Crain's New York Business articles from June 2003

Crain's New York Business archives from June 2003

Firms feel loss of Wall St. focus; Lacking analysts' approval, companies seek new means to promote shares.(News)(New York companies suffer from low profits, scandals )
June 2, 2003... Byline: aaron elstein Dozens of New York companies are being hurt by the fallout from months of sliding profits and mounting scandals that have forced Wall Street to sharply curtail stock research. Those cutbacks, compounded by the...

New York women push for gender equality.(News)(International Rescue Committee in Iraq)
June 2, 2003... Milen Kidane, a 31-year-old child specialist working in Western Iraq for the Manhattan-based International Rescue Committee, delivers a stern lecture to her interpreter, an observant Shia Muslim who is also several years her senior. ...

Retailers find tax hikes two times as tough in NYC; Must rush to meet deadlines for city, state; fear lost sales, processing errors.(News)(New York City's new sales tax)
June 2, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez Last-minute attempts by New York City and the state to raise revenues are making life difficult-and potentially expensive-for metro area retailers. Merchants had less than two weeks to adjust their cash register...

Feds slash area airports' screening jobs; Delays, risks, another economic blow.(News)(metro New York airports cutbacks)
June 2, 2003... Byline: tom fredrickson Hundreds of full-time federal security jobs will be slashed at the three metro New York airports in the next several months, as the government moves to pare security costs across the nation. At JFK International...

4 execs examine ways to revive downtown NYC's economy; economic forecast breakfast, june 17.(Real Estate)(The Economic Future of Downtown)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Four well-known executives will discuss "The Economic Future of Downtown'' at the next Crain's economic forecast breakfast on Tuesday, June 17, at the Sheraton New York, 811 Seventh Ave., between West 52nd and West 53rd streets. While...

NY's fiscal shock and awe.(Viewpoint)(economic conditions in New York City)
June 2, 2003... Byline: Alair Townsend New York has been in a funk. The Yankees aren't hitting. It's been a rainy, cold spring. You can't even have a smoke while drowning your sorrows in a bar. But the funk is deeper than that. Taxes are going up-on...

Miramax seeks partner for promotional vehicle; Steers `Hornet' deal past $35 million.(News)(Miramax Films automotive product placement deal )
June 2, 2003... Byline: richard linnett and wayne friedman Miramax Films is shopping the largest automotive product placement deal for a feature film, asking for more than $35 million from whichever automaker signs up to have its car star in the summer...

New Executive: Watching over ABC News; Company veteran steps into new role with worldwide responsibilities.(Profiles)(ABC News Senior Vice President Paul Slavin )
June 2, 2003... Byline: anita jain ABC News looked pretty bad on March 20, the first night of war in Iraq. It trailed the other networks in reporting the war's outbreak, anchor Peter Jennings was missing in action for half an hour, and the network stopped...

When a Brooklyn pedigree meant days at the races.(Viewpoint)(Funny Cide seeks Triple Crown)
June 2, 2003... Byline: James Brady This Saturday afternoon, for about two and a half minutes of the Belmont Stakes, millions of New Yorkers will become thoroughbred racing experts when everyone has a hunch, or just a healthy curiosity, about the winner....

Government Alert: Borough chambers banding together; Association wants to influence policies; fed tax bill adds funds to Medicaid coffers.(News)(chambers of commerce in 5 boroughs to form alliance)
June 2, 2003... The chambers of commerce in the five boroughs are forming an alliance to have a greater impact on city and state policies. "The idea is to work on public policy,'' says Nancy Ploeger, executive director of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce....

Executive Moves.(Profiles)(Doremus & Co. promotes Howard Van Lenten)
June 2, 2003... Byline: joao h. rodrigues ADVERTISING & COMMUNICATIONS Doremus & Co.: Howard Van Lenten, 56, was named senior vice president of the communications agency. He continues as associate creative director and senior copywriter. Foote...

