WPCNR MAIN STREET JOURNAL. By John F. Bailey. September 22, 2005: Donald J. Trump told the CitizeNetReporter this evening  the federal government has been in talks with him to rebuild the Hurricane Katrina devastated Gulf Region. Asked by WPCNR as he was leaving the White Plains Hospital Center Gala at Trump Tower Thursday evening, if the government had been talking to him about rebuilding the area, Trump told WPCNR, “Yeah, they’ve been talking to me about it. We’ll have to see what happens.”  He was reluctant to speak in more detail, and it could not be learned who was negotiating with Mr. Trump on the part of the federal government.

Donald J. Trump Arriving at Trump Tower at City Center for the building's grand opening Wednesday evening, in an impromptu sidewalk press conference. Photo by WPCNR News

The revelation  to WPCNR that the  U.S. Government is considering bringing in  America’s best known most successful developer to the mission of Gulf region recovery, came after Trump had spoken to a Japanese television reporter who asked him about Hurricane Katrina damage, and Trump said “I may very well get involved down there.”

Louis Cappelli, "The Super Developer," left, and Donald J. Trump, "The Super Dealer," as Mr. Trump arrived fasionably late at the White Plains Hospital Center Gala. Photo by WPCNR News.

Louis Cappelli, “The Super Developer,” builder of Trump Tower at City Center, who was  hosting Mr. Trump later told WPCNR as the gala was winding down that Mr. Trump had told Mr. Cappelli  that the government had been talking to him, and that Mr. Trump had asked Mr. Cappelli what he thought. Cappelli said, “They have been talking to him about it. He talked to me about, asked what I thought. I told him it was a super opportunity for housing, retail, to build a whole new city. We’re talking over $200 Billion in development.”

Asked if he might join Mr. Trump to rebuild New Orleans and other hurricane devasted areas, Cappelli told WPCNR he would definitely consider it.

WPCNR asked Cappelli if he thought the below sea level condition of New Orleans was a problem. He said, “No, all you have to do is build the levees to withstand a Category 5 Hurricane.”

Asked if he was looking at building anywhere else in White Plains, Cappelli said, "Where? There's no other land."

Trump’s revelation that he’s been talking to government officials came after his appearance on the Fox Television Network show,  “ The O’Reilly Factor,” where Trump said the area could only be rebuilt by private developers receiving significant tax incentives, noting that, by Trump’s estimate they needed 600,000 units of housing, and most developers could only build 1,000 a year.