Crain's New York Business articles from October 2006

Crain's New York Business archives from October 2006

Project a raw deal for Queens baker; Seaside building plans threaten Red Castle; debate over Red Hook piers.(Neighborhood Journal)
October 2, 2006... Plans for a massive redevelopment of a desolate swath of Far Rockaway are endangering the area's sole manufacturer, Red Castle Bakeries--a maker of Jamaican beef patties for the city's public schools and other places. Last month, men wielding...

Trades move off floor; NYSE's `hybrid market' to hurt independent brokers.(News)(NYSE Group Inc.)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Aaron Elstein Every day for the past 25 years, Daniel Tandy has worked on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange, making trades for his customers. He may not make it to his 26th anniversary. The exchange will dramatically...

Rising hotel rates price visitors out; City's tourism boom threatened, but cost of rooms not likely to drop.(News)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Lisa Fickenscher Hotel room rates in the city have risen so much this year that visitors have begun to avoid the Big Apple. Sticker shock is keeping more families and even some business travelers away, while others are finding...

Moynihan Station's final push; Pataki aides argue that delays threaten funds, bigger project.(News)(George Pataki)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Anne Michaud Gov. George Pataki's economic development chiefs are preparing a final push to win approval for the Moynihan Station rail terminal, a once-popular project that top state Democrats are challenging in the final days of...

SPITZER WATCH Likely appointees.(Eliot Spitzer )(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden may have done more than grab the headlines again with his decision last week to ban trans fats in food in New York City. He may have caught the attention of Democratic gubernatorial candidate...

Home builder's big slide likely to have long run; Housing market's rout hits Hovnanian; cheap stock no bargain.(Hovnanian Enterprises Inc.)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Aaron Elstein The ground is giving way beneath Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. The home-building giant's sales are shriveling, while cancellation rates and unsold inventory soar. No wonder shares of the Red Bank, N.J.-based company...

Vistas, vintages in NJ Skylands; Restaurant Latour offers mod American, many wines; beware swings in seasoning.(Restaurant Latour)(Restaurant review)
October 2, 2006... Byline: bob lape No jackets are required to partake of white-glove service at Restaurant Latour, home to one of the world's premier wine collections, perched atop the scenic New Jersey Skylands in Sussex County. The 50,000 bottles in...

Frugal firms learn to shave; Managers try strict policies, Web to battle costs; volume discounts don't cut it anymore.(Executive Travel Report)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Andrew Marks Two years ago, when Christopher Staal called hotels to negotiate discounts for colleagues from The Thomson Corp., representatives would scramble to accommodate him. Mr. Staal, director of corporate travel for the...

Keeping tabs on currency issues; Wise card, cash use key to avoiding fees; open local accounts.(Executive Travel Report)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Jeremy Quittner Seth Hishmeh learned an important lesson during his first trip to China a few years ago. The chief operating officer of USAS Technologies, a Manhattan-based IT consulting firm, brought Visa traveler's checks and a...

Helping the less fortunate while taking time off; `Voluntourism' on the rise as execs donate part of their vacations to local projects.(Executive Travel Report)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Margaret Jaworski Ruth Sutcliffe's trip to Kenya last year was an extraordinary experience. The $5,500 trip included a walking safari with Samburu warriors and several days at a luxurious retreat in the Masai Mara. Then, on the...

Tracking workers to ensure safety; Firms use gizmos, outside experts; quick escapes.(Executive Travel Report)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Stan Luxenberg When british investigators uncovered a terror plot recently, London airports shut immediately. That was a signal for American Express to activate its emergency plan by beefing up its staff of phone representatives....

PAYING UP.(Executive Travel Report)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... In July, a federal court in New York settled a class action against card associations MasterCard and Visa, and a number of the nation's largest banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, J.P. Morgan Chase and Washington Mutual. The suit...

AXING THE AGENT.(Executive Travel Report)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Thomson Corp. has tightened its travel policies, and it's planning to roll out a comprehensive online booking tool for its executives later this year. But travel director's Christopher Staal's cost-cutting efforts also include strengthening...

Manpower advocate.(Business Lives)(Peter Holoman)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Byline: tom fredrickson Peter Holoman, 37, directs campus programs and support services at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. His focus is the Male Development and Empowerment Center. The job pays about $60,000. GOALS The center helps...

The ethical issue in the HP scandal.(Viewpoint)(Hewlett-Packard )
October 2, 2006... Byline: Alair Townsend The stories about the gang that couldn't shoot straight at Hewlett-Packard get wackier and wackier. It was recently revealed that the company's manager of global investigations had studied the feasibility of...