Sticking to schools plan.(Viewpoint)(Mayor Michael Bloomberg's to improve NYC's school system)
June 2, 2003... After a short hiatus, special interests are out in force to condemn Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plans to improve the school system. The surge of criticism was probably inevitable. Back in January, when the mayor gained control of the system,...

Hearty Jamaican cooking earns warm reception; With expansion, popular restaurant Maroons more guests; team's seasoned.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(Caribbean Week in Manhattan)
June 2, 2003... Byline: bob lape If a third reason were needed for visiting the soon-to-be-expanded Maroons, this is Caribbean Week in Manhattan. The first and best reason is Maroons' finger-lickin' good, home-style cuisine from Jamaica and the American...

Stock Watch: DoubleClick bounces back amid signs of turnaround; Internet ad firm posts profits but stock level looks stretched.(Stocks)(Internet stocks on rise again)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Byline: anita jain Doubleclick inc. has survived the dot-com bust and massive reductions in its staff, and is on track to post its first annual net profit. The bad news, though, is that all that good news-and far more-is already priced...

Crain's honors top 100; Simmons keynotes; minority leaders lunch.(News)(100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders in NYC)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Crain's new york business will spotlight the city's 100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders at a lunch on Thursday, June 12. The event will take place at the Hilton New York, at Sixth Avenue and West 53rd Street. The keynote speaker...

Democrats taking measure of the governor's mansion; Pataki, Republicans looking vulnerable; Spitzer grabs lead.(News)(New York gubernatorial election)
June 2, 2003... Byline: philip lentz Barely six months after the last gubernatorial election, ambitious Democrats are already angling for position for the next contest-in 2006. The front-runner, Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, recently acknowledged...

Store chain unwrapping Macy's push; Campaign banks on famous name.(News)(Federated Department Stores new ad campaign )
June 2, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Got Macy's? Federated Department Stores, Macy's parent, is betting that consumers across the country will soon say yes, thanks to a bold new marketing effort produced by the "Got milk? " creator, Manhattan...

More NY Times insiders call for Raines' ouster; Candidates emerging to replace paper's embattled executive editor.(News)(resignation of Executive Editor Howell Raines called for)
June 2, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall Pressure is mounting inside The New York Times building as angry staffers push for the resignation of Executive Editor Howell Raines. At stake is the reputation of a national institution and the morale of a...

Lab finishes sequence, expands its reach; After $1.7 million upgrade, genome center to serve state.(News)(Columbia University's Genome Center)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Byline: mary sisson Columbia University's Genome Center, which conducted genetic research for scientists at Columbia, has completed a $1.7 million upgrade and will now provide research to 39 scientific institutions throughout New York...

Kelly discusses NY cash crunch and cops; CRAIN'S FORUM, JUNE 3.(News)(Police Department faces cutbacks)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Police commissioner raymond kelly will discuss the impact of the city's fiscal problems on the Police Department and the crime rate at the next Crain's New York Business forum, to be held on Tuesday, June 3. The forum will be held at the...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(ABC's of exchange-traded funds)
June 2, 2003... Byline: anne apuzzo this week's events june 3. New York Public Library's Science, Industry and Business Library holds program on the ABC's of exchange-traded funds. 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., 188 Madison Ave., lower-level conference...

New York, New York.(Briefs)(smoking ban in restaurants)
June 2, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Smokers light out Some smokers are actually taking advantage of the smoking ban in restaurants-by not paying their bar tabs. Gascogne restaurant at 158 Eighth Ave. has been stung at least half a...

Posh pillow-plumpers; Hotels expand perks; quiet cutbacks compensate.(News)(NYC hotel industry struggling)
June 2, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher New York City's grande dame hotels may be booking fewer customers these days, but that hasn't stopped them from lavishing new perks on their guests. Whether they're taking advantage of in-room spa treatments or...

Free Health Pulse trials; crain's daily fax.(News)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Crain's offers free two-week trial subscriptions to Crain's Health Pulse, a daily fax covering the business of health care for providers and suppliers. The Pulse costs $295 a year and arrives by 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Subscribers...

