In the News: Campbell Brown

January 12, 2015 Community News, People, Real Estate

••• New York magazine profiles Campbell Brown, the former TV journalist turned anti–teacher tenure activist. “She’s worried about being painted as the wealthy Tribeca mom that she is—I tried to make small talk with her, mentioning Telluride and SoulCycle, but she didn’t take the bait, shooting a look at me that said, ‘I know what you’re doing, babe.'” Now let’s digress: When I was the editor of Budget Travel magazine, we started a semi-annual magazine called Girlfriend Getaways (huge travel trend). The Today show agreed to run a few segments, and the only person at the magazine who had TV experience was me. Brown kicked off the first segment by asking, “What are you doing here?” (or something to that effect, because I was am a man). Caught off guard, I did not reply that I was the editor of Budget Travel, etc., etc. Instead, I said, “We’re all girlfriends on the inside”—something I did not live down for a long time. The profile is not online yet, but someday you’ll be able to get to it from here. UPDATE: Voilà.

••• Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry “Jones and the Cowboys are part owners of Legends Hospitality, which won a lucrative contract in early 2013 to operate the observation deck at 1 World Trade Center. The contract was awarded by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which Mr. Christie controls along with Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. Mr. Christie’s game tickets and airfare were paid for by Mr. Jones.” Why on earth would anyone think that Chris Christie would use the Port Authority for ethically bankrupt reasons? —New York Times

••• One Chase Manhattan Plaza is being renamed 28 Liberty. “The name is a nod to the street on which the building sits, the Statue of Liberty in the distance and the good fortune that, according to Chinese tradition, is bound up in the number 8. And 28 denotes ‘double prosperity,’ said a spokeswoman for Fosun International Ltd. , the investment company that bought the building in December 2013 from J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.” Also, it’s not being converted to condos. —Wall Street Journal

Update: Comments have been turned off due to spam. To have them turned back on, email tribecacitizen@gmail.com.

 
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8 Comments

  1. Yael
    January 13, 2015 • 1:46 pm

    Good for Campbell. You don’t have to agree with her, you don’t have to like her, but you certainly have to respect that she’s involved in the lives of her kids and her community. If she is to be labeled a wealthy and overpriviledged woman, at least she earned her money honestly with hard work. The Budget Travel editor has to let it go!

    • Erik Torkells
      January 13, 2015 • 1:49 pm

      I wasn’t holding Brown accountable—just telling a story I thought was amusing (and at my own expense).

      • Yael
        January 13, 2015 • 2:01 pm

        Yes, it is funny and she did have a point. As a woman, I don’t understand why men are sent to tell women what they want.
        I’m sorry if I look like her publicist, but she’s truly an involved member in the community and a very devoted parent. Regardless of her stance, she is an activist for the right reasons.

        • Erik Torkells
          January 13, 2015 • 2:06 pm

          I was chosen (not sent) because I know a lot about travel—and definitely more than the women on staff. Would you prefer someone with less expertise, just because she’s a woman? Personally, I wouldn’t have a problem with a female expert on something involving men.

          As for Campbell Brown, I don’t know her (beyond that one meeting) and I’m sure she’s quite intelligent but being involved in the community is a guarantee of nothing, if my experience at community board meetings is any indication.

  2. ...
    January 13, 2015 • 3:01 pm

    Campbell Brown will not divulge who is backing her organization. Her husband is Fox News contributor and was an adviser to Mitt Romney during the 2012 election.