How to start a personal blog.(Business Lives)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... go to blogger.com, 360.yahoo.com or spaces.live.com to sign up for a free blog. The steps are easy to follow. The best bloggers post entries at least once a day; new bloggers need to post at least once a week to develop a following. Write about...

News Corp. finds there's no success like online success as MySpace roars.(In the Markets)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. owns everything from satellite television services to The New York Post, but all eyes seem to be on the company's social networking site. Purchased a year ago for $580 million, MySpace was hailed last week as the...

Best of Bob Lape.(Business Lives)(Del Posto and Beacon)(Restaurant review)
October 2, 2006... Other wine-rich restaurants recently reviewed by Bob Lape. Del Posto (4) 85 10th Ave. (between West 15th and West 16th streets), Manhattan. (212) 497-8090. The whole nine yards. Mario Batali, Lidia and Joe Bastianich, 22,000 square...

J.P. Morgan: Dimon effect paying off; His investments yield results; next up is profitability gap.(News)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Tom Fredrickson A year ago, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. announced that Jamie Dimon would take over as chief executive at the end of 2005, six months ahead of schedule. The effect was immediate. The news of Mr. Dimon's promotion lit...

Mad about Madden; Return of designer working with savvy execs pleases customers, investors.(News)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Spending a few years in a jumpsuit did nothing to dull Steve Madden's fashion genius. His footwear has been on the mark since he rejoined the industry in the spring of 2005 after being incarcerated for more than...

Elite designer dishes up hit for mass market; Revamps for plastic production while maintaining cachet; expands retailer base.(Small Business)(Jill Fenichell)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Neil Weilheimer For six years, Jill Fenichell designed handcrafted porcelain plates selling for as much as $2,500. Last year, she decided that it was time to aim for a broader audience with a line of mass-produced plastic plates at...

Hot Jobs.(Business Lives)
October 2, 2006... Byline: erik engquist WANTED: president and ceo ORGANIZATION Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce JOB DESCRIPTION Oversee all chamber operations; expand membership, lobby City Hall and Albany, administer government-funded economic...

Rental units become investment du jour; Stabilized apartments offer solid financials, big upside potential.(News)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Julie Satow Six years ago, Apollo Real Estate Advisors helped develop the superluxury glass-clad Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle. How things change. Today, the company is one of a growing number of blue-chip...

STUDENT AID.(Executive Travel Report)(International SOS Assistance Inc. comes to students rescue)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Besides working for most Fortune 100 companies, International SOS serves overseas students from Columbia University and other Ivy League schools. When the recent war in Lebanon began in August, the consultant arranged for chartered buses that...

New York, New York.(Briefs)(housing in New York)(Fox 5 in search of ratings)(women spending behaviors)
October 2, 2006... Byline: edited by Valerie Block Flip at own risk Real estate buyers, beware. Last week, the national housing market had its first price decline in a decade, and New York is bound to follow, says Jonathan J. Miller, president of real...

SOLID FOOTING.(News)(Steve Madden Ltd. and Tracy Reese sign deal)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... To boost momentum, Steven Madden recently signed a major licensing deal with the Tracy Reese fashion house. Under the Tracy Reese brand, Steven Madden's Friedman division will produce handbags, belts and other accessories, which are slated to...

WNBC follows its parent into; Drooping network, cost cuts drag down local newscasts.(News)(WNBC-TV)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Matthew Flamm NBC's fall from grace--namely, to fourth from first place in prime-time ratings--is an old topic in media circles. But here's a new wrinkle: The Peacock network's decline has finally dragged flagship station WNBC down...

Feds drag feet on hospital proposal; $1.5 billion pledged for closures; U.S. budget office raises questions about plan.(News)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Gale Scott Hospitals across New York state have Dec. 1 circled on their calendars. That's the day a state panel will release its "hit list'' naming the New York hospital systems that it says should consolidate or shut down. ...

AIR PASSENGER TRAFFIC HITS RECORD LEVEL.(Executive Travel Report)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Passenger volume at New York's three major airports rose 4.7% in the year ended June 30 for the region's 50 largest carriers to a record 96.3 million passengers. Mesa Airlines saw a 900% increase in passenger traffic, the largest for any...

