Helps With Transition
Cassidy on Spitzer 'Homeland' Panel

By GINGER ADAMS OTIS

Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer has appointed Uniformed Firefighters' Association President Stephen J. Cassidy to his Homeland Security Transition Committee. Mr. Spitzer released a list of 320 advisors he'd selected to staff a host of committees shortly after winning the governorship Nov. 7.

STEPHEN J. CASSIDY: Advising new Governor.

As he steps up from his post as Attorney General, he has asked teams of approximately 10 members from various organizations and agencies to advise him on topics ranging from agriculture to transportation.

'Honored and Pleased'

Mr. Cassidy in a Nov. 22 phone interview pronounced himself "very honored and pleased" to have been selected. He said the committee had already held a conference call to establish a working list of the state's most pressing security issues.

"It is a tremendous honor; I hope to bring my experience to bear on behalf of firefighters and the public," he stated. "I think the fire service should have a key role in terrorist preparedness and prevention and I'll be bringing that viewpoint to the committee."

ELIOT SPITZER: Reaching out to labor.

Joining Mr. Cassidy on the panel is Daniel Nigro, retired FDNY Chief of Department, who assumed that position after Sept. 11. He couldn't be reached for comment by press time, but Mr. Cassidy applauded the choice, noting Mr. Nigro's "wealth of experience" in post-9/11 operations.

"He's a very independent thinker, and well-respected in fire service around the country," the UFA leader said.

Making a List

Although he declined to give specifics on security issues discussed, Mr. Cassidy said the first phone call had generated a variety of ideas that the committee expected to whittle down by consensus to present a "list of issues that will be helpful to Governor-elect Spitzer."

Border security, infrastructure, national coordination efforts, better preparedness for natural disasters as well as terrorist-related events were all prime issues, Mr. Cassidy said.

The Homeland Security Committee is co-chaired by Mary Jo White, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, and Karen Greenberg, executive director of New York University's Center on Law and Security. Also on the committee are: John P. Culhane Jr., former Supervisory Special Agent for the FBI's Field Intelligence Group in Buffalo and a member of its Joint Terrorism Task Force; Steve Flynn, Senior Fellow for National Security at the Council on Foreign Relations; Eric Lee, former Deputy Criminal Justice Coordinator for the Office of New York City; Michael McLaughlin, former Assistant Special Agent for Immigration in Buffalo; Kevin Neary, former Chief of Operations for and now Mayor of Richmondville; Irwin Redlener, Associate Dean and Director of Columbia University; Daniel Richman, a professor at Fordham University Law School; Lawrence Schwartz, Deputy County Executive for Westchester County; Michael Sheehan, former Deputy Commissioner of Counter Terrorism for the NYPD; Steve Simon, a Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations; Dietrich Snell, Deputy Attorney General for Public Advocacy; and William Wechsler, former Director for Transnational Threats on the National Security Council.

There was no appointee to the Homeland Security team from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, despite terrorist subway bombings in Madrid and London since 9/11. But Mr. Spitzer named two MTA members to his committee on Criminal Justice, and two more to his Transportation team.

Labor Presence

Other figures from the labor movement who were appointed to transition teams include Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Patrick J. Lynch and Dan DeFedericis of the New York State Troopers' Benevolent Association. They are serving on the Justice Committee.

Bruce Raynor, president of UNITE HERE, and Jim Duncan, president of Union Workers of America Local 9, are both on the Economic Development Committee.

A Post for Roberts

Maria Niera from New York State United Teachers is on the Education Committee, and Lillian Roberts, executive director of District Council 37, is on the Housing Committee.

The Labor and Work Force Development Committee has several union appointees: Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; Brian McDonnell of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employees' Association; Bob Master from Communications Workers of America District 1; Mike Fishman, president of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ; and Denis Hughes, president of the State AFL-CIO.