Free trials of Insider fax.(News)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Crain's offers free two-week trial subscrip-tions to The Crain's Insider, a daily fax covering government and political issues of importance to business executives, lobbyists and others interested in the inner workings of city and state...

Small Business: Software firm's code word is caution; In crowded market, TripleHop survives by honing product, husbanding cash.(Small Business)(TripleHop Technologies is tech startup)
June 2, 2003... Byline: stephen garmhausen In its three years of existence, TripleHop Technologies hasn't exactly been living high off the hog. The tech company's 25-employee headquarters is a nondescript Silicon Alley loft with not even one $1,000...

Iraq tests NYers' skills, optimism; Facing pressure, they train police, rewire phones and offer medicine.(News)(Col. William Jeffrey Smith in Iraq)
June 2, 2003... Byline: jacqueline s. gold Standing amid the ruined acres of what was once one of Iraq's key food distribution sites, Col. William Jeffrey Smith is positive that Basra's "breadbasket'' will be back in operation this week. The vast...

Office-cleaning companies struggle to avoid washout; Rejigger contracts, seek new work as clients cut back; pricing pressured.(Real Estate)(Manhattan's largest cleaning company plans expansion)
June 2, 2003... Byline: lore croghan How tough are conditions in the city's vast office-cleaning business? Just ask ABM Industries Inc. In March, Manhattan's largest cleaning company, with more than 3,000 employees locally, took a dramatic step to...

Photographers focus on new studio; Duo will develop space on W. 25th; midtown south owner rents, for now.(Real Estate)(Commercial photographers move)
June 2, 2003... Byline: lore croghan Commercial photographers Ric Cohn and Dennis Gottlieb are joining forces to build a single studio at 28 W. 25th St. in Chelsea. The two men, who operate separate businesses, have signed a 10-year lease for one...

At Deadline.(Late News)(residential projects seek over $700 mn in Liberty Bond financing)
June 2, 2003... LA passes NY in international trade los angeles has surpassed New York as the largest center for international trade, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. Propelled by a surge of trade with China, the Los Angeles...

Spending gap: NY politics drives up Medicaid costs; California covers more people for less money.(News)(cuts in services to Medicaid recipients)
June 2, 2003... Byline: mary sisson Although New York and California lie a nation apart, in recent months the political lives of the two states have had many parallels. Both face large deficits, and in both states, the rising cost of Medicaid has been...

Reprints of Crain stories; reprint, post published articles.(Real Estate)(Brief Article)
June 2, 2003... Crain's new york business offers reprints of the articles it publishes. The reprints can include black-and-white or color photos that accompany the story. To obtain an estimate of the price and the turnaround time for a reprint, please contact...

Patients embrace new services: palliative care; Gentler alternative for the seriously ill.(News)(recent growth in palliative care)
June 2, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall When Karen Freedberg's 93-year-old father fell gravely ill, she didn't want him to go through the same traumatic and futile medical interventions that her mother endured four years earlier. Her father was...

The Best of Bob Lape.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(home-style cooking of Jamaica )(Restaurant Review)
June 9, 2003... Maroons (2) 244 W. 16th St. (between Seventh and Eighth avenues), Manhattan. (212) 206-8640. Full-flavored, home-style cooking of Jamaica and the American South in a tiny powerhouse of warmth and good tastes. Patroon (2) 160 E....

Struggle for independents; Art-house cinema competition thickens; Angelika loads Matrix.(News)(Angelika Film Center)
June 9, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar The Angelika Film Center, long the epicenter of Manhattan's independent film scene, is in the midst of a remake. First, the famous but grungy movie theater complex and cafe, on the corner of Mercer and...

Suzy Parker lit Paris before today's cover girls were born.(Viewpoint)(cover girl industry's origins)
June 9, 2003... Byline: James Brady The young and innocent among us may think that the cover girl industry began with Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundchen, or when previously anonymous models started dating and occasionally marrying the frontmen of rock groups...