At Deadline.(Late News)(Restaurants to offer healthier rare)(ContextWeb gets finance)(Emirates Airline lauches service)
October 2, 2006... Some 25 construction and finance companies from Spain will arrive next week to explore the possibility of doing projects in New York City. The firms, only two of which have ever done business here, were recruited by the city's Economic...

Corrections and Clarifications.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
October 2, 2006... Thomas Grippa is the manager of a new Signature Bank branch in Jackson Heights, Queens. His name was misspelled in Sept. 25 issue. The Sept. 25 "In the Markets'' story on Cablevision Systems Corp. should have noted that the 26% decline in...

State GOP on life support.(Viewpoint)(Grand Old Party, Republican Party)
October 2, 2006... The news that the Republican Party's candidate for attorney general, Jeanine Pirro, was the target of a federal investigation is just the latest piece of evidence that the state GOP has lost its way. Even before Republican candidates are buried...

The Insider.(Briefs)(Republican Party goes through bad phase)(Kenneth Adams heads Business Council of New York State Inc.)(Craig Wilson joins Economic Development Corp.)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Erik Engquist and Anne Michaud Expecting to lose, GOP looks to rebuild With jeanine pirro, the GOP's candidate for attorney general, suffering another political disaster last week, Republican operatives are working on who will...

Online drive for playoff tix; Hopeful Mets, Yankees fans now play the field on Web resale sites.(Business Lives)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Hilary Potkewitz The last time the mets made it to the World Series, in 2000, Steve Bernard--like thousands of other fans--spent hours speed-dialing the box-office hotline for tickets. He never got through. This year, Mr....

MTA, city reach rail yards deal.(Briefs)(Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Manhattan City sign deal)(restaurants to cut down on fat)(Revlon Inc. downsizing)
October 2, 2006... Byline: from staff reports and bloomberg news reports The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the rail yards on Manhattan's far West Side (above), and the city reached an agreement that calls for the 13-acre site to be rezoned...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)
October 2, 2006... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events october 3 New York Building Congress holds breakfast forum with deputy mayor Daniel Doctoroff. 8:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., Hilton New York, 1335 Sixth Ave., Mercury Ballroom. Fee: $55...

Executive Moves.(Donaldson M. Ross)(William Carmell)(Rachel Coan)
October 2, 2006... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli advertising & communications Carat Fusion: Jeff Thaler, 43, joined as senior vice president, director of program management. He had been group director, project management, at Tribal DDB. R/GA: Nick...

Chelsea site suits clothing firm; Delia's finds fit on West 23rd Street; wine bar slips into former shoe center.(Delia's Inc. moving its headquarters to Chelsea.)(Jonathan Cohen and Michael Lagnese to open a wine bar.)(ANC Home Decor furniture store relocates.)
October 2, 2006... A clothing company that markets to teens is moving its headquarters to Chelsea. Now located in Hudson Square, Delia's Inc. has leased 52,200 square feet at 50 W. 23rd St. The 10-year deal is for part of the ninth and the entire 10th floors. The...

Trading down a notch; White-shoe dropout heads small bond broker; downtime drove family crazy.(Business Lives)(MarketAxess Holdings Inc)(T. Kelley Millet appointed as president)
October 2, 2006... Byline: Aaron Elstein In january, after 24 frenzied years as a globetrotting banker at J.P. Morgan and Bear Stearns, T. Kelley Millet decided to unplug. He spent part of the winter out West learning to ski and in the Caribbean learning...

SHOULD TRANS FATS BE BANNED from ALL CITY RESTAURANTS? CRAIN'S ONLINE POLL.(Viewpoint)(Brief article)
October 2, 2006... Almost two-thirds of the 364 respondents to a NewYorkBusiness.com poll support a ban. Among them, 35% cite the health risks associated with the fats, found in some shortenings, margarines and frying oils. A little over a quarter say that...

Activists' Resumes.(Small Business Report)
October 9, 2006... LOU BASSO The Alcott Group Farmingdale, L.I. Revenues $200 million (including salaries paid by clients to the staffing firm's contract workers) Employees 50 Most memorable experience Getting legislation for his industry...

A good time to go public?(News)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Sources: Securities and Exchange Commission filings; companies The dow jones Industrial Average hits a record high. The price of oil declines. The Federal Reserve signals that it will hold the line on interest rate hikes. Are the...

In entrepreneurs' corner.(Small Business Report)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... National Federation of Independent Business, New York state chapter Description The state's largest lobbying organization for small businesses Members 1,400 Positions Supports tort reform, workers' compensation reform, elimination...

