By Eric Herman
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
GOVERNORS ISLAND GETTING NEW BOSS
Add Governors Island to Randy Daniels' portfolio. Daniels, secretary of
state to Gov. Pataki, will run a city-state agency that will oversee the
former military base.
Daniels will take charge after the federal government turns the
172-acre island over to the city and state, expected within days,
officials said. The transfer already has been delayed at least once.
City University of New York will use part of the island. The State
University of New York, of which Daniels is a trustee, could also help
turn it into an education hub.
Daniels' current agency - the Department of State - handles a grab-bag
of functions, from licensing businesses to training firefighters. He
also has been Pataki's point-man on commercial development in Harlem.
"If that's true, it's a good choice," said Kathryn Wylde, president of
the Partnership for New York City. "If anybody can pull off a city-state
partnership, it's Randy Daniels."
Daniels' career has been varied. Few political operatives can say
they've worked for David Dinkins, Andrew Stein, George Pataki and the
Prime Minister of the Bahamas. Before politics, Daniels worked as a
reporter for CBS News.
Daniels did not return calls seeking comment.
