SEPTEMBER
17TH, 2001
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani has been showered with
praise for his handling of the World Trade Center
disaster, and many in the city are suggesting that he
head up the city's impending reconstruction efforts.
However, in the following report, NY1's Andrew
Kirtzman explores a movement to keep the term-limited
mayor in office.
He's a battlefield general, leading his troops. He's a
father figure, calming the city's worst fears by
saying, "Were going to become a stronger nation
as a result of being tested like this."
In the span of a week, Rudy Giuliani, one of the
city's most polarizing figures, has been transformed
into an almost universally acclaimed leader. The New
York Times calls him the "Mayor of the
Moment." The Daily News wants the next mayor to
keep him on to lead the reconstruction efforts. And a
growing number of his fans don't want him to leave at
all when his term expires in December.
"I don't think anybody could be better,"
says retired firefighter John McSweeney. "As a
matter of fact, I hear there's a movement to keep him
and his commissioners on for another year, which I
think would be a good idea."
Queens developer Heskel
Elias thinks so too. He's launched a campaign to do
just that.
"I'd like to have the state legislature postpone
the election for one year and give us a chance to
recoup from what's happened," says Elias.
Election law experts say the legislature and
the governor actually could postpone the election, or
lift the term limits preventing Giuliani from running
again. But it's not likely.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told NY1 he
is against the idea. So are Democratic candidates for
mayor Mark Green and Peter Vallone.
All say postponing the election would be a victory for
the terrorists. They say the already-delayed September
11 primary should proceed as re-scheduled on September
25.
A spokeswoman for Giuliani declined to comment on the
idea. But the fact that it's being discussed at all is
a testament to Giuliani's rising popularity. One
reason is his icy persona has melted away as he's
tried to keep the city together.
In an astonishing moment at St. Patrick's Cathedral
Sunday, he healed his most searing wound by hugging
the man he's fought on and off since 1994: Governor
George Pataki. The two lost friends in the calamity,
and have been working side by side ever since.
He's even grown kind to the press corps, which has so
irritated him over the years. This was Giuliani in
Long Island Sunday after the funeral of Fire
Department Chief Pete Ganci: "Thank you very much
for the very tasteful and beautiful way in which
you've covered this."
The amount of goodwill towards Giuliani is noticeable
wherever he goes. When he left for his car for the
service Sunday, the crowd of mourners applauded him
for the third time.
- Andrew Kirtzman |
