Gruesome twosome may team up

Photo from SHoP

From Crains:

The city's transportation chief, Janette Sadik-Khan, and planning czar, Amanda Burden, are close friends who share a passion for creating vibrant, sustainable cities. They have been travel companions—to India, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Copenhagen—and even sat next to each other at a recent benefit gala honoring Ms. Sadik-Khan.

And when the Bloomberg administration draws to a close this year, the powerful pair could go into business together, spreading their brand of urban planning across the globe. Several former Bloomberg administration sources confirmed that the two have been in discussions about forming their own urban-planning policy institute, either as an offshoot of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's foundation or as a stand-alone entity. Another source said they were angling to open a global consulting firm.

"Those two have traveled together on their own time," a former administration official said. "They've done the urban-planning grand tour."

The pair are the latest administration all-stars planning their exodus as part of a transition that is as likely to transform the private sector as it is the face of government. Aides to Ed Koch, the last three-term mayor, turned their government experience into prominent careers. Some, like developer Bruce Ratner and transportation planner Sam Schwartz, continue to influence public policy. Top Bloomberg alumni may go even further.