Giuliani Holds Office Clinton Wants

W A S H I N G T O N, Feb. 13 -- President Clinton is hitting another snag in his efforts to set up shop in New York City.

Under fire for trying to move into a posh, $800,000 office in midtown Manhattan that would be underwritten by taxpayers, Clinton set his sights on a far cheaper building in Harlem.

"I have decided to locate my office in this building if we canwork it out," Clinton said today as he emerged from 55 West 125th St. to a cheering crowd of supporters. "We're looking at it."

But New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who ran against Clinton's wife for the Senate before dropping out of the race, may have the final say.

Looking for an Offer ‘We Can't Refuse’

Since December, a city agency that handles foster care for "at-risk children" has held the lease on the 17,303-square-foot 14th-floor office that Clinton wants.

Giuliani said today he's willing to negotiate, but wants to make sure Clinton makes it worth the city's while to move the Administration for Child Services.

"We're certainly willing to listen to an offer. Maybe they can make us an offer we can't refuse," Giuliani said.

Giuliani insisted his position was strictly "business, not personal." If the landlord could guarantee equivalent or better space in the building for his agency, the mayor said, then the city might be willing to make room for Clinton.

"I think it would be a very good thing for the former president to have office space in New York," Giuliani said. "I think it would be a particularly good thing to have it in Harlem, we would like to accommodate that interest, but we can't be unmindful of the interests of the children either."

Giuliani spokeswoman Sunny Mindel said earlier the agency was given word Monday by the landlord that Clinton was interested in the space.

Setting Up Shop in Empowerment Zone

Despite the snafu, Clinton remained optimistic.

"I feel wonderful about it and I'm very, very grateful. I hope we can work the lease out and all the details," Clinton said. "I feel confident we can, and I'm looking forward to it."