February 21st - February 25th, 2011

9-11 Families Association Bookkeeper Arrested

February 21 - A bookkeeper for the 9-11 Families Association is arrested. Forty-three-year-old Claudio Tavarez of Washington Heights has been charged with stealing nearly $18,000 from the account of the September 11th Families' Association, according to The New York Post. Court papers say he allegedly wrote 15 checks to himself from the association's account, totaling $17,570. To conceal where they were going, Tavarez wrote in the association's register that the checks were paid out to vendors. He then allegedly signed the name of the COO on the checks. It was not immediately clear what he did with the funds.

City MWBE Contracts Get a Boost

February 22 - Good news for NYCs women- and minority-owned builders. The Mayor says the city will increase the percentage of construction contracts awarded to firms owned by women and minorities. Crains New York Business reported the new goals, or percentages of city contracts awarded to women and minority firms, will increase by an amount to be determined later this year. The city's decision comes after a broader state goal announced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo Thursday, in which he increased the goals for women and minority state contracts to 20 percent.

Major Insurance Firm Stays Downtown

February 23 - A major insurance company renews its lease Downtown. GlobeSt.com reported global insurance company Nausch, Hogan & Murray renewed its 10,245-square-foot lease at the Moinian Groups 180 Maiden Lane. The tenant, which specializes in reinsurance and risk management, will occupy part of the 28th floor.

National 9-11 Memorial Launches New Online Timeline

February 24 - The 9-11 Memorial and Museum is launching an interactive online timeline chronicling the September 11, 2001 attacks. It features an hour-by-hour timeline, with a fast-forward button to skip video or audio. Reuters quoted Memorial President Joe Daniels, "This timeline is a real attempt to organize what was an incredibly chaotic day into a format that's accessible for people to learn from."

Oppenheimer signs 15-year lease at 2 World Financial Center

February 24 - Oppenheimer Funds is staying at Brookfield Office Properties 2 WFC beyond the expiration of its sublease with Merrill Lynch in 2013. The investment management firm has signed a 15-year lease for its New York offices to remain in 235,342 square feet at the 2.3-million-square-foot office property. GlobeSt.com reported the deal.