Crain's New York Business articles from September 2003

Crain's New York Business archives from September 2003

Taking care of BIDness on a limited budget; District leaders maintain low profiles, strive for high local impact.(Special Report: Economic Development)(Columbus Avenue business improvement district)
September 1, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez The Dan Biedermans and Carl Weisbrods of the business improvement district world get loads of publicity, thanks to their big budgets, organizations and highly visible districts. However, over the years a number of...

Power plants with political megawatts; Facilities with best odds of being built, those that face multiple obstacles.(Special Report: Economic Development)(assuring an uninterrupted supply of electricity)
September 1, 2003... Byline: john kimelman As the recent blackout demonstrates, few issues are as critical to keeping and attracting New York City businesses as an uninterrupted supply of electricity. Experts estimate that the city-which currently uses...

Government Alert: Costs hitting home for workers' comp; Study: Manufacturers' expenses are 29.3% over national average; new state taxman.(Briefs)(Workers' compensation costs for manufacturers in New York top most other states)
September 1, 2003... Workers' compensation costs for manufacturers in New York remain far above those in most states, according to a report by the Public Policy Institute of New York State, an affiliate of the Business Council of New York State. As of January,...

The Weeks Ahead.(Calendar/Datebook)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Byline: eileen conlan This Week's Events September 2. WorkTalk holds seminar on the Johanna game: a new work concept in business communication. 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. Jean Baptiste Church Community Center, 180 E. 76th St. Fee:...

A class action for Schumer.(Viewpoint)(filing civil suits in different jurisdictions)
September 1, 2003... When an attorney with a class-action claim wants to win a particularly big award against a large corporation, or has an especially dubious case or legal theory, a quirk in the American legal system tilts the scales. The attorney can file a...

At Deadline.(Late News)(Conseco sells General Motors Building to Macklowe Properties)
September 1, 2003... Macklowe buys GM Building a subsidiary of conseco inc. agreed to sell the 50-story General Motors Building, at 767 Fifth Ave., for a reported $1.4 billion to Macklowe Properties. Donald Trump and Conseco, which filed for bankruptcy earlier...

Downturn shreds apparel sector; No bottom in sight for garment industry.(Losing Jobs)(NYC apparel manufacturing sector loses 8,400 jobs)
September 1, 2003... Byline: catherine curan After nearly a year searching for work in Chinatown factories, Yip Ah Siu has given up on sewing and is learning English so she can become a sushi chef instead. Ms. Siu's long struggle and ultimate failure to...

JFK rebounds with JetBlue, renovation; Too dependent on one airline?(News)(John F. Kennedy International Airport reports rise in passenger traffic)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez Despite war, SARS and the blue economy, John F. Kennedy International Airport saw a substantial increase in passenger traffic during the first part of the year, beating growth at almost every major airport in the...

Small Business: Firms take wing from Bronx incubator; EDC coddles those that require space, services; bonding brings benefits.(Small Business)(Entrepreneurs find cheap office space)
September 1, 2003... Byline: kerry murtha Two years ago, richard Rosario and Larry Velez were just two guys working out of their apartments, well aware that they were not having a whole lot of success in getting their Internet services business up and running....

The Best of Bob Lape.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(Restaurant Review)
September 1, 2003... Cafe des Artistes (3) 1 W. 67th St. (between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue), Manhattan. (212) 877-3500. George and Jenifer Lang's Upper West Side landmark has new spring in its step with chef Ari Nieminen. Always beautiful, full...

Telecom's skid slowing; hiring may pick up in '04; Jobs down 13,000 from peak; Wall St. projects, wireless changes offer hope.(Losing Jobs)(Telecommunications industry may be recovering)
September 1, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez Telecommunications executives say that after two years of bankruptcies and massive job cuts, the bloodbath just might be over. Companies may now be lean enough to survive without more layoffs until the economy...

Signed, sealed.(Special Report: Economic Development)(sweaters with an official NYC logo)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Marketing experts envision endless possibilities for a trademarked NYC brand. Here are two suggestions: Make plush sweaters with an official logo, says Ed O'Hara, chairman of SME, a Manhattan-based brand development firm. Create an...

Hospital centers go after birth right; Broaden appeal with natural alternatives to delivery rooms; some say it can't be done.(News)(New York area hospitals offer new birthing centers)
September 1, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall When graphic designer Serena Keeler learned she was pregnant, she immediately thought about having a natural childbirth attended by warm and caring midwives in a setting far removed from the clinical atmosphere of...

Storied retailer to increase volume; Strand gains floor space in overhaul; room for readings, maybe a juice bar.(News)(Strand Book Store is expanding and modernizing NYC store)
September 1, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Next spring, Strand Book Store starts a bold new chapter, expanding and modernizing its store on Broadway at East 12th Street-a legendary lair of cramped aisles and overflowing shelves. Father and daughter...

Areas of weakness.(Losing Jobs)(New York City economy in decline)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The New York City economy has continued to shed jobs, dropping by 53,400 to 3,532,000 between July 2002 and July 2003. In this package, Crain's looks at three sectors that have lost a large number of jobs over the past year: apparel,...

Trademark town; To raise revenues, the city wants to give New York a new brand appeal; experts say the name game will be tough to win.(Special Report: Economic Development)(new branding concepts for NYC)
September 1, 2003... Byline: judy temes Officials promise that there won't be a coca-cola Central Park, but just about everything else seems to be fair game in the city's attempt to create a money-making branding concept for The Big Apple. Not unlike Disney,...

Morrells' wine merchants pour vine dining downtown; Vintages abound in bottles, American cuisine; lunchtime get-togethers ideal.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(Morrells Cafe & Wine Bar)(Restaurant Review)
September 1, 2003... Byline: bob lape A choice of 2,000 wines to go with a burger is an only-in-New York happening. It happens only for those who lunch at the new downtown Morrells, near ABC Carpet & Home, where the ABC's of wine extend to the X, Y and Z....

Free e-mail news alerts from Crain's Web site; www.crainsny.com.(Special Report: Economic Development)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Crainsny.com helps you stay on top of new york City business news with free e-mail alerts. We offer daily news headlines, a weekly summary of upcoming print stories, and breaking-news alerts by industry, including Wall Street, banking and the...

Yanks slug through 100 years, two colonels and a Boss.(Viewpoint)(New York Yankees)
September 1, 2003... Byline: James Brady Perhaps the city's most enduring enterprise, and certainly one of the more successful, just turned 100. The New York Yankees began life (as the Highlanders or the Hilltoppers; the name changed back and forth) Aug....

G-III's sports apparel scores with consumers; Appeals to women, style-conscious.(News)(licensed sports apparel business)
September 1, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Carl Banks has two Super Bowl victory rings, but don't call him content. For the last decade, the former New York Giants linebacker has been steadily working to build up a licensed sports apparel business, in an...

Part-time payoff.(Small Business)(South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... The South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corp.'s offerings will soon be available to as many as 75 part-time tenants. Space and access to conference rooms, copiers and fax machines will be made available to part-time tenants-tentatively, up...

Corrections.(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... * The "Inside Banking'' column in the Aug. 18 issue misidentified the organization that compiled the rankings of top-performing financial stocks. The study was conducted by The Boston Consulting Group. Later references should have been to BCG....

Executive Moves.(Profiles)
September 1, 2003... Byline: joao h. rodrigues ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING Transamerica Real Estate Tax Service Inc.: Valerie Caufield, 45, was promoted to vice president of operations in the Melville, L.I., office of the Dallas-based firm. She was formerly...

Stock Watch: Lottery firm's luck wanes; Scientific Games faces mounting competition.(Stocks)(leading supplier of instant lottery tickets)
September 1, 2003... Byline: aaron elstein The odds of scientific Games Corp.'s stock continuing to rise are better than winning the lottery, but not by much. Shares in the nation's leading supplier of instant lottery tickets have more than doubled from...

Manufacturers try to buy way out of a tight spot; High rents, rezoning push firms toward building ownership; weak market is ideal.(Real Estate)(industrial businesses buying buildings)
September 1, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher For 13 years, kevin brady has watched one art gallery after another open ever closer to the Chelsea home of his woodworking supply distribution business, Manhattan Laminates. Recently, a gallery even popped up...

Deficit attention disorder.(Viewpoint)(county legislators must save $2 mn)
September 1, 2003... Byline: Alair Townsend Last Friday was the last day of work for several dozen employees in upstate Oswego County. A sheriff's investigator, two caseworkers for the aging and a solid waste program coordinator are a few of those now without...

New York, New York.(Briefs)
September 1, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Brooklyn writes itself Joseph Steuer, founding editor of trendy Gotham magazine and former deputy editor of Us Weekly, has a new-if somewhat less lofty-perch, as editor in chief of BKLYN, a new magazine...

Salon nails Village spot to polish up; Dashing Diva's first Manhattan site also has shop; organic pharmacy takes root.(Real Estate)(nail industry is highly fragmented)
September 1, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Well-manicured manhattanites will soon have a new salon and store downtown where they can snap up natural-looking fake nails or indulge in polish and pampering. Long Island-based Dashing Diva has signed a lease...

Film employment fading in New York; Movies, shows stay in L.A. or go overseas.(Losing Jobs)(New York's film industry in soft spot)
September 1, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar Marilou Vetter, a camera assistant, has been unemployed for the last 12 months except for a one-day stint on the set of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She was about to pack up and move to California in...

Revived Nybot a hot commodity; Board of Trade reopens downtown after 9/11 retreat; Nymex merger likely.(News)(New York Board of Trade launches state-of-the-art trading floor )
September 1, 2003... Byline: aaron elstein Two years ago, the New York Board of Trade was the only exchange to lose its home in the collapse of the World Trade Center. On Tuesday morning, Nybot will cap off its remarkable rebirth, returning to downtown in...

New Executive: Playing to prime-time jury; Court TV president makes strong case for original programs to raise the ratings.(Profiles)(Court TV in top 15 cable TV networks for prime-time shows)
September 1, 2003... Byline: anita jain It didn't take forensic science for Art Bell to figure out why Court TV, which he joined five years ago as executive vice president of strategic planning and programming, was then last in prime-time cable ratings. ...

City's economic slump spurs franchise fever; Becoming a local link in a vast chain holds appeal, but costs can be heavy.(Special Report: Small Business)
September 8, 2003... Byline: steve garmhausen Kevin Mahoney is a very cautious sort of guy. Before he bought his first franchise-The UPS Store on East 51st Street-he spent four years working there, studying the details of the operation. Finally, the former...

Window maker changes view; Firm survives leap to service sector; takes shop to clients.(Special Report: Small Business)(AA Window Parts and Hardware)
September 8, 2003... Byline: tina traster In 1997, AA Window Parts & Hardware revenues hit a record $2.5 million, then promptly headed south. First, the drop was due to bigger, cheaper competitors. Then came the recession. With revenues down 25% and no end...

Medical star treatment; Dr. Oz hopes his chat show empowers patients.(News)(Mehmet Oz)(Second Opinion with Dr. Oz)(Biography)
September 8, 2003... Byline: samantha marshall Already one of this city's most renowned heart surgeons, Dr. Mehmet Oz has ambitions that extend beyond the operating room of New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Hoping to reach an audience of millions with his...

Revival of Jamaica, Queens, arrives ahead of AirTrain; Retailers, developers descend on hub.(Real Estate)
September 8, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher After decades of decline, Jamaica, Queens, is making a strong comeback even as much of the city remains locked in the grip of recession. In recent months, a gaggle of national retailers has flocked to a new...

