October 12, 2002

Pitched battle is already being waged behind scenes over $4.55 billion in government funds set aside for transit in Lower Manhattan, fueled by debate that could determine future of downtown; at issue is whether funds allocated in aftermath of terrorist attack should be spent only to improve existing transit or to bring in new train service that would make downtown more convenient to suburban commuters; diagram; proponents of new rail, including Sen Charles Schumer and Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff, say downtown will not remain one of world's financial capitals without better links to region and airports; critics point out that city also needs money for several other huge, long-needed projects such as Second Avenue subway and LIRR link to Grand Central Terminal; Gov George Pataki is key to ultimate decision but has so far left issue to transit authority; chairman Peter Kalikow comments (M)

William C Rhoden Sports of The Times column contends that success of former Indiana University president Myles Brand as president of NCAA will depend on his commitment to integrity and policy implementation within college athletics; photo (M)

Japanese central bank moves to hasten cleanup of country's ailing banking system, saying it will spend $16 billion of its own money to buy stocks from threatened banks; calls on government to use tax money to absorb more of banks' losses on failed loans; photo; graph of yen exchange rate (M)

Pres Bush moves to use vote in Congress giving him overwhelming support to attack Iraq as leverage to push for tough new United Nations resolution forcing Saddam Hussein to disarm; only hours after Senate votes, 77 to 23, to give president authority for action against Iraq, administration officials assert that bipartisan endorsement would force hand of Security Council because United States now has all the legal authority for the war that is needed; House votes 296 to 133 in support of president; photo of Sen Tom Daschle, majority leader, and Sen Harry Reid, deputy majority leader (M)

US Justice Department opens civil rights review of Pataki administration's policy of releasing hundreds of patients from New York psychiatric wards to locked units in nursing homes; probe follows revelations in The New York Times and charges by advocacy groups that residents lose rights to hearings when they are not held in psychiatric units; units were set up with no public notice by nursing home operator Benjamin Landa, major Pataki campaign contributor(M)