UNITED
NATIONS, May
13 -- It's
said that the
UN has been
rehabilitated.
But
in some ways
it just keeps
getting worse.
Take
two small
examples: the
turn over of
the building
and the UN
name to
the contractor
Aramark, which
also runs food
service in
prisons, see
here, and
a UN
Correspondents
Association
Executive
Committee
turned in on
itself, not
seeking more
access but
rather to exclude
others.
These
two trends
come together
in an event,
about
wrestling no
less, in the
UN's
Delegates'
Dining Room
May 14 from
noon to 2 pm.
The event is
being marketed
as a
Briefing... at
the United
Nations.
But
its connection
to the UN is
that the
sponsors are
paying
Aramark,
which controls
the UN food
service
contract, to
use the space.
Anyone
can use it,
including
private
weddings. The
UN allows
this, and gets
worse
and worse
service from
Aramark in
return.
In
fact, Aramark
workers
complain to
Inner City
Press they
have been
told that
despite the
rehabilitation
of the fourth
floor
Delegates'
Dining Room,
it will not be
re-opened for
lunch, but
only for use
for
events Aramark
charges for.
As workers
who've been
partially laid
off during the $2 billion
Capital Master
Plan, they
are outraged.
But
what is the UN
connection of
tomorrow's
wrestling
event? None
other
than the UN
Correspondents
Association, a
sort of
Aramark of the
journalism
industry.
UNCA president
Pamela Falk of
CBS wrote,
"The sponsors
have held 50
of their 150
seats for UNCA
members plus a
guest."
UNCA,
whose
participation
garnered it
these 50 free
lunch tickets
for its due
paying members
and allows the
sponsor to
put on their
flier
"International
Media," now
says "Please
note: All
Q&A will
be at the
press
conference at
10:30am ONLY."
But
the flier they
sent out says
"Luncheon and
Briefing (on
keeping
wrestling in
the Olympics),
12-2 pm." Now,
for or after
free
lunch, UNCA
emphasizes: no
questions from
12 to 2.
Questions and
answers, you
see, is not
their focus,
just as
actually
providing food
and drink
service to
people in the
UN is not
Aramark's
focus.
Footnote:
On
that, it's
said the
already
rehabilitated
Delegates'
Lounge will
not re-open
for service
this month,
and in the
future alcohol
will be
downplayed. Is
it Joe
Torsella, the
US Ambassador
who said
diplomats
drink too
much, or Ban
Ki-moon? We'll
have more on
all this.
, 