There's no place like home.(Business Lives)
October 9, 2006... To have a private abode considered for a commercial, TV program or feature film, register with a location scout: Adrienne Cleere (212) 891-7246 at Douglas Elliman, www.elliman.com Laura Wagner (212) 431-2444 at Sotheby's...

Developers making eco-friendly a habit; Lower Manhattan leads in high-end green towers, partly because of mandates.(Business Lives)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Margaret Jaworski From basement to roof garden and countertops to closets, just about everything in Lisa Sharkey and Paul Gleicher's newly renovated Upper West Side brownstone is green. Not the color green--though their living...

Broker, serve thyself: Real estate vet renovates; Exec from Newmark Knight Frank Retail brings his condo up to snuff, years later.(Christopher Coleman Interior Designs)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Louise Kramer When jeffrey Roseman was approached about holding a political fund-raiser at his penthouse apartment, on West 15th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, he graciously declined. Mr. Roseman, an executive at a top...

Aging Netscape tries hand at reinvention; Former icon reborn as networking site; little to lose.(News)(Netscape Communications Corp.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Amanda Fung Three months after AOL's widely publicized unveiling of the new Netscape, the question remains the same: AOL relaunched what? That, in a nutshell, is the key problem for AOL and its parent, Time Warner. Netscape,...

Good retail help harder to find; Workforce hits record; hourly wage rises.(News)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Pedestrians strolling around Union Square can shop for just about anything they need, including a job. Shoe Mania, Sephora, Babies "R'' Us, The Children's Place and Staples all have "help wanted'' signs in their...

Grape nut.(Business Lives)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: aaron elstein John Kapon, 34, is president and auction director at Acker Merrall & Condit Co., a high-end wine retailer on the Upper West Side. DYNASTY Mr. Kapon represents the third generation to run the 186-year-old business,...

Growth Tales; key strategies used by young firms.(Small Business Report)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Lisa Goff When the price has to be right Pricing a product correctly is one of the biggest challenges for small business owners. Howard Bender knew the risks when it came time for him to establish prices for his online...

Billiard-cloth maker's game is up; Once-dominant company succumbs to age; seeks buyer.(W.T. Mali Co.)(Company overview)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Victoria Rivkin The henry W.T. Mali Co. has been selling felt coverings for billiard tables since John Quincy Adams was in the White House. Over much of the last 180 years, the company handily dominated its field as one generation...

2 rehab firms, 2 different styles; One vows to stay local, other to go nationwide; both focus on quality.(MyHome)(The Renovated Home)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Steve Garmhausen As almost every New Yorker knows, renovating an apartment is a nasty business that costs way too much, never gets done on time and always involves contractors who treat customers as sheep ready for the shearing of...

Making charity pay dividends; Donations, good deeds can put firms on map, attract business opportunities.(Small Business Report)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Tina Traster Three years ago, after an uninsured 24-year-old man lost both of his legs when the Staten Island Ferry crashed into a concrete pier, Arimed Orthotics and Prosthetics came to his aid. The Brooklyn-based firm donated two...

HOW MUCH COFFEE IS TOO MUCH?(Business Lives)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... The threshold is different for everyone, but sensitivity to caffeine changes with age. For most people, the recommendation is no more than about two cups a day. For the young or the elderly, two cups could be excessive. Coffee can irritate the...

B'klyn moves to save historic theater; Requests alternatives to wrecking ball for Loews Kings; Bronx mulls armory uses.(Brooklyn)(Loews Kings theater)
October 9, 2006... For years, city officials yearned to gut the Loews Kings theater--an abandoned, festering hulk in the heart of Flatbush's main retail strip--and start fresh. No more. In a change of heart that followed intense lobbying by Brooklyn Borough...

As Dow sets new record, Merrill's bullish bets yield great payoff.(In the Markets)
October 9, 2006... With the Dow Jones Industrial average soaring to unprecedented heights last week, it was only fitting that shares of America's largest stock brokerage, Merrill Lynch, should set their own all-time highs, hitting $81.79 on Thursday. The rise...

NJ property tax showdown; Divisive proposal to hike commercial rates could put waterfront, downtown on a par.(News)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Julie Satow New Jersey officials are considering a controversial proposal to raise the state's commercial property taxes. The legislative effort, which could result in a doubling of taxes on office buildings, is being closely...

