So, it's official. From the New York Times account: "In its last pitch before the members, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had tried to head off claims by other cities that New York would be back to compete for the 2016 Games. The mayor vigorously argued that he could only guarantee this leadership team and Read More
Those are Ladbroke's odds against New York's winning the 2012 Olympic Games. And if you want a sense of the hunger for good news, and what some might call wishful thinking, over at NYC2012, the metaphorical champagne corks were popping there when the bookie cut the odds from 50-1. But while the professional Read More
If Plan A for the city's Olympics bid was the West Side stadium, whither Plan B?
Whiffs of a contingency plan, though seldom aired in public, have permeated the local planning process for at least three years. In 2002, after the United States Olympic Committee demanded that U.S. contenders produce stadium-backup strategies, NYC2012 raised the possibility Read MoreOn May 25, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg made the rounds in lower Manhattan, announcing an $800 million plate of improvements for downtown neighborhoods, including a waterfront park, money toward a new public school and a Chinatown business-development group.
Democratic Assembly leader Sheldon Silver, who also represents the district, remained in Albany, purportedly too Read MoreThe five-day steeplechase that the 13 members from the International Olympics Committee begin on Sunday, to evaluate New York's bid for the 2012 Olympics, looks like something Dennis Kozlowski would have planned for his wife's birthday. But instead of money-though the trip will cost the Olympics Committee $1 million, nobody's planning to do a Salt Read More
City Hall is so thrilled with the Economist's upbeat survey of New York City -- on newsstands for visiting International Olympic Committee members -- that Dan Doctoroff's spokeswoman sent an excerpt around to the press list, something they never seem to do with any of our articles. We imagine they particularly liked this Read More
City Council Speaker Gifford Miller is charging that the city's Olympic bid committee may be acting beyond its authority by potentially putting taxpayers on the hook for billions of dollars should New York be awarded the 2012 Summer Games.
The challenge comes in the wake of unsuccessful efforts by City Council member Letitia James of Brooklyn Read MoreStanding before a crowd of high-school students that had been nicely primed—the students leaped to their feet as they watched gymnasts Paul and Morgan Hamm execute simultaneous back-flips—the last thing Mayor Bloomberg expected was a razzing.
By half the auditorium. Nevertheless, for a good 20 seconds at A. Philip Randolph High School in Harlem on Oct. Read MoreDan Doctoroff, the deputy mayor for economic development, says he doesn't gamble. If he did, he might be tempted to put his money where his mouth is: Internet bookies are offering 7-to-1 odds against New York's hosting the Summer Olympics in 2012.
Mr. Doctoroff already has anted up on New York's behalf. On January 12, he Read MoreUntil recent events in Salt Lake City, I thought a half-pipe was
the nicotine-delivery system my ancestors used back in the ould sod. Ach, they were so poor they had to settle for a scrawny little half-pipe while the lords and their ladies sat around tables groaning with fine meats and exotic wines while they sucked Read MoreWithin days now, the gnawed remains of two splendid human rituals will be hauled before us on television, to be presented as if still possessed of life and meaning. Alas, both are as dead as gaslight or the blacksmith shop. I mean, of course, the American political conventions, as a celebration of the political vitality Read More
