As distance goes, it’s about 50 miles traveling from The ‘Port to Gotham, but perch atop the regional headquarters of M&T Bank, with the right lens, and Manhattan comes into focus, skyscrapers in view.
Back in the day when I ran political races for Joe Ganim and Bill Finch, I’d receive permission to access the roof of then People’s Bank to snap pics of candidates with the waterfront beckoning behind. Made for tasty mail pieces.
I hate heights like Indiana Jones hates snakes. But, duty calls.
The young Joe – he’s more relaxed these days – was a thrill seeker. We were in our early 30s. Jesus, throw a bungee on his ankles and who knows how close his head would avoid the pavement. It’s a lot breezier at a few hundred feet above street level. No, it’s not the Empire State Building but knowing Joe, he’d go right to the edge, look down like it was a walk in the park.
I hated it.
I managed to find a photographer who was just as equally happy tight walking with Joe.
“Lennie, get a load of this,” Joe implores, his toes and eyes looking straight down.
“No, I’m not going to the edge.”
“C’Mon, it’s fine. It’s just a matter of perspective,” he giggled. “We’ll have a nice, juicy steak after this.”
I wanted to puke.
“Just shoot the damn pics and let’s get out of here.”
Please, a parachute.
I saw a few things up there I did not expect like the remains of bones – falcons ripping up the pigeons. I kid you not.
Anyhoo, what’s the point of this?
Ganim’s Deputy Chief of Staff Constance Vickers and Project Manager Anthony Paoletto participated recently in M&T Bank’s Over The Edge fundraiser on behalf of Wakeman’s Boys and Girls Club, rappelling down the central business district’s tallest building.
See them in action:
No word if Joe bungee jumped.