Marathon brings NYC $188 million; Race adds more to city economy than any other single-day sporting event.(News)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Lisa Fickenscher the ing New York City Marathon draws hundreds of thousands of visitors, who spend millions of dollars in the Big Apple each year. But surprisingly, the race's financial impact on the city has not been measured in...

Sirius static exhibits no signs of clearing up; Subscriber numbers rise, but so do costs; Stern shocks too few.(In the Markets)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Tom Fredrickson Sirius satellite radio is experiencing severe reception problems with investors. When the company announced the glad tidings on Wednesday that it had picked up market share, investors dumped the stock, pushing...

WEEK IN REVIEW: Construction costs near record.(Sirius satellite radio inc. adds 441,101 subscribers.)(Morgan Stanley acquired Nan Tung Bank in Zhuhai, China.)(W.L. Ross & co., acquired textile maker OCM India Ltd.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: from staff reports and bloomberg news reports Construction spending in New York City is expected to increase 11% to a record $20.8 billion in 2006, according to a new report by the New York Building Congress. Allocations for public...

The Insider.(Condo-hotels open in manufacturing zones.)(Tax abatement program in Manhattan.)(Eliot Spitzer administration to continue with state lottery.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: erik engquist and anne michaud Condo-hotels could crowd factories A pending ruling on "condo-hotels'' is being watched closely by manufacturers and their advocates in city government. Donald Trump (left) and his development...

At Deadline.(Wall Street firms shell out about $15 billion over the past four years to settle litigation.)(Greenhill & Co. and Manhattan-based venture firm SAVP have raised $102 million for a new fund.)(Bulgari Hotels & Resorts has opened properties in Milan and Bali and is looking to expand elsewhere.)
October 9, 2006... Wall Street firms have shelled out about $15 billion over the past four years to settle litigation stemming from the failures of Enron and WorldCom, the scandal over research-analyst conflicts, and other matters, according to a report from...

Now starring ... your pad; New Yorkers rent homes for money and status.(Business Lives)
October 9, 2006... Byline: margaret Jaworski Last year, City Councilwoman Gale Brewer and her husband packed up their breakables, put their furniture in storage and handed their 1886 West Side town house over to strangers. For the next month, the couple...

In the director's chair; AMC's GM to push for more ads on film channel; viewing patterns changing.(general manager)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Matthew Flamm In his four years as head of advertising sales at Court TV, Charles Collier developed strategies that helped turn a struggling network into a thriving one. That was one reason the AMC network pursued him for the...

FREE TRIALS OF INSIDER NEWSLETTER; online political news from crain's.(News)
October 9, 2006... Crain's offers a free TWO-WEEK TRIAL subscription to The Crain's Insider, an online newsletter covering political gossip and government and political issues of importance to business executives, lobbyists and others interested in the inner...

Biz owners fight back; Fed up with government miscues, entrepreneurs lobby for change.(Small Business Report)(Dr. Ron Cohen - biotechnology entrepreneur)(Bob Cutrona president of Project One Services Inc)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Judith Messina As a child, Jennifer Carey was always impressed with her grandmother, a nursing home operator, and with how hard she worked to make her business successful. It was only as Ms. Carey got older that she realized just...

Executive Moves.(Business Lives)(new appointments)
October 9, 2006... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli Accounting & consulting AlixPartners: Anthony Graziano, 50, joined as director, IT turnaround services. He was formerly a principal consultant at IBM. Kevin Johnson, 48, joined as director, performance...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(Calendar)
October 9, 2006... Byline: adrianne pasquarelli this week's events october 10 NYC Business Networking Group holds networking reception. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Stone Creek, 140 E. 27th St. Free. (212) 471-8456 or etp24@yahoo.com. october 10 ...

STORIES CAN BE REPRINTED, POSTED ONLINE; Crain's articles.(News)(Reprint Management Services)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Crain's offers reprints of published articles, which can include black-and-white or color photos that accompany the story. To obtain an estimate, contact Lori Noffz at Reprint Management Services, (717) 399-1900, ext. 104, or...

powerful deeds.(Small Business Report)(Cone/Roper)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Consumers want to support socially responsible companies. A study by Walker Research found that when price and quality are equal, 76% of consumers would switch brands or retailers in favor of a company that's associated with a good cause. ...

Still cozy after all these years; Marchi's hasn't lost its touch for family- style Italian; only choice is what to drink.(Business Lives)(restaurant review)(Restaurant review)
October 9, 2006... There is nothing new at Marchi's, and that's the news. New York's quiet legend is beginning its 77th year of serving what is essentially the same meal it has offered since 1929: a dinner of very good, home-style Italian food. This...

