By Matthew Russell Lee
www.innercitypress.com/cmp1banks110209.html
UNITED NATIONS, November 2 -- As UN Headquarters is being emptied out, it takes on the aura of a ghost town. On the first floor under the Economic and Social Council chamber, the Chinese verbatim offices are in shambles with file cabinets tipped over. Out the windows of the vacant riverfront offices one sees the changing leaves on Roosevelt island, by the long empty building on its tip. Ruins to ruins.
The UN Federal Credit Union sign was pried off the wall of its flagship branch on October 30, with even its automatic teller machines to be closed down. According to the UN's intra-net, "UNFCU, which also operates a branch in the DC-2 Building, will relocate their Secretariat office to the 20th floor of 380 Madison Avenue and decommission its ATM terminals on the 1st and on the 4th floors."
Then again, it also reported that
"24 December 2009 will be the last day of service as we know it at the Main Cafeteria, the Delegates Dining Room, the Staff Café and the Delegates Lounge, though it is currently under consideration to keep the Delegates Dining Room open for special events until the end of February 2010. While the Main Cafeteria will undergo remodeling in order to function as a scaled down cafeteria as well as the temporary Delegates Dining Room, the Staff Café and the Delegates Lounge will remain closed until the completion of the renovation of the Conference Building, which is projected for early 2012. Information on food service options during the remodeling of the Main Cafeteria and the date of the reopening will follow. "
Until recently, staff in the Delegates' Lounge has said discussions were ongoing to keep the Lounge open. After the above announcement, this was modified. On November 16, a winner of what is now Aramark's contract is to be decided, those involved in the process tell Inner City Press. The winner, which may or may not be Aramark, might be in a position to modifying the Lounge's closing date.
On the night of October 30, the Lounge was jumping, with talk of the Kentucky Fried Scapegoats and even the Goldstone report. The jewel of Santo Domingo arrived with a rolling cart full of chicken and pork rolls. The political advisor of a mission from a Muslim country took a bite and spat it out -- pork! -- and replacement chicken was quickly provided. Someone asked, Kentucky Fried? That story still has legs. Watch this site.
