tall Rock- efeller Center tree erupt into patriotic holiday splrit after First Lady Laura Bush and Mayor Glullani flipped switch last night. ence and White House ties → ne built Chelsea Piers and was a Yale classmate of President Bush. MTA chairman Peter Kalikow and Empire State Development Corp. chairman Charles Garga- no will also have roles. Mayor rips Amex for cop-protection call By ERIC HERMAN DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER Mayor Giuliani slammed American Ex- press yesterday, rejecting the company's "de- mands" for more police protection as a con- dition for returning to its downtown head- "American Express has issued demands that are entirely unrealistic," the mayor said at 1 Police Plaza after a Sanitation Depart- ment promotion ceremony. American Express had 5,000 employees working downtown before Sept. 11 - the majority in 3 World Financial Center, which the company partiy owns. But after the World Trade Center attacks, American Express bolted from its damaged headquarters, moving its workforce to Stam- ford, Conn., Parsippany and Short Hills, N.J., and a temporary headquarters in Jer- sey City. The company vowed to return its headquarters to Manhattan, but city officials have expressed concern that only a fraction of the 5,000 employees would come back. In recent weeks, American Express en- tered negotiations to lease office space at 787 Seventh Ave., in midtown, and has been in discussions with city officials about its plans, according to real estate executives. The company recently presented the cily with a list of "concerns" it wanted addressed before agreeing to return to Manhattan, said one executive. Giuliani said American Express wants a specific number of police officers assigned to protect 3 World Financial Center, including horseback and canine units, and surrounding streets closed to traffic. "It's unnecessary, so I hope they go back to. more good-faith dealings." he said. "You can't fix in a contract with a private business the number of police officers you re going to Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik add- "You can't have corporations telling the Police Departinent how to police." The remarks angered company execu- tives, who have been conducting negotia- ions quietly, one source said. nave comments on the specific things that The mayor had to say," said spokesman Tony He declined to say how many officers the company had asked for, or whether the com- pany was worried about terrorism or crimi- ral activity. He said the discussions have fo- "the transportation situation" downtown and "the general level of security, both in terms of our employees and in terms of our property." With Lisa L.. Colangelo : •... a.Ma t 14 a io.n NYC-WTC_000136991