Cast system works the Web.(Special Report: Small Business)(Footlight Records)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2003... Despite their competitive niches, independent record stores are having to work harder to stay ahead. Footlight Records, the last New York music store to specialize in cast recordings and movie soundtracks, receives orders on its Web site from...

Recipe for Recovery: Grow Your Own; Retailers launch big expansions in the teeth of recession.(Special Report: Small Business)
September 8, 2003... Byline: Louise Kramer Joe barreiro and leonard flax literally couldn't wait for the economy to come back to life. Beginning in 1988 with a tiny store in Greenwich Village, the duo had turned their passion for paper into one of the most...

Universal Music revamps ads with its CD price cut; Artist-driven plan replaces co-op ads: Big boost possible for TV, magazines.(News)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2003... Byline: jon fine The brash move by Vivendi Universal's Universal Music Group to slash list prices on almost all the CDs it distributes will be accompanied by a radical departure in advertising spending. Universal's labels will shift to...

At Deadline.(Late News)(miscellaneous)
September 8, 2003... Bill Clinton fund-raiser former president bill clinton will hold an "intimate dinner discussion'' tonight with supporters who can afford $5,000 a plate. The fund-raiser is slated for Alain Ducasse's restaurant at the Essex House to benefit...

Tech bibles try reincarnation; Surviving magazines reposition themselves to take on Forbes, et al.(News)(Fast Company, Business 2.0)
September 8, 2003... Byline: anita jain While most magazines chronicling the new economy flamed out along with the tech boom, Fast Company and Business 2.0 are still on the racks. Problem is, they're gathering dust. Fast Company's newsstand sales plunged...

New Executive: Piloting up to next level; Airline veteran set to restart El Al in North and Central America.(Profiles)(Nira Dror)(Biography)
September 8, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar When british Airways asked Nira Dror to head up its operations in Israel 14 years ago, the airline's reputation there was bad; Israelis joked that its old acronym, BOAC, stood for "better off on a camel.'' By...

Head merchant in store for Saks; Search complicated by limited talent pool, retailer's lack of strong focus.(News)(Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises)
September 8, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises' search for a top merchandising executive is heating up. Three names have emerged in the retailer's quiet quest to fill its second-most-important slot, after Chief Executive...

Young mortgage workers not in it for the security; Entered boom sector to grab the cash; not worried about future jobs after it goes bust.(Workplace)
September 8, 2003... Byline: tom fredrickson Ari nat trained as a lawyer, passed the bar exam on his first try and grabbed the best opportunity that came his way. He became a mortgage broker. For the moment, things are going too well for the 29-year-old to...

Terrorism law chills property deals; costs up; Foreign investment may suffer.(News)
September 8, 2003... Byline: tommy fernandez The anti-money laundering statute of the USA Patriot Act is driving up closing costs for New York City real estate deals and may force some foreign investors from the market. The Treasury Department is expected...

Tech firm reboots in Globix building; Fine Point settles into Centre Street offices; Warnaco adds to space.(Real Estate)(Fine Point Technologies Inc., Warnaco Group Inc., Cumberland Associates)
September 8, 2003... Byline: christine haughney For an enterprising startup software developer like Fine Point Technologies Inc., working in gritty seventh-floor space at 90 John St. once was part of the adventure. Fine Point software developers sweated...

NBC Peacock needs lift to keep its lead; Network must find new hit shows; Vivendi merger would add muscle.(News)
September 8, 2003... Byline: valerie block While NBC brass hammer out the details of the pending merger with Vivendi Universal, the NBC network is heading into the coming television season in its weakest position in years. If the deal is consummated, NBC...

Shops concoct chocolate dreams; A dozen high-end retailers open in city; at $80 a box, they seek to redefine a treat.(News)
September 8, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher Blow a kiss goodbye to Hershey. If the latest kind of chocolate treat takes off in New York, wasabi truffles may be the next household name. A new collection of chocolatiers is easing its way onto New Yorkers'...

