ZERO.
At the time of the collapse....5:20 PM.....no one was inside.
Among the 40-odd resident organizations in the structure? Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): (Operated a clandestine station, never fully disclosed), the Department of Defense (DoD) (again never fully disclosed), the Secret Service (maintained a presence, likely for security and investigative operations),and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Just odd....every single person was told to leave, and no firemen allowed to enter.
Over the weekend....this idea of a city-run grocery-store (suggested in NY City) has been on my mind. Being process-driven....I considered a number of factors.
First, you'd need to hire the 'CEO'. Using their logic....it will be a social-worker, lawyer, or community organizer....NOT a grocery-CEO type.
Second, this CEO would hire a staff....figure at least ten folks.....with none of them probably schooled in the 'art' of running a grocery. At least $250,000 will be spent on a research crew to figure out a name for the operation 'People's Grocery' will likely be the end-name...or P-G.
Third, at least six sites will be leased...all for a minimum of ten years. All will be in medium-to-upper class neighborhoods.
Fourth, the six managers will be hired, and each making around 150-percent of what the local pay-scale is. Most will have no background in grocery operations.
Fifth, more than $1-million will be spent on opening day 'show-case' design.
Sixth, about six weeks into operation....it'll be noted that 10-percent of the shelves are empty on a regular basis, and the Soviet nick-names for grocery stores will be commonly used.
Seventh, more than forty guards will be hired by day 60....to handle robbery and theft.
Eighth.....a numbers guy will figure operations cost, and pricing....coming to a number that the stores can only survive if the city itself covers the lease cost and utilities.....otherwise, it's a financial failure. Several product lines will be noted....refusing to offer products at the management sales cost.
Ninth, all six original managers will be gone by the 12th month of operation...admitting this is way beyond their skill and ability to operate. Part of their whining goes to the mandate that they have to hire non-English speakers to be employees at the stores.
Tenth and final....more than 20 non-city-run grocery stores will dissolve in the mean-time...admitting they can't be the cost. This puts the city in a dire position....having to expand a failing grocery operation....to make up for the crappy planning.
A state audit will eventually occur (by the 3rd year)....admitting $25-million a year has to be injected to keep the six stores afloat, and to pay the CEO's staff.
