You were general manager of the World Trade Center for the Port Authority. Have you been watching what’s happening down at ground zero with a personal interest?
I spent the majority of my career downtown. That’s where I started. I spent 10 years at the Port Authority, the last five managing the trade center. I have very fond memories; I’m watching with interest. You might have seen near my conference table, the pictures there are a gentle reminder of my experience there. Back in the ’93 blast, all the people who perished were friends, so aside from the delivery person, there were people that worked down the hall from me. I was stationed 90 feet away from a van that blew up in ’93, so I was able to miraculously get out of the trade center and was part of the whole restoration.
I think I was there for another couple years with the Port Authority, and then I moved on to JPMorgan, where I returned back to the trade center in a different capacity. So when 9/11 came around, those are most of the faces that are pictured. When 9/11 came around, I was called to an impromptu meeting on the West Coast, so I flew out the day before. But the people who are pictured there, it’s a subtle reminder to keep things in perspective.
SL Green submitted a failed bid to operate the Queens Aqueduct racetrack alongside Hard Rock. What was the allure, in your mind, to owning a racino?
The Aqueduct is very near and dear to my heart. It took us between two or three years, and that exercise was exciting. I think in one way, shape or form, I think we’ve all gambled, whether it was rolling dice, blackjack or steal the old man’s pack. This particular case, where our CEO decided to pursue this franchise, it was about getting to know and understand what we can do with the Aqueduct. We thought—and we still believe—that we had the best ideas for that area. We wanted to make that a destination, and we wanted to partner with someone who’s the best in the industry, and that’s Hard Rock. But it took time. It took time to understand.
jsederstrom@observer.com
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