An influential downtown rebuilding official said yesterday he would turn down a leadership role in the months ahead if the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. has its powers stripped.
Corporation board member Roland Betts, a close friend of President Bush's, said he is waiting to see if negotiations between the state and city "clearly define" the LMDC as the lead agency in rebuilding Ground Zero.
If the corporation is charged with ensuring that a plan by architect Daniel Libeskind goes forward, Betts said, "I would be happy to be involved."
He added: "Without that, I will have to step away."
Betts said he would not resign but would refuse to take on a more substantial leadership position. He oversaw the search for a rebuilding plan that culminated last month with the selection of Libeskind's scheme.
City and state officials are discussing several plans for the LMDC's future and the structure of the rebuilding process.
City Hall has made it clear that it would like Betts to continue to guide the process. At the same time, the city has been seeking a more prominent role in rebuilding.
Lobbying for change
Last week, Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff sent a proposal to Pataki's office suggesting that the corporation's planning staff begin reporting directly to City Hall.
Under the city plan, LMDC influence would be limited mostly to creating a memorial to the victims of the Sept. 11 attack.
The city would take on a greater role in negotiating with the Port Authority, the World Trade Center site's owner, over rebuilding, sources said.
The plan also envisions Betts - a Pataki appointee who is highly regarded by Doctoroff - being named the vice chairman of the corporation. But he also would head up a committee that manages rebuilding.
The proposal, described as an outline, was expected to change and is one of several possibilities, sources said.
Several state officials were upset by the plan, seeing it as a power grab.
Discussions between the state and the city continued yesterday. Officials said there were no developments.
Pataki spokeswoman Lisa Stoll said: "The governor is thrilled with the progress the LMDC and all of its board members have made so far and looks forward to working with them as we enter this next phase of the rebuilding effort."
From:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/local/stor...60p-61534c.html 