White House chief of staff resigning

  By BEN FELLERWASHINGTON -- In an abrupt jolt to the White House, President Barack Obama announced Monday that chief of staff William Daley was quitting and heading home to Chicago, capping a short and rocky tenure that had been expected to last until Election Day in November. Obama budget chief Jack Lew will take over the job.

Daley's run as Obama's chief manager and gatekeeper lasted for all of one consequential year - filled with notable moments like the killing of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama bin Laden, but also internal grumbles that the top aide had not turned out to be the right fit to coordinate an intense operation of ideas, offices and egos.

Obama said he took the news reluctantly, initially refusing to accept Daley's resignation letter last week and ordering him to think it over. Daley stood by the decision, expressing a desire to be with his family and return to Chicago.

Yet he offered no explanation on Monday about what accelerated his decision; Daley had committed to Obama that he would stay on through the election. Obama senior adviser Pete Rouse had already taken on more of the day-to-day management of the White House, trimming Daley's portfolio amid West Wing struggles over coordination and communication.

"No one in my administration has had to make more important decisions more quickly than Bill, and that's why I think this decision is difficult for me," Obama said to a nearly empty State Dining Room, other than mainly the assembled media.

Lew and Daley stood by the president but did not speak. The White House said neither man was giving interviews.

Obama now plows ahead into an election year with his third chief of staff - one of the most influential and demanding jobs in government and politics.

Daley had come aboard last January to replace the colorful and involved-in-everything Rahm Emanuel, who left the job to run for Chicago mayor, a position he now holds.

The transition from Daley to Lew is expected to take place at the end of the month. Just ahead for Obama are two crucial, tone-setting events: his State of the Union speech on Jan. 24 and the release of his budget proposal in early February.

An Obama campaign official said Daley will serve as one of the co-chairs of Obama's Chicago-based re-election efforts. Other co-chairs will be announced in the coming weeks, said the official, who requested anonymity to speak ahead of the official announcement.

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Associated Press writers Erica Werner and Julie Pace contributed to this report.

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barack obama, william daley, white house, politics & elections

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NYC Opera to leave Lincoln Center, cut staff

  By NEKESA MUMBI MOODYNEW YORK -- The board of the financially troubled New York City Opera voted Friday to move out of its home at Lincoln Center, cut staff across the board and scale back its performance schedule as it fights for its survival.

Friday's move comes as the 68-year-old organization deals with a dwindling endowment, a multimillion-dollar deficit, and contentious negotiations with its union staff.

George Steel, the general manager and artistic director of the opera, told The Associated Press on Friday that "the sacrifice will be shared from top to bottom in the company." Steel said the board's actions will allow for further growth and he said he felt encouraged by the decision. He said an announcement on a new home would be made in weeks.

"This is certainly a serious transition for the opera ... but the thing that makes me optimistic is that I can see a balanced budget model for the company that will provide a foundation for sustainable growth."

The New York City Opera is revered as a pillar of American culture that has delivered daring new productions and built the careers of such stars like Placido Domingo, Renee Fleming and Beverly Sills.

But for some time, the opera has been struggling. The company's endowment has dwindled from $55 million to $9 million, according to audits obtained by the AP. And City Opera has put off announcing its 2011-2012 season as it faces a projected deficit of $5 million.

The board chairman last month personally contributed an emergency $2.5 million toward plugging the deficit, company officials said. It is also tussling over a new contract with its singers and production staff.

The New York City Opera has been at Lincoln Center, also home to the City Ballet and other artistic organizations, since 1966.

"We love Lincoln Center. It's a wonderful place but the costs of being here is simply too high," Steel said.

Lincoln Center spokeswoman Betsy Vorce declined to comment.

Alan Gordon, executive director of the American Guild of Musical Artists, which represents singers, dancers, stage directors and stage managers, said the union's members were "distraught" over the decision.

The move may save money but will do little to address the opera's flagging ticket sales, Gordon said. He blamed Steel's choices for shows, such as the recent production of "SDeance on a Wet Afternoon."

"He refuses to program any of the big, solid operas that people do go to see," Gordon said. "If they want to be a regional, part-time, freelance theater, then go with God, but that's not the world that opera singers work in."

Steel would not say if the new home would be in the same district - or even in Manhattan - but said the board "had an idea" of where it would end up. "I don't want to get into the detail of it," he said.

He also would not discuss the ramifications of the move, including whether the opera would be breaking its lease.

"We are sitting down with all of the stakeholders to discuss our departure, that means Lincoln Center, that means New York City ... it's a complicated discussion," he said.

The board adopted a balanced budget Friday, but Steel would not divulge any figures.

"It's significantly smaller than what we're currently having, but it will permit us a tremendous reduction in fixed costs, which means we can put more money on the stage," he said.

The opera also announced plans for next season. Instead of five full-scale opera productions, there would be three, with two smaller-scale productions. Steel said the plan was in keeping with some of the smaller-scale productions the opera has been offering over the years.

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Associated Press Writer Chris Hawley contributed to this report.

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Online:

http://www.nycopera.com/

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new york city, lincoln center, new york city opera, new york news

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