Release: #4569-01
For Release: September 18, 2001

CFTC Acting Chairman James Newsome and Key Staff Members Travel to New York to Meet With the Commission’s New York Regional Staff

Washington, D.C. -- Commodity Futures Trading Commission Acting Chairman James E. Newsome, Commissioner Thomas Erickson, and key staff members are scheduled to meet on Thursday, September 20, 2001, with the Commission’s New York Regional Office staff, whose offices at 1 World Trade Center were totally destroyed in the horrific events of last Tuesday, to offer personal expressions of support, concern and appreciation.

Thursday’s meeting is intended to bring all of the Commission’s New York regional employees back together for the first time since last week’s tragedy, and to afford Acting Chairman Newsome an opportunity to discuss the Commission’s efforts to assist employees in dealing with last week’s trauma, and the various measures the Commission is undertaking to locate suitable office space in order for the Regional Office to reopen as soon as practicable.

The 82 individuals who comprise the Commission’s New York regional staff discharge various responsibilities that are critical to the Commission’s mission of ensuring the integrity and soundness of all U.S. futures markets. In order that the Commission’s mission would not be compromised as a result of last week’s devastation, these responsibilities were primarily satisfied this past week by Commission staff located in Washington and Chicago. In commenting on this extremely difficult situation, Acting Chairman Newsome stated...“the Commission’s number one priority is the safety and well-being of its New York regional office employees. I am extremely proud of how our staff have reacted during this emergency and I am confident that all Commission staff will continue to work as a team to ensure the integrity of our marketplace and to meet the needs of our New York colleagues.”

