NEW YORK CITY OFFERS TO SWAP AIRPORTS FOR WTC SITE

NEW YORK CITY OFFERS TO SWAP AIRPORTS FOR WTC SITE    New York City has made a tentative offer to swap the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's ownership of the former World Trade Center site in exchange for direct ownership of JFK and LaGuardia airports.
   The idea, proposed by deputy mayor Dan Doctoroff, would remove the port authority from any major role in plans to rebuild offices and memorial sites at the World Trade Center site. The port authority would finish rebuilding an underground PATH commuter train station.
   The port authority has long coveted direct ownership of the two airports, which would save tens of millions of dollars in long-term leasing fees.
   Formal talks are expected shortly on'the proposed swap, which has drawn favorable initial reactions from New York Gov. George Pataki and New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey.