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doesn't just go back to where it was before! The agreements end up by being an inch thick, the papers do, to satisfy all the rules and regulations.

Focus on Stern. Would you describe him as obstructionist?

He sure was obstructionist for a long long time. He's now finally coming around and I think--I think, crossing my fingers--playing ball with us now.

What has been the tenor of your personal dealings with him?

In public, infinite patience. In private, screaming heebie jeebies.

The two of you?

No! Just me, myself. There's no point in getting mad at public officials. The person I get mad at is the person who's my friend. That's Koch's chief of staff, Diane Coffey. She's got a lot of power, and she's on our board. She knows the mayor wants this thing done. So what I do when Henry is raising another obstructionist issue, is I scream at Diane. I get her on the phone and scream my head off at her, and say, “Do something!” Usually she does.

You never go to Koch directly?