By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
A book signing by Rudolph Giuliani at the Bay Terrace Barnes & Noble last Thursday drew a throng of admirers who lined up around the bookstore for a chance to meet “America's mayor.”
Giuliani, fresh from his travels to Mexico City as an anti-crime consultant, was at the store promoting his book, “Leadership.”
Police and mall security were stationed around the store, and a bodyguard stuck close by the former Republican mayor as he signed book after book, as many as five per person.
“I want to cheer him on because he did a great job since 9/11,” said Douglaston resident Lorraine Maniscalco, 44, who remembered Giuliani coming to the Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade.
“He gave us a lot of strength and support at a time when we were down,” Maniscalco said.
First in line to get a book signed was former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman, who crossed party lines to endorse Giuliani when he ran for a second term as mayor.
“Great mayor,” said Shulman, smiling broadly. “You can quote me.”
Giuliani fans hoping to get their picture taken with him were disappointed since security rules forced them to leave their jackets and cameras with store personnel.
Flushing resident Terry Lynch, 51, had a day off from work but said she would have skipped out to meet Rudy.
“I would vote for him for governor, for president,” said Lynch, who bought extra copies of “Leadership” for her uncle and daughter.
Giuliani took a break from signing books to answer a few questions from the press, including his opinion of how his successor was handling the city's budget crisis.
“Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg has done a very good job,” said Giuliani, praising Bloomberg for running the city “like a business.”
When asked about a possible run for the presidency, Giuliani said that his bout with prostate cancer had taught him not to plan things too far in advance.
“You let the future take care of itself,” he said.
On the possibility of closing firehouses in the near future, Giuliani would not evaluate the specific proposals but said, “I have an emotional attachment to the Fire Department,” and “I could never bring myself to do it.”
About the Bloomberg's sagging poll numbers, Giuliani grinned and said, “I remember not doing so well,” adding that mayors from Fiorello LaGuardia to David Dinkins had had their periods of unpopularity.
A spot check of the store turned up few people with anything bad to say about the former mayor.
One man, who declined to give his name, said Giuliani had been “divisive.”
“He created too many separations of people,” he said.
But after making the remark, he added quickly “it doesn't mean I don't like Giuliani.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 1-718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
