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Last week it was announced that Maggie Boepple would assume the role of Senior Adviser to the P.A.C. Board. National Sept. 11 Memorial Foundation President Joe Daniels made the announcement in early March.
Daniels said during the search for an adviser Boepple’s name “kept coming up” because of her resume.
“This site is so inherently complicated,” said Daniels, “and we wanted someone with the cultural background and experience in working with city and state agencies.”
Boepple was most recently the president of the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Prior to her role with the L.M.C.C., Boepple was Senior Adviser to London’s Commissioner of Transport. Before moving to London, she served as New York City’s chief lobbyist within the Ed Koch administration, the first woman to hold such a position, and subsequently became the City’s Director of Intergovernmental Relations where she represented the City’s interests with Federal, State, and local government entities. Boepple’s years in public service also include work with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority as Director of Government Relations and with the City University of New York as Vice Chancellor of University Relations.
The overall goal, according to Daniels, is that the Performing Arts Center becomes its own separate entity. Daniels compared the current dynamic to the way the National Sept. 11 Memorial Foundation came into existence, at first under the control of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, but ultimately transitioning into its own independent organization.
“In the beginning there was some board overlap [between the Memorial and the L.M.D.C.],” said Daniels. “The same will be the case here.”
As to the total amount of funding the board will have to raise to make the P.A.C. a reality, Daniels said, “It’s too early to say how much money it will cost.”
Daniels did note that it would be a “major fundraising effort” and the amount would probably be “north of $300 million.”
The Memorial Foundation has come under criticism since work on the National 9/11 Museum slowed down earlier this year due to a disagreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Daniels however said recent news from Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office has him feeling optimistic about the situation with the museum and the Port Authority.
“I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve recently heard the Governor is supportive [of trying to reach a deal],” said Daniels. “Now, it really feels like everyone wants to work together and see this get done.”
“This foundation has faced a tremendous amount of criticism from the very beginning. People criticized the Memorial, but we got it done. And we will get the museum done,” said Daniels. “The P.A.C. has challenges, but it will get done too and when it’s completed, it will be a benefit to Lower Manhattan and to all of New York.”
Daniels did allude to the relief of having someone come in and take the helm and perhaps lighten the load that he is carrying.
“That’s why we’re so thrilled with Maggie,” added Daniels. “We wanted someone who could come in and put this project on her shoulders and run with it.”
As for Boepple, she said when she was approached for the position, she was told her role would be to move the P.A.C. Board forward. She said right now she’s working on the “nitty-gritty,” such as filing for the organization’s official501(c)3 status and looking at hiring staff.
“There will have to be staff to deal with the L.M.D.C. and the HUD funding,” said Boepple.
Boepple also said there would be a need for a P.A.C. representative to attend community board meetings as well as other functions. But, echoing Daniels, Boepple said such responsibilities could be shared for the time being.
Before Boepple can even start thinking of staff, she has to bring the current board members together to decide on exactly what programming will be offered in the center.
Community Board 1 Chair and P.A.C. Board member Julie Menin said, “In terms of finalizing the programming, this is a real turning point because now we have to make the vision a reality.”
