Annual Report 2002
Voices of Building Congress Leadership
Richard T. Anderson
Leevi Kiil
Edward J. Malloy
Gerard A. Neumann Jr.
Frank J. Sciame
Dominick M. Servedio
Richard T. Anderson
Last year at this time, New York City was enjoying widespread prosperity and optimism. We have moved from a uniformly positive outlook to uncertainty, recession and important issues raised by the destruction of the World Trade Center.
In many ways, we are a very different City. But New Yorkers have endured big challenges before and remained undaunted and un-wavering. Our response to terrorism has been incredibly moving and only has just begun.
2002 Strategic Plan
The mission of the Building Congress remains the same for 2002 – to focus on those industrywide priorities that matter most to our diverse and growing membership.
This means support for specific efforts of our organizational members as well as the broader economic leadership that the City requires more than ever.
The Building Congress adopted a five-part planning strategy for the year. Priority is placed on rebuilding Lower Manhattan and the overall economy. Emphasis also will be placed on further enhancing the industry’s image and stature, particularly with newly-elected government officials. Continued attention will be devoted to maintaining the highest level of service to the organization’s ever-growing membership. The industry continues to design and build projects and infrastructure across this great City, at a most impressive pace, and more is on the way. To us, it is all in a day’s work.
Leevi Kiil
The rebuilding of Lower Manhattan presents massive challenges and opportunities. The planning discussions for the area have involved many political and industry organizations and, as President of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, I have been pleased and proud to participate in these important deliberations. What many people felt would be impossible to accomplish seems to be coming to fruition. A consensus is evolving among the public and private sectors and the residents, workers and victims’ families about what is best for the area and for the City as a whole. This year, we will all watch the beginning of the transformation of Ground Zero from a site of unspeakable horror to the site of a permanent memorial surrounded by new housing, office and retail space. Preliminary plans for the area include room for both traditional downtown businesses, such as financial services companies, and new industries, such as biotechnology, as well as a new transportation hub and entertainment and cultural facilities.
Edward J. Malloy
Support for key economic development projects, such as increasing the City’s available electric generating capacity, developing the far West Side of Manhattan, and making Queens West a reality, are vital to New York’s future. Far-sighted political and industry leadership is needed to give these projects the urgency required to move them forward. We cannot afford to wait and miss the opportunity to lay the groundwork for the City’s continued growth and renewed prominence.
The performance of the building and construction trades at Ground Zero has clearly demonstrated what we in the industry have known all along – the best and the safest building is done in New York. Working with the City’s public and private leadership, the Building Congress will take steps to increase public understanding of the need for infrastructure, energy, and other services to rebuild and support New York City’s global leadership. We can and we must build the projects that will pass to the next generation a City stronger and better than ever – and one that can run on its own power.
Gerard A. Neumann Jr.
In past times of economic difficulty, New York City has postponed or eliminated infrastructure maintenance and improvements in an effort to close budget gaps. This was a costly mistake that must not be repeated. It is precisely when times are tough that the projects that keep a city running smoothly are needed most. Traffic congestion, subway overcrowding and difficult access to transportation hubs all encourageurban flight and exacerbate the City’s financial woes.
The important work in Lower Manhattan notwithstanding, all members of the Building Congress should consider this year an opportunity to fight for other projects that will help keep the City’s economy humming. Projects such as East Side Access to Grand Central Terminal, the Second Avenue Subway, and those in the capital programs of the major infrastructure agencies, will improve the quality of life for all who live and work here and help New York’s economy rebound.
Frank J. Sciame
The industry’s response after the World Trade Center attack brought widespread public recognition and admiration. One focus of the Building Congress this year is a communications campaign to build on this favorable recognition. The campaign will include a range of activities, including dissemination of stories about members involved in the World Trade Center clean-up and rebuilding. The newly approved Statement of Ethics and Responsibility will be publicized. And, most importantly, the Building Congress will stress the ongoing positive contributions of the industry to the New York area.
The general public has had a unique opportunity to see at Ground Zero the skill, professionalism and compassion of our industry. As building professionals, we know this is what the majority of our industry does every day. We must use this new recognition and appreciation to forge a lasting relationship with citizens and public officials as we make the City and its built environment better than ever.
Dominick M. Servedio
Hosting the 2012 Olympics is right for New York because we have the best plan, the best talent to implement that plan, and we are the best representation of the international cooperation that is the essence of the Games. New York City should be selected as the host City not because of the terrorist attack of September 11 but in spite of it. A natural extension of the resolve demonstrated in the work being done at Ground Zero is to accomplish the planning and implementation of the grand scale projects that the Olympics requires. The Games in New York City would be, in effect, a rallying cry for the nation that we cannot be defeated and would bring the world here to witness our triumph firsthand.
Our industry needs to continue its support of the efforts of NYC2012 on behalf of the City’s bid. Our commitment will help persuade the United States Olympic Committee, and ultimately the International Olympic Committee, that New York not only has the talent and commitment to accomplish all the building required for the host city, but that we are the best symbol of world peace and the Olympic spirit.