Catalog marketer sends out call for chief financial officer; J. Crew exec may come from outside retail; NY Fed seeks balance at top.(Workplace)(Federal Reserve Bank of New York)
September 8, 2003... Byline: miriam kreinin souccar Since the j. crew group hired former Gap Inc. Chief Executive Mickey Drexler last January, the beleaguered casual-clothing chain has undergone a lot of changes. In his first steps to turn around the...

Government Alert: More wrangling over Albany agenda; Special session to address brownfields, other issues; a nonpartisan `no'.(Briefs)
September 8, 2003... As the senate prepares to return to Albany for its Sept. 16 special session, maneuvering is intensifying about what the agenda will include. Majority Leader Joseph Bruno had previously said he would act on confirmation of gubernatorial...

Keeping in tune with the times; Indie record shops make registers sing.(Special Report: Small Business)
September 8, 2003... Byline: matthew flamm At Colony Records, the retailing landmark on Broadway and West 49th Street, the old "I Found it at the Colony'' sign still glows in neon above the door. To this day, customers can step into the 5,000-square-foot store...

Telling Tales.(Special Report: Small Business)(Cake Man Raven Confectionery, Dragonfly Courier, Braddock and Purcell)
September 8, 2003... Byline: Lisa Goff Down-home taste raises cake man When raven p.d. dennis III was starting out in the baking business in his Harlem apartment in 1989, he knew he needed something to make him stand out from the crowd. His solution was to...

2 new houses are raising the steaks; NJ's Fleming's and NY's Frankie & Johnnie's know how to meat, greet.(Dining/Restaurant Review)(Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar)(Restaurant Review)
September 8, 2003... Byline: bob lape Two more groups of stalwarts are rushing in to address our desperate shortage of steakhouses. One is a case of West Coast coming east, the other of a well-established local beefing up its branches. Both Fleming's Prime...

The Weeks Ahead.(Datebook)(Calendar)
September 8, 2003... Byline: anne apuzzo this week's events September 9. Manhattan Networking Group holds business networking meeting. 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Houlihan's, 380 Lexington Ave. Fee: $10. (212) 683-3446. September 9. U.S. Small Business...

While NYC suffers, suburbs hold their own; Strength in NJ, LI boosts inflation here.(News)(New Jersey, Long Island)
September 8, 2003... Byline: mary sisson These haven't exactly been hard times for National Medical Health Card Systems Inc. Since 1999, the Port Washington, L.I., pharmacy benefits company has seen revenues more than triple and profits more than double as...

Crain's seeks metro area VC-backed standouts; nominate promising firms.(Workplace)
September 8, 2003... Crain's new york business and the national Venture Capital Association will be choosing the most promising local venture-backed companies this fall. In order to be eligible for consideration, a company must be headquartered in the New York...

6 entrepreneurial stars tell their winning tales; crain's awards breakfast, sept. 23.(Profiles)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2003... The winners of crain's new york business' eighth annual Small Business Awards will tell their stories at a breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Among them are David Epner, of high-tech plater Epner Technology Inc., and Princess Jenkins, the founder...

Consumers and malpractice.(Viewpoint)(Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center closes)
September 8, 2003... Last week, the Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center in Chelsea closed. Each year, some 400 women chose to have their children at Elizabeth Seton because of its reputation for assisting childbirth without all the high-tech medical gear and coldly...

Taking tech jobs overseas pays off for outsourcers; Sophistication of the work rises along with volume; decrying losses.(News)
September 8, 2003... Byline: anita jain Norman Weisfeld has been sold on the idea of using software developers in Russia to write programs for his Manhattan-based company for years. His conversion came nearly a decade ago, when a local outsourcing...

New York, New York.(Briefs)
September 8, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Opening numbers Broadway kicked off its fall push yesterday with its annual free public concert in Times Square. With celebrity hosts Nathan Lane and Jane Krakowski, and a large dose of hoopla, the Great...

