UN's Capital Master Plan Might Drive Press Out, From Bid Openings to Cost Overruns, Master Planner Adlerstein Speaks

Byline: Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press at UN
www.innercitypress.com/cmp1pressout020209.html

UNITED NATIONS, February 2 -- As the plan to renovate the UN's headquarters plods forward, it remains $97 million over-budget, not counting $160 million in late-arising "associated costs." The director of the UN Capital Master Plan, Michael Adlerstein, briefed the press on Monday, reading the $97 million figure from notes and acknowledging the associated costs only in response to questions.

At least he answered that question. When Inner City Press asked Adlerstein about the proposal that the UN for the first time impose rent charges on journalists, which would have the effect of driving smaller, independent and developing world media out of the UN, he said he would not comment on camera, nor take a position on the matter. Video here, from Minute 44:52.

Likewise, after he had described ostensibly transparent procurement actions by the UN's general contractor, Skanska, he was asked if the Press can observe the bid openings. "We don't invite the press to bid openings," Adlerstein answered. Video here, from Minute 57:44.

But the Procurement Division allowed Press attendance at the bid opening for the privatization of a portion of the UN Pension Fund. How much more so the expenditure of $1.87 billion in global taxpayers' funds, overseen by a UN-selected contractor not only described as "Skanska scandal" in Argentina, but more recently sued for by a worker for lung cancer? Click here for that.

While not asked of Adlerstein during his press conference, the UN's expenditure for a ventilation system for cigarette smoking in its basement Vienna Cafe -- where Adlerstein said the Security Council stakeout will be -- now seems all the more wasteful when signs have gone up directed smokers to their designated area, down a long hall and overlooking the East River. Smoking has continued, with no end in sight. Under the CMP, regular staff will work in bullpens while high UN officials will get private offices. All the better to smoke in. Adlerstein called the UN's relations with the City of New York complicated but positive. We will continue to follow this.

Footnotes: Inner City Press first reported on this move by Ban Ki-moon's UN to charge rent to the press in connection with the head of UN Management, Angela Kane, click here for that. At the time, the Press was told that such a move without not be made without agreement by the chiefs of the Department of Public Information. Now Adlerstein is in the mix, but won't comment on camera. Who then will be making this decision? We will continue to follow and report on it.

And see, www.innercitypress.com/cmp1pressout020209.html