Because of a late night and a busy morning, I won't be able to write up notes about tonight's four regional semifinals. In their absence, I offer instead Richard Sandomir's profile of Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees and Rudy Giulliani's former deputy mayor. It ain't exactly pretty, and just about what you'd expect from a man who secured $1.2 billion in tax-exempt bonds from New York City for the new Yankee Stadium, and whose personal mantra is, "it's business, not personal." Here's taste:
During labor negotiations with correction officers in the mid-’90s, the union’s president, Norman I. Seabrook, said recently, Levine’s closed-door demeanor was close to a blood sport that neither man took too seriously.I often have to remind myself why I root for the Yankees. Although I love the team and the coaches, the executives in charge of the organization leave a lot to be desired.
“He’ll smile, shake your hand and cut your heart out if you’re not prepared,” Seabrook said. “Don’t mistake that smile for anything but a knife.”
Randi Weingarten recalled labor talks with the United Federation of Teachers in 1995, when Levine demanded a two-year wage freeze while promising that Giuliani administration officials would not get raises. After the deal was completed, the city raises were announced.
