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RUDY'S NO LEADER

Rudy's No Leader

To the Editor:

Father Jordan is being used as a front man for Mr. Giuliani. He is being used as a pawn in order to stifle any unkind press for his benefactor. Mr. Giuliani's inability to fill positions in his administration with qualified personnel makes his leadership capabilities suspect. Cronyism is tolerated in lower positions in any administration, but to fill top-tier positions the same way is unacceptable. Chief Riches is in no way out of line when he takes on Mr. Giuliani and company for this very reason.

Mr. Giuliani was a mere footnote in the annals of New York City history until that fateful day in 2001. His leadership style - my way or the highway - led to his abysmally low approval ratings prior to 9/11. He was confrontational, unapologetic and altogether childlike in his managerial style. Ask William Bratton - the man responsible for the decline in crime rates in the city while Police Commissioner. Ask Jerry Hauer - the original head of the Office of Emergency Management who was blamed for the placement of the Emergency Command Center in 7 World Trade Center, which turned out to be a non-truth. A good leader should know when to give credit as well as when to take responsibility.

To have come out recently and stated that he was down at the World Trade Center and prone to the ills befalling workers at the site is another peculiarity in this man's psyche. He may have taken on this persona to make up for his shortcomings regarding the brave men who toiled there day and night, one of them being Chief Riches.

If the head of OEM ran to the World Trade Center to assist in the ongoing emergency, why is it that the top people in the FDNY never lived to tell their side of that historic day? The Office of Emergency Management was created to have a person with appropriate skills be on-site to manage any catastrophe that may arise. This was definitely a catastrophe; where was OEM? Just an observation.

"Leadership is based on inspiration, not domination; on cooperation, not intimidation," a quote by William Arthur Wood, should be taken under advisement by this presidential hopeful. A qualified and effective leader surrounds himself with the brightest and the best, so that effective counsel can be solicited. Can this be surmised from the mayoralty of Mr. Giuliani?

MICHAEL DONOHUE, FDNY, retired