Executive Moves.(Profiles)(Bennett S. Gross, new managing director )
June 9, 2003... Byline: joao h. rodrigues ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING Huron Consulting Group: Bennett S. Gross, 51, joined as managing director for the business consultant. He was formerly of counsel at Morgan Lewis & Bockius. ADVERTISING &...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(Promotion Marketing Association )
June 9, 2003... Byline: anne apuzzo this week's events june 10. CityBar Center for Continuing Legal Education holds program on construction financing: Can competing interests find a middle ground? 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Association of the Bar of the...

Martha's rivals thrive on scandal; They gain as advertisers pull out; newsstand sales show big drop, too.(News)(Martha Stewart Living magazine suffering from scandal)
June 9, 2003... Byline: anita jain As Martha Stewart's squeaky-clean image continues to tarnish, less established rivals are profiting from the domestic diva's travails. Magazines competing with Martha Stewart Living, and a new daytime television show,...

PR firms spin to services that are recession-proof; Hard times force agencies to launch fresh practices, find new clients.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(public relations agency sees decline in hospitality industry)
June 9, 2003... Byline: laura q. hughes Since the city's economy slipped into recession two years ago, The Hall Co., a public relations agency specializing in the hospitality industry, has seen its hotel work plummet and its restaurant clients' event...

Breaking in at rock-bottom price.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(free PR consultations to small businesses)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2003... With prices for PR services already under pressure, in April, Cogent Public Relations took the ultimate step. To fire up a brand-new Manhattan outpost, the Boston-based firm began offering free PR consultations to small business owners. As a...

Pitching Into the Wind; Entrepreneurs fire up marketing machines to counter hard times; building buzz for less.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(teddy bears in knit sweaters)
June 9, 2003... Byline: Fran Hawthorne Last year, nancy weibel hanson and her husband, William, almost gave up. Sales at their knitwear company were flagging. Their business partners had dropped out, and the couple had no choice but to lay off all 68 of...

Telling Tales.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(directory of black-owned businesses)
June 9, 2003... Byline: Lisa Goff Minority directory gets major push When the big black Book ceased publication several years ago, it left New York City without a directory of black-owned businesses. Unthinkable, thought Gregory Newson, owner of...

Mortgage firm closes on office sublet; PwC finds subtenant for Sixth Ave. space; engineers design lease renewal, expansion.(Real Estate)(accounting firm sublets lease to The New York Mortgage Co. )
June 9, 2003... Byline: lore croghan Pricewaterhousecoopers has found its first taker for part of the 440,000 square feet of office space at 1301 Sixth Ave. it has been trying to shed for a year. The accounting firm has sublet 62,600 square feet to...

New Executive: Breadth of fresh air; CFO is attracted to the challenge of Cendant's myriad holdings.(Profiles)(Ronald Nelson, new chief financial officer of Cendant Corp.)
June 9, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez Flying single-prop airplanes is the biggest passion of Ronald Nelson, the new chief financial officer of Cendant Corp., outside of work. His wife, Joyce, decides when and where they fly-they've traveled from...

NY Olympic bid faces tough European foes; Paris, London now the favorites.(News)(New York City's campaign for 2012 Olympics )
June 9, 2003... Byline: philip lentz New York City's campaign to win the 2012 Olympics is running into serious competition from two of Europe's most important cities-Paris and London. While many New Yorkers assume that their city is the favorite for...

Culture cash of the titans.(Viewpoint)(American business and music patronage)
June 9, 2003... Byline: Greg David In the 1880s, the titans of American business tired of sitting on the main floor of the city's opera house while the old aristocracy looked down on them from the prized boxes above. Led by William Vanderbilt, J.P. Morgan...

