C  o n f i d e n t i a l o r n e r   Meryl Streep was one of the recipients of France's coveted Order of Arts and Letters. Samantha Cole sporting her engagement ring from her accountant fiance. C'mon! The Ambassador of France pins the medal on Beverly Sills. Mike Lee and Bruce Johnston of the Beach Boys at Westbury. Joshua Jackson of Dawson's Creek, actress Jennifer Esposito, and Dean Winters of Oz at the celebration of Teen Movieline magazine. Photos by Steve Azzara

Hillary Marches
With Queens

The First Lady better be in good shape — she agreed recently to participate in not one, but two, St. Paddy’s Day marches in an attempt to quell any political damage in her hope to pick up the City’s gay & lesbian vote.

Hillary has come under fire, like many other local politicians including Mayor Giuliani, for agreeing
to participate in the traditional Fifth Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 17, which in recent years has banned a gay group from parading with their banner in its celebration.

So, ever the diplomat, the First Lady agreed last week to join a newly organized march that made its way through Woodside and Sunnyside, Queens on Sunday and was touted as "the city’s first inclusive St. Patrick’s parade."

But not all gay Irish leaders are happy with Hillary’s double dipping. Anne Maguire of the Irish Lesbian and Gay Organization sniffed at Hillary for "trying to have it both ways."

Hillary had political company at the inclusive Queens parade — Mayoral wannabes Comptroller Alan Hevesi and Public Advocate Mark Green were also at the new Queens St. Paddy’s march.

Rudy Giuliani, however, will only march in the traditional St. Patrick’s Day marches on Fifth Ave., in Rockaway, Queens and in Staten Island.

Gerry's Kid

It may be more than 12 years since his drug-selling career came to an unceremonious end, but John Zaccaro Jr. figures it’s better late than never to clear his good name.

The son of former vice presidential candidate Geraldine Ferraro reportedly has asked Vermont Governor Howard Dean to pardon him for his 1988 drug conviction.

The Burlington, Vermont weekly newspaper Seven Days reported last week that the Vermont Corrections Department was investigating the request by Zaccaro.

The Queens political scion was a student at Middlebury College when he was charged with selling cocaine. He served four months under house arrest.

Running For Dollars

The new 4-for-1 matching formula in the NYC Campaign Finance Program is opening the floodgates of political involvement, while term limits are resulting in a bevy of candidates for a bushel of open seats. Candidates in the Campaign Finance Program can qualify for four dollars in public funds for every one dollar received in donations from City residents.

Talk about a good deal.

The maximum donation allowed by the Campaign Finance Program is $250, for a grand total of $1,000, after the "multiply by four" is applied.

This allows anyone under the sun the opportunity to run for office. Now, those who don’t have financial clout behind them can compete and compete they will. Can we get an Amen from the congregation?

"We already see more than three times as many candidates raising funds than we did four years ago," said Father Joseph A. O’Hare, S.J., the Chairman of the Campaign Finance Board (CFB).

At least there will be more candidates, probably doubling, tripling, and finally quadrupling like the NASDAQ on a good day. Sixty people have filed campaign finance data with the CFB for the 2001 elections. Back in 1996, at the identical point in the 1997 election cycle, the whopping total of 17 people had filed with the CFB.

Examination of the 2001 election data reveals that the top ten fundraisers have 21% more funds and 32% more contributors, while the average contribution size has fallen 14%.

There are safeguards to "Who Wants to be a Campaign Millionaire." Detailed expenditures on campaign finances have to be disclosed to the public. Printed reports, Internet pages, and public computer terminals provide an outlet to check out what happens to the taxpayer money.

Basically, it’s all about giving the little guy a big shot. Regis, do you want to host?

Pedestrian?

The city is once again going after pedestrians.

Over the