Bring It On! The remaining Downtown elected officials who had not yet endorsed in the Democratic presidential primary came to City Hall on Feb. 12 to endorse John Kerry, joining many state, city and labor leaders. Among those at the event were Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who had endorsed Kerry shortly after Joe Lieberman, Silver’s first pick, dropped out of the race a few weeks ago. Other Downtowners joining Silver included Congressmember Carolyn Maloney, one of Kerry’s earliest New York supporters, as well as more recent backers — Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Steven Sanders, State Senator Martin Connor and Councilmembers Alan Gerson and Margarita Lopez. State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, State Comptroller Alan Hevesi, former State Comptroller Carl McCall and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum also came out for Kerry. Hevesi criticized President Bush’s handling of the lead-up to the war with Iraq. After an inadvertent slip of the tongue, McCall jumped in with what sounded like a dig at the president’s National Guard record. “He lied to us,” Hevesi said, “about the rationale for getting into the Vietnam War. ‘Vietnam War?’ Holy mackerel — what am I saying?” “He’s lied about that one too,” McCall chimed in.
Home wrecker: She came, she wrecked…she sold? Sixteen months after illegal work by Annie Leibovitz’s workers nearly totaled three landmarked West Village townhouses at Greenwich and 11th Sts., and five months after the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Presentation led a demonstration on the accident’s one-year anniversary protesting that repairs were not being made — at which time Leibovitz’s representatives promised work would begin that week — word is now that the famous photographer plans to sell the ruined buildings for $7 million. According to a source, Sotheby’s may be handling the sale. However, Diane Levine from Sotheby’s International Reality, said, “We are not the exclusive agents for that property and that’s all I can tell you.” Leibovitz’s spokesperson did not return calls. According to a source, however, the properties may have been put on the market for about a month, then removed.
Feel better: Miriam Friedlander, who served as Downtown’s councilmember for 18 years, recently had a fall and is recuperating and in rehabilitation at the Florence Nightingale facility at 97th St. and Third Ave.
W.T.C. bombing ruling: Supreme Court Justice Stanley Sklar, in a 43-page decision, has denied the Port Authority’s appeal to throw out all lawsuits relating to the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Arguing for the Plaintiff Steering Committee was attorney Victor Kovner. Sklar, who lives at 14th St. and Seventh Ave., was active in Village Independent Democrats before becoming a judge.
Passionate forum: N.Y.U. will host a symposium of scholars, critics and writers on Mel Gibson’s new film, “The Passion of Christ” on Fri., March 12, from 1-5 p.m. at N.Y.U.’s Kimmel Center, 60 Washington Sq. S. at LaGuardia Pl., Room 802.
A.G. rain check: A talk by state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer at New School University on corporate abuse planned for Feb. 19 has been postponed and will be rescheduled for fall 2004.
Scoopy’s kitty cousin? David Ryan, who died in a fire at his Gay St. home on Christmas Day, had been taking care of a stray silver tabby that survived the fire, and his neighbors are now looking for someone to adopt the cat. The one-year-old feline, known as “Ryan,” has been neutered and is current for all his shots, according to Beth Jankunis, chief of staff for Assemblymember Deborah Glick. Interested Villagers may leave a message at 212-679-8212.
Blue blood: The Ninth Precinct, at 130 Avenue C, at E. Eighth St., will be holding a blood drive, open to both the community and police officers, on March 3 from noon to 6 p.m. For information call Detective Jaime Hernandez, Ninth Precinct Community Affairs, 212-477-7826.
Boards meet: Community Board 2 will meet Thurs., Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Vincent’s Hospital, 170 W. 12th St., first-floor cafeteria. Community Board 3 will meet Tues., Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at P.S. 20, 166 Essex St.