Sandro's offbeat style lands at the smallest Serafina; Italian menu includes dishes made with tobacco leaves; earplugs optional.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(Italian chef Sandro Fioriti )(Restaurant Review)
June 9, 2003... Byline: bob lape Much like a culinary Buddha, a plump-bellied and mustachioed chef statue stands at the entrance to Serafina Sandro, in the shadow of Tao. It's impossible not to pass without giving the statue a pat on the belly for luck....

Global education nonprofit seeks high degree of tutelage; Fulbright Program, 7-day-week demands test the No. 2 exec.(Workplace)(Institute of International Education )
June 9, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar On an average day, the chief operating officer of the Institute of International Education might provide graduate school scholarships to disadvantaged people in 25 countries, or even help endangered scholars...

NY companies rush plans to enter a safer Iraq; Insurers, financial firms, contractors move to join first wave of investment.(News)(Manhattan brokerage expands in Middle East)
June 9, 2003... Byline: jacqueline s. gold Now that the war in Iraq is over, Jonathan Auerbach and David Grayson are planning their own invasion. Managing directors of a midtown Manhattan brokerage that bears their names, the two men feel the same heady...

Agency startups sprout in harsh climate for ads; Small firms for small accounts.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(new full-service advertising firm)
June 9, 2003... Byline: lisa sanders After 23 years at Bates USA, managing accounts for clients such as Colgate-Palmolive and BestFoods, 56-year-old adman Alan Kellam got laid off from his job as senior vice president early last year. He spent a few...

Art at downtown's heart: New center aims for revival; Top architects plan to nurture creativity in underserved area.(News)(New York architects back arts center in Manhattan)
June 9, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher Two prominent New York architects, David Rockwell and Kevin Kennon, are planning to open an arts center in lower Manhattan. The Arts Incubator, as it will be called, will provide space to performing and visual...

The need for luxury decontrol.(Viewpoint)(New York City rent control system )
June 9, 2003... In the next week, the Legislature and Gov. George Pataki will decide on the terms for renewing the New York City system that controls rents on about 1 million apartments. It is crucial for the city's economic future that provisions that allow...

Advertisers use their Census; Multicultural agencies are thriving as clients pay heed to ethnic markets.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(Hispanic marketing firm)
June 9, 2003... Byline: tina traster Everyone told Carmen Sepulveda that she was "loco'' to open the doors of her agency Act-e Marketing in the midst of a recession. But since its founding a year ago, the Hispanic marketing specialist has landed...

Steady diet distinguishes chain; Over 60 years, Burger Heaven builds market niche through consistency.(Special Report: Small Business Marketing)(high food quality and service)(Restaurant Review)
June 9, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall As the midtown lunchtime crowd pours into the Burger Heaven on East 49th Street and Madison Avenue, owner Nicholas Cyprus watches from an upstairs table just above the cash register. By the 1 p.m. peak, every one...

Free trials of Insider fax.(Workplace)(Brief Article)
June 9, 2003... Crain's offers free two-week trial subscriptions to The Crain's Insider, a daily fax covering government and political issues of importance to business executives, lobbyists and others interested in the inner workings of city and state...

Lincoln Center recomposing itself; Hard-pressed to fill funding, scheduling gaps to be left by Philharmonic's exit.(News)(arts complex needs extensive renovations)
June 9, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar A week after losing one of its most important members, Lincoln Center is scrambling to plan its future. The New York Philharmonic's decision to merge with Carnegie Hall will leave the arts complex with a...

LeFraks planning to build up legacy; Son, grandsons try to emulate Sam with bold visions for the organization.(News)(Lefrak Organization opens new office)
June 9, 2003... Byline: lore croghan The Lefrak Organization plans to open an office outside the metro New York region for the first time in its century-long history. It's also looking to return to its roots and build again within the city limits, which...

Government Alert: Jets tap Pataki aide for stadium drive; Hire ex-LMDC head as consultant; McLaughlin adds to war chest.(Briefs)(NYC government shakeup)
June 9, 2003... The new york jets, beefing up their political contacts as they campaign for a new Manhattan stadium on the West Side, have hired Lou Tomson, former president of the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., as a consultant. Mr. Tomson was a top...

