From The Desk Of … John Liu
City Comptroller John Liu’s workplace is a tidy office on the 5th floor of One Centre Street, an aging structure that is home to many of the city’s municipal workers. Liu hopes to move from there to a decidedly more spacious abode in the west wing of City Hall in the coming year. He won’t have a lot to bring with him, judging by what’s currently in his minimalist workspace.
- Photos by Aaron Adler
- Asian Jade Society penholder
“It’s a fraternal organization that honored me several years ago. It’s a good penholder.” - NYPD Captain Endowment Association award
“I got that earlier this year, [in] March. It’s an annual event, and I was the keynote.” - Note from Tompkins Park Senior Center
“It reads, roughly, ‘To New York City Comptroller John Liu, seeing the people with all his heart and energy.’ It’s not a Chinese senior center. It’s an African-American senior center.” - Picture of his son, Joey
“That’s my son, Joe. That was a long time ago. I was elected on his first birthday. He’s probably 2 or 3 there.” - Phoenix Award
“That’s from the time I traveled to Beijing. That was in 2007. It was two days. They awarded 40 people, including [Labor] Secretary Elaine Chao and movie director Ang Lee.” - Photo of President John F. Kennedy“That was presented to me by the speaker of the Irish Parliament in Dublin in 2010. I think he did it because he knew that I was named after JFK.”
- Fire helmet
“That was the helmet I used during a free operations training at Randall’s Island.” - Leather couch and chair
“I usually sit in the chair. That’s been here a long time. It was here when former Comptroller Bill Thompson was here. I had met with him a couple of times before I took office.” - President Obama photo
“That was when he came to New York in 2009. My guess is he had a town hall at the Manhattan Center. They were going to pass his health care bill and there was a reception.” - Photo of Western Wall in Jerusalem
“That was in September 2010.”
C&S: What did you put in the wall?
JL: My prayers and wishes. - “Warrior Citizen” flag
“This is a signed flag. Every year we have a toy drive for children of men and women who serve abroad.” - Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation paper sculpture
“This is the Chinese character for peace. I did Sandy relief work with them. They distributed $10 million to families stricken by Sandy in the form of VISA cash cards.” - Trailblazer Award
“That was from Rev. Jesse Jackson in 2011. This is part of the Wall Street Summit. This was for some of the contract procurements that changed in this office.” - Scrooge McDuck figurine
“I don’t know what’s up with that. Somebody was trying to tell me they think I’m cheap. By the way, that’s the city’s money.” - Zenith television with VCR
“It’s been sitting in that spot since I got there. The TV does work.” - Bouquet of flowers
“It came from Captain Al Hagan, president of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association. I’ve never gotten red roses from anyone before, so the office has been talking about me and Al.”
Tags: al hagan, City Hall, Jesse Jackson, John F. Kennedy, John Liu, NYPD Captain Endowment Association, President Obama, Scrooge McDuck, Tompkins Park Senior Center, Tzu Chi Foundation, Western Wall