John Catsimatidis once headed the GOP’s Lincoln Day fund-raisers for Reagan. At his home, he gives Democratic dinners for Hill and Bill. His daughter married Republican party chief Ed Cox’s son. Clinton loans his private plane. So, why’s this billionaire schlepping around running for mayor?
“I don’t want an ambassadorship in Slovakia. I don’t want to live in DC. I’ll never leave New York. New York is my life. The Greek church’s Father Alex, my spiritual adviser, my children’s godfather, tried to talk me out of it. Then Rabbi Schneier encouraged me.
“Look, I’ve climbed mountains all my life. I’m from little Greek island Nisyros, where I could’ve stayed a sheep herder. My busboy father, who never made waiter, moved here. To 135th Street. Today I live in that restaurant owner’s same Fifth Avenue apartment.
“I’ve always climbed mountains. Working in a supermarket, 80 hours a week, $1.10 an hour — cashiers got $1.20 — my tip was 2 cents a bottle, 10 bottles — then I borrowed money and bought the supermarket. In ’77, I started buying properties, one a month. I got a pilot’s license. Bought Roy Disney’s plane. Bought Capitol Airlines with offices in 15 cities. Board member Sen. Fred Thompson had me write a check to Al Gore, and that started me on politics.
“My jet was the beginning of NetJets. I became chairman of a jewelry company. A trustee for my airline was trustee for an oil company. I bought that company. We wrote the deal on a napkin. Ron Perelman sold me his Pantry Pride supermarkets in Florida. This led to Gristedes and 200 stores.
“Listen, I once made a landing by myself, with one engine out. I was alone. I don’t like being alone. But I don’t sweat. Other candidates did 10 times worse things than I’ve done. Make my day. Let them go after me.
“I’ve never said no to anybody. I’m 64. A New York Republicrat who wants the next century’s kids to believe in heroes again. And I know our business community has to do well so our residential community can do well.
“In ICU, 10 minutes after coming out of the operating room, I wanted my BlackBerry. I love life. I love my family. I love New York City.”
MICHAEL Ruocco, son of our court system’s Linda Arnone, plays Guido Contini, the lead, in this month’s NYU production of “Nine.” The theater’s on Second Avenue twixt Sixth and Seventh. Talent scouts: Check him out . . . And the Yankees’ Brian Cashman, who bashed his leg parachute jumping, should check out the new book “Foot and Ankle Sports Medicine” for tips by the team’s own doc Rock Positano.
SET for March 18’s trial on that car crash case, Lindsay Lohan should read my Jan. 9 column. I reported alleged violations of a dozen clients against her new lawyer. Between 1989 and 1992 Mark J. Heller was once suspended. Last week LA Judge James Dabney, expressing “concern,” said Heller’s motions “lacked conformity with California law and procedure in a number of respects.” He added she’d have to waive her rights to competent California-licensed representation if Heller doesn’t engage a local criminal lawyer to guide him.
Judge to Lindsay: “Somebody needs to come in to assist you who has some experience.”
ANN Romney saying we should continue fighting for education and against Iran and knowing she shouldn’t feel negative about the election but: “I’m devastated for the country. I’m sad.” She’s been crying. Salvation is her horses . . . Pamela Anderson spending time at the shrink. Tough years. Tax problems . . . Carla Facciolo of “Mob Wives” joining Rob Fletcher in his coming DVD, “Self-Defense Workout for Women.”
UNLIKE Will Rogers, John Mayer, who never met a woman he doesn’t like, likes Katy Perry enough to consider a NYC apartment together. Meanwhile, her friendship with Rihanna (upset Rihanna’s back with Chris Brown) turned rickety . . . At Flex Mussels restaurant, lawyer Michael J. Griffith, who’s repped Billy “Midnight Express” Hayes, Ted Maher in the Edmond Safra murder trial, and the Okinawa rape case Marines, signed for a weekly TV series based on his clients.
EX-Sen. Joe Lieberman inspected Upper West Side rentals. He sold his DC place for $1.3 mil, about 300,000 less than the assessed value. Keeping the deal quiet, ’tis burbled he requested the automated home value estimate be unpublished on realty sites . . . Anyone know a law firm once sued North Korea’s savior Dennis Rodman for $54,000 in delinquent payments? And one jury awarded $80,000 to a craps-table dealer who accused him of bad behavior?
SO what’s Naomi Campbell doing with her old dresses? “Wearing them. I’ve kept them all.” Those original Chanels, Versaces, McQueens, Diors, St. Laurents, Miyakes. Dolce & Gabbanas are in huge storage bins. She and an archivist now plan a show. To display the whole vintage couture lot for charity.
A quote from Joaquin Phoenix. Asked might he ever perform in a big-budget action movie: “Difficult to scream at a plain blue screen because I’m to think a computer-generated giant dragon’s penis is trying to swallow me.”
HER: “Do you like your beard?” Him: “I didn’t at first, but then it grew on me.”
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.