New York, New York.(Briefs)(Internet food delivery service lawsuit)
June 9, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Grudge match may get legal Howard Glickberg, president of Fairway, readily admits that his beef with his former partner, Joe Fedele, is a personal matter. But that may not stop him from filing a lawsuit...

Third Avenue hosting a retailer spree; Prime shopping pushes below E. 60th as new development raises area's profile.(Real Estate)(Retailers expanding spaces )
June 9, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher Though "for rent'' signs have become all too familiar at retail locations throughout the city, they are a rarity on Third Avenue above East 57th Street. Retailers are expanding their existing spaces there, new...

Rebuilders scout for Middle East skills, expertise; Arabic scholars, speakers in demand for political, economic development jobs.(Workplace)(college grads sought for international work)
June 9, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall Unlike most graduates these days, Simon Kitchen had a high-level job lined up a month before he finished his final exam. Today, he's working as an analyst at Lehman Brothers Eurasia Group, a small consulting unit...

At Deadline.(Late News)(volunteers vaccinated against smallpox)
June 9, 2003... Few vaccinated for smallpox only 340 people in new york City have volunteered to be vaccinated against smallpox, significantly below the 5,000 to 10,000 people the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene hoped to inoculate by the end...

Flower district arranges far West Side relocation; Latest effort eyes indoor market; not all merchants want to uproot.(News)(Manhattan's flower district get 48-yr. lease)
June 9, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Key players in Manhattan's flower district are closing in on a deal to re-root from their West 28th Street neighborhood to a new, centralized home on 11th Avenue at West 46th Street, preserving an historic industry...

Crain stories available on databases.(News)
June 9, 2003... Crain's is available on several electronic databases for readers wishing to locate published stories. Full text can be found on Nexis and Dialog. Dow Jones also carries full text on Dow Jones Interactive, Newsbank CD-ROM products and Profound....

Hillary provides a sidewalk diversion from 3-card monte.(Viewpoint)(Column)
June 16, 2003... Byline: James Brady I had often walked down this street before. But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before. And, why not? I have a pied-a-terre on East 48th Street; it's the street where I live. The day (last Monday) had...

NJ revives incentives; city vows to compete; Downtown could lose big; Moody's move shows risks.(News)(Business Employment Incentive Program)
June 16, 2003... Byline: lore croghan New Jersey is reinstating a crucial incentive program, dealing a blow to the Bloomberg administration's economic development strategies. Last week, New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey revived the Business Employment...

Polo goes solo with Lauren line; Wins brand from Jones amid lawsuits; time frame requires more than bravado.(News)
June 16, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. executives may well be reminding themselves of the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for.'' The firm just won control of the Lauren women's line, effective Jan. 1, 2004, after eight...

To please staff, the eyes have it; Vision care is inexpensive new benefit.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)(Brief Article)
June 16, 2003... Byline: steve justice Vision care, which typically costs much less than medical or dental insurance, is emerging as a favored way to make more palatable the increases that workers must pay for health care costs. By offering extra...

Who Picks Up the Checkup? Companies try to minimize rising health care costs by asking workers to pay more; few turn to severest plans.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)
June 16, 2003... Byline: judy temes This year, krasdale foods is paying $3 million to ensure that its 600 workers have health care benefits. That's 25% more than the White Plains-based company paid last year, but 10% less than what the bill would have...

Firms scramble to revive 401(k)'s; Step up employee education efforts as plan participation rates fall 10%.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)
June 16, 2003... Byline: victoria rivkin Since retirement savings headed south along with the ailing stock market, and employers cut their matching contributions to save money, employees are increasingly choosing not to participate in their companies'...

Commuters queue up for transit benefits; Fare hikes, improved technology, tax savings boost enrollment.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)
June 16, 2003... Byline: matthew flamm The latest fare hike from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority may not hold, but it is already changing the way many New Yorkers pay for commuting costs. Since the MTA rate announcement and last fall's New...