Hot Jobs.(Business Lives)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Byline: amanda fung WANTED: executive director ORGANIZATION Partnership for After School Education JOB DESCRIPTION Oversee the nonprofit, its finances and full-time staff of 12 MOST IMPORTANT TASKS Expand and improve programs,...

Spitzer dreams big; Candidate expects to overhaul Albany politics, but change would come slowly.(News)(Eliot Spitzer is an attorney general)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Erik Engquist As eliot spitzer takes his gubernatorial campaign across the state, he heartens reform-minded voters with the pledge that on "Day one: Everything changes.'' But as refreshing as it sounds, his vow to instantly...

Keeping it real on rent regulation.(Viewpoint)(Column)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Greg David In 2000, New York Times columnist Paul Krugman segued from his usual commentary on national politics to tackle an issue dear to the hearts of New Yorkers: government regulation of rents. "Rent control,'' he wrote,...

A first step on health reform.(Viewpoint)(Stephen Berger is chairman of investment firm)(Eliot Spitzer is an Attorney General)
October 9, 2006... In late 2004, investment banker and one-time government official Stephen Berger convinced Gov. George Pataki that the state's hospital system and nursing home network had to be downsized. The governor agreed, and the Legislature went along with...

NY investor wins trophy tower in Chicago's Loop; Gans' deal is part of ownership trend; properties cheaper than in Manhattan.(News)(citadel center )
October 9, 2006... Byline: Thomas A. Corfman A private investor from New York is close to a deal to acquire a major office building in downtown Chicago for $550 million, joining a growing number of Manhattan real estate entrepreneurs targeting the city's...

Luxury watchmaker winds up in LIC; Tourneau combines back-office ops; Roosevelt Hotel unfolds umbrellas.(Real Estate)(Tourneau Direct Inc)(Samuel Aaron International)
October 9, 2006... High-end watchmaker and retailer Tourneau Inc. is consolidating its back-office operations in Long Island City. The privately held firm will move its distribution, repair and merchandising departments--currently in three offices in Manhattan...

Credit Suisse, an island of adversity; Former top player struggles to return to boom-time glory; some advise a sale.(News)(Credit Suisse Group)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Aaron Elstein The Dow Jones Industrial Average is hitting new heights. Merrill Lynch's stock is pricier today than at any point in the firm's 92-year history. Goldman Sachs makes more money every quarter than it did in an entire...

Clock ticks on NFL kickoff for unfamiliar audience; Pro football matchup set for Beijing, but teaching new game won't be easy.(national football league )
October 9, 2006... The national football league has less than a year to build interest in China in the almost unknown sport of American football--known as "olive ball'' in Chinese--before the first NFL game in Beijing next August. The merchandising,...

New York, New York.(Hudson Yards Catering appoints Robb Garceau.)(Daffy's Inc. moving back into 111 Fifth Avenue.)(Hawaiian Tropic Zone opened last night.)
October 9, 2006... Byline: edited by Valerie Block Champion Billie Jean finds herself unseeded Tennis great Billie Jean King (below) has been the subject of books going back to the 1970s. But an auction last month for an "inspirational memoir'' by the...

NY hospitals fear cost of feds' $1.5B; Stiff terms require acting on closure list, prosecuting Medicaid fraud; poor may lose.(News)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Gale Scott Now that the feds have delivered on a $1.5 billion pledge to help restructure New York's health care system, hospitals and those who love them are trying to figure out what the state has gotten itself into. The...

MAYOR MIKE Crusader.(Briefs)(Michael Bloomberg)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... New Yorkers know that Republican Mayor Michael Bloomberg (right) is really a Democrat at heart. They regularly witness his left-leaning side in his administration's public health crusades, his affordable-housing rhetoric and the city's campaign...

Last of a vanishing breed; Some independent bookstores beat the odds by marketing, making affiliations.(News)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Matthew Flamm Coliseum books will soon close, and that landmark of New York's literary culture, Gotham Book Mart, has landlord problems once again. But despite the bad news of the last couple of weeks, and fears that the city's...

Green designs easier than profits; Dagher Engineering runs ultra-lean to keep fees down.(Small Business Report)(Dagher Engineering)
October 9, 2006... Byline: Jeremy Quittner Many buildings can match The Helena on West 57th Street for its stunning lobby and sleek glass exterior. But few have its lushly planted terraces, much less its blackwater treatment plant, which whirs away like a...