World's largest insurer a low-risk investment; Rising profits, top credit rating help, but CEO loses ground.(Stocks)(American International Group Inc., Maurice Greenberg)
September 8, 2003... Byline: aaron elstein During the long bull market, American International Group Inc., under the leadership of the legendary Maurice "Hank'' Greenberg, greatly benefited from investors' boundless esteem for corporate chieftains. And in the...

When local TV news came from faces you could trust.(Viewpoint)(Editorial)
September 8, 2003... Byline: James Brady Not a great week for local television news aficionados. Ch. 4 (WNBC) canned Michele Marsh as anchorwoman. More about that later, tape at 11. At Ch. 2 (WCBS) they eliminated their 4:30 afternoon newscast, which...

High insurance costs close Elizabeth Seton; Malpractice rates up 400%; freestanding location raises risk.(News)(Brief Article)
September 8, 2003... The Elizabeth Seton Childbearing Center in Chelsea ceased deliveries last week because of medical malpractice insurance rates that rocketed 400% within the last year. Rates had been rising 60% a year for the past several years, but 2003's...

CORRECTION.(Corrections)(Correction Notice)
September 8, 2003... Barbara Adler is a paid employee of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District. Her status was misstated in the Sept. 1 issue.

Employ new ideas to save jobs.(Viewpoint)(Editorial)
September 8, 2003... Byline: Greg David The Bloomberg administration is working hard to come up with a policy to save some of the city's shrinking number of manufacturing jobs. I have talked to virtually everyone who cares about the issue, and it is now clear...

Executive Moves.(Profiles)
September 8, 2003... Byline: joao h. rodrigues ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING Bain & Co.: James Root, 41, was named managing partner of the global business consulting firm. He was formerly vice president. ADVERTISING & COMMUNICATIONS Doremus: Kali James...

Captains of industry climb into cockpits; More executives flying themselves to avoid hassles.(Special Report: Executive Travel)
September 15, 2003... Byline: lisa fickenscher On his way to the airport near Boston for a recent business trip, Steven Gottfried got stuck in traffic. Just as he was getting aggravated, he broke into a broad smile, realizing that the plane was not going to...

Shipping firms deliver travelers from check-ins; More passengers sending their bags ahead.(Special Report: Executive Travel)
September 15, 2003... Byline: louise kramer David Rosenberg, a facial plastic surgeon at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, doesn't travel light. This past summer, he was looking forward to a vacation with his wife and two young daughters, but couldn't...

Merrill to carry credit card; Partners with MBNA; brokers expected to offer it to clients.(News)(Merrill Lynch and Company Inc., MBNA America Bank N.A.)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2003... Byline: bruce kelly Merrill Lynch & Co., continuing to expand the banking products its brokers can offer clients, will soon add a credit card to its list. Manhattan-based Merrill says it is in a partnership with MBNA America Bank N.A....

Music publishers tune up licensing; Peddle songs for toys, cell phones to cover sour CD revenues.(News)
September 15, 2003... Byline: valerie block Martin Bandier listens intently to a new Norah Jones song he's just received, relishing the dreamy qualities of the sad lyrics and the sultry singer. But the chairman of EMI Music Publishing gets even more excited...

New York, New York.(News)
September 15, 2003... Byline: edited by Emily DeNitto Taking a smaller bite Three years after opening its first store in New York City, British sandwich chain Pret A Manger has put itself on a strict diet. The company once had big plans to open 40...

5-course lesson in fish and hospitality; Acqua Pazza's light coastal Italian equals its professionalism.(Restaurant Review)
September 15, 2003... Byline: bob lape It's simply impossible to resist the warm hospitality, keen professionalism and sheer drive of Umberto Arpaia and his team at the new restaurant Acqua Pazza. The owner of nearby Cellini, Mr. Arpaia liked the looks of...

Government Alert: Budget woes bench judge scrutiny; Conduct commission understaffed and underfunded; Bronx armory reconsidered.(Briefs)
September 15, 2003... Despite all the talk about corrupt judges, the state's budget woes are reducing the scrutiny of judges suspected of misconduct. The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct now has only seven attorneys to investigate complaints, down...

The Weeks Ahead.(seminars, meetings)(Calendar)
September 15, 2003... Byline: anne apuzzo this week's events September 16. Drum Major Institute for Public Policy holds program on America's vanishing middle class with New York Times Op-Ed columnist Paul Krugman. 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., The Harvard Club,...

Executive Travel now available at crainsny.com.(Special Report: Executive Travel)
September 15, 2003... The full text of this section is available to all visitors at our Web site, www.crainsny.com. To access the content, click on "Executive Life.'' The section also carries other features on executive travel that are available online only. In...

Corrections.(Correction Notice)
September 15, 2003... * Sanford Rubenstein filed a lawsuit against Consolidated Edison Co. of New York and First Energy Corp. on behalf of 100 companies. A Sept. 8 "At Deadline'' item misspelled his name. * SL Green Realty Corp.'s purchase of 220 E. 42nd St....

Philosopher's obituary offers an examined life.(Viewpoint)(Donald H. Davidson)(Obituary)(Biography)
September 15, 2003... Byline: James Brady Confronted with the bleak reality of Mr. Bush's befuddled, deer-in-the-headlights stare, and by the equally drab array of woebegone Dem challengers, the electorate may be forgiven for crying out its despair. Where,...

New Executive: Matters in his own hands; Phone call connects CIT president with longtime goal; charged with a turnaround.(Profiles)(Jeffrey Peek)
September 15, 2003... Byline: aaron elstein Last february, veteran investment banker Jeffrey Peek decided to phone CIT Group Inc. about a job. Both parties were hoping to make a comeback. Mr. Peek, 56, once was a master of the universe at Merrill Lynch &...

Wal-Mart shops NY; Retail chain checks out West Side, other boroughs; few sites are large enough for typical store.(News)
September 15, 2003... Byline: catherine curan Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is actively seeking space in Manhattan and the other boroughs-a quest that may finally bring the world's largest retail chain into New York City. "We are looking in Manhattan,'' confirms a...

Candidates emerge for Grasso's post; If NYSE chief goes, prominent exec or insider most likely to succeed him.(News)(Richard Grasso)
September 15, 2003... Byline: jacqueline s. gold As controversy mounts over Richard Grasso's $139.5 million deferred pay package, critics are already amassing lists of potential candidates who might replace him as chairman and chief executive of the New York...

Seeking stars under 40.(News)
September 15, 2003... Crain's is searching for candidates for its upcoming "40 Under 40'' section, which profiles extraordinary businesspeople under 40 who work for New York City-based firms. Pitches should include the nominee's name, title, company, birthdate...

Small Business: SBA extends reach via nonbank lenders; Fed's new program aims to aid women, minority owners; credit unions sign up.(Small Business)(Small Business Administration)
September 15, 2003... Byline: mary sisson Like many owners of small businesses, when Medhat Mohamed decided that the time had come to buy the building that his company had been renting, he immediately thought about financing the purchase through the Small...

Stunning in any company.(Viewpoint)(Reprint)
September 15, 2003... Byline: Alair Townsend Alair Townsend is on vacation. This column first appeared in the June 16 issue, following Crain's April 28 list of the 100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders. Most companies like being No. 1, or 22 or even...

6 entrepreneurial stars tell their winning tales; Crain's awards breakfast, sept. 23.(News)(Small Business Awards)(Brief Article)
September 15, 2003... The winners of crain's new york business' eighth annual Small Business Awards will tell their stories at a breakfast on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Among the award recipients are David Epner, of high-tech plater Epner Technology Inc., and Princess...

Sinking teeth into job-postings site fires up Monster; Investors like sharper focus; rivals closing in?(News)
September 15, 2003... Byline: anita jain Like any job candidate seeking elusive work, Monster Worldwide Inc. is trying to make a good impression. But lately, it's had an odd way of doing it. Since the beginning of the year, the operator of popular...