Old-style pensions eyed to outfox the market bear; Defined benefits less costly than thought; can do better than 401(k)'s.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)
June 16, 2003... Byline: fran hawthorne According to conventional wisdom, old-fashioned pension plans-the kind that pay retirees a fixed annuity every month-should be nearly extinct by now. They are seen as too expensive and bureaucratic. Defined...

Above and beyond call of duty; Firms surpass fed obligations to workers in military.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)
June 16, 2003... Byline: cara s. trager Things could have been a lot worse for Mark Bell. A member of the National Guard, he was deployed to Germany soon after Sept. 11 to work for nine months in a counterterrorism unit. According to federal law, his...

At Deadline.(Late News)(General Motors Building will be sold)
June 16, 2003... Famed GM Building put up for sale donald trump and conseco Inc. announced an agreement to sell the famed General Motors Building at 767 Fifth Ave. in a move that settles a long dispute. The 2 million-square-foot office tower is expected to...

NY restaurants count their carbs; Eateries join Atkins craze to lure customers; dieting owners offer new menus, prices.(News)(restaurant owners appeal to Atkins dieting devotees )
June 16, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher With Atkins dieters running rampant around town, it was only a matter of time before restaurants would begin catering to them. Suddenly, eateries from The Steakhouse at Monkey Bar to the Comfort Diner are...

Three legislative imperatives.(Viewpoint)(auto leasing liability issues)
June 16, 2003... before adjourning this week, the Legislature must renew rent regulation without weakening luxury vacancy decontrol (Crain's, June 9). It also needs to tackle a series of crucial but modest changes in liability laws. The changes are needed so...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(corporations implementing wireless technologies)
June 16, 2003... Byline: anne apuzzo this week's events June 17. William B. May International and Sterling National Bank hold seminar on office space: leasing versus buying. 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Sterling National Bank, 622 Third Ave. Fee: $20...

New Executive: Fashioning business advice; Exec will use her apparel experience to build restructuring practice at Financo.(Profiles)(boutique investment bank Financo)
June 16, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Mary ann domuracki has two sets of vivid childhood memories. One is of trips with her mother and sister to buy Easter dresses at Hess's Department Stores. The other is of her father's hard work as he put himself...

New York, New York.(Briefs)(slow economy worries mayors and governors )
June 16, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Pitching greener pastures A slow economy is attracting more mayors and governors to New York these days. No longer worried about stealing business from the city post-Sept. 11, they are descending in the...

Asian-American banks invade New York; California's UCBH, Cathay expect to take business from local institutions.(Finance)(Asian American banks expanding in New York City)
June 16, 2003... Byline: tom fredrickson Having grown at warp speed in California, the nation's two largest Asian-American banks are expanding in New York City, eyeing loyal customers of community banks. San Francisco-based UCBH Inc. is poised for...

Summer jobs for youths; city seeks employers.(News)(Summer Youth Employment Program )(Brief Article)
June 16, 2003... The new york city department of employment is seeking businesses that can offer city youths summer jobs paying the minimum wage of $6.50. The Summer Youth Employment Program places an average of 35,000 young people in summer jobs. It...

City offers low-cost bonds for auto mall, 3 food firms; Potamkin plans outlet in Harlem; Peerless Importers to expand warehouse.(News)(financing assistance for new automotive shopping mall in Harlem)
June 16, 2003... Byline: wendy blake The city's Industrial Development Agency agreed to provide nearly $50 million in financing assistance for an automotive shopping mall in Harlem, two bakeries, a liquor importer and two private schools. The Potamkin...

Hybrid plans enter the mix.(Special Report: Employee Benefits)(hybrid pension plans )(Brief Article)
June 16, 2003... The proposed Portman-Cardin bill would allow workers to make tax-deferred contributions to their defined pensions, the same way they do in a 401(k). The American Academy of Actuaries and the Principal Financial Group, a 401(k) investment...