.....You had to know that a place called the College of Insurance would make up their own rules when it comes to PUBLIC forums. Security greeted camera crews with a smile and a nudge out the door as the building enforced a policy of No Pictures Please. This was all too fitting for the RGB who introduced three new members to their line-up of white and/or slightly tinted middle to late aged gentlemen - the first and foremost of those being a younger face in Chairman Steven Sinacori, who was initiated by protestors enraged at the press blockade.

Sinacori, struggling to maintain composure in his debut, eventually settled things down by using a few RGB defense tactics: Ignore; Move Forward; and take lots of Recesses. The behind closed doors breaks gave him plenty of time to catch his breath and get some advice from ol' Coach Rudy, or so it seemed. After approving a proposal for annual adjustments of 4% for a one year lease and 6% for two years, the group recessed and returned with a motion to reconsider.

New and confused Public Member Mort Starobin asked for the motion claiming he misunderstood a rent supplement attached to an earlier proposal that was denied. Sinacori granted a re-vote. New and sneaky Public Member David Rubenstein requested removal of the supplement from the earlier proposal. Mort agreed and the vote became a re-vote of the same vote that was just approved - 4% for one year; 6% for two. This all seemed very confusing until Owner Member Harold Lubell asked the question, "Why reconsider?" and a crowd member replied, "Rudy wants it!" And sure enough, Rudy got what he wanted as the group denied the re-vote and accepted a proposal of 3%/5%, the same numbers that Giuliani had sought.

To cap a heavy-handed evening off, Rubenstein reintroduced and led the approved renewal of the "poor tax", an extra rent supplement of $15 a month on apartments with monthly rents below $500. This was all kept on the low as the press, as well as several members of the public remained locked out.

When asked about the press regulations and lack of space for public members, Chairman Sinacori replied, "We won't be using this site again for that reason."

The revised RGB schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, June 5th - Public Meeting 10a.m. - 1p.m. Dept. of City Planning Spector Hall 22 Reade Street New York, NY 10007

Wed., June 13th - Public Hearing 10a.m. - 9:45p.m. Langston Hughes Audtitorium Schomburg Center 515 Malcolm X Blvd. New York, NY 10037

Wed., June 20th - Public Meeting (Final Vote) 5:30p.m.-9:30p.m. The Great Hall at Cooper Union 7 East 7th Street at corner of 3rd Ave. (basement) New York, NY 10003