FOR THE RECORD

Uniformed Firefighters Association President Steve Cassidy had breakfast with possible presidential candidate and former Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson July 12.

The breakfast took place at Pershing Square in Midtown. Mr. Cassidy said that Mr. Thompson's people came to him and requested a meeting. It happened a day after the International Association of Firefighters released a video criticizing former Mayor and presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani's 9/11 record.

"I was impressed with Senator Thompson," Mr. Cassidy said. "He's very easy to speak to, very informed on first-responder issues."

He added that the Tennessee Republican, whom many know best for playing the Manhattan District Attorney on "Law and Order," understood that the city was not receiving enough funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

In response to the IAFF video, Giuliani campaign spokesman Mike McKeon accused the union of being a Democratic Party front group. But the UFA endorsed President Bush in 2004.

"We've supported candidates on both sides of the aisle," Mr. Cassidy said. "We proved that we are not beholden to any one party."

The UFA leader said the union was far from endorsing a presidential candidate and that it is seeking someone who is more than just a friend of labor.

"We're in very serious times here," he said, "and leadership is probably the most important thing in terms of who should be the Commander-in-Chief."

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Mayor Bloomberg's campaign against illegal guns was dealt a major setback last week after a key congressional committee voted that the Feds do not need to share gun sale tracking information with local police.

The proposal to revoke the legislation known as the Tiahrt Amendment was rejected July 13 by the House Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Bloomberg, who has organized a bipartisan coalition of Mayors to join his efforts, called the vote a "profound disappointment." But he added, "At least this measure was given public consideration and was debated for several hours instead of being inserted into an appropriations bill in the dead of night."

The committee voted against rescinding the Tiahrt Amendment, which stipulates that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can only release gun trace data to law-enforcement agencies or police officials involved with criminal investigations.

The Tiahrt Amendment, which has been strongly supported by the National Rifle Association, is named for Kansas Republican Rep. Todd Tiahrt, who drafted the legislation in 2003.

Gun-control advocates contend that the measure obstructs the ability of local officials to crack down on gun traffickers by identifying geographic patterns, since it blocks the ATF from sharing the amassed information. They contend that Congress has refused to change the law because it is pandering to the NRA.

Chris W. Cox, chief lobbyist for the NRA, argued the vote showed that Congress believes that giving politicians access to the information would compromise the safety of law-enforcement officers, particularly undercover agents. "The lives of America's rank-and-file law enforcement must not be used as political pawns," he said in a statement.

Not to be deterred, Mayor Bloomberg vowed to continue his campaign against illegal guns. "We are not letting Congress off the hook," he said in a statement issued after the vote. "Until our Police Officers have access to the data they need to fight illegal guns and their trafficking networks, we will continue our efforts against this singularly foolish restriction."

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The City University of New York has managed to raise more than $1 billion through its Invest in CUNY, Invest in New York fundraising campaign. CUNY is hoping to raise $2.6 billion by 2012 - $1.2 billion from private donors and foundations and another $1.4 billion in capital funds from public sources. The largest single gift received to date - more than $30 million - was donated by City College graduate William E. Macaulay to provide a permanent home for CUNY's William E. Macaulay Honors College.