As a matter of fact, even when I finished law school, I had no notion of public service then.

In 1975 I was among a group of blacks who formed the Black Americans in Support of Israel Committee.

But I make the observation that no one of us would do things exactly alike.

Some of us claim that New York City is the capital of the country, indeed the capital of the world. Now, that may be a bit much for those who don't come from New York, but clearly we are an important city for reasons of our cultural advantages.

But the courts have dismissed the lawsuits against me and Lee Brown.

And, as a matter of fact, I am the chairman of the Amadou Diallo Foundation.

The people really are what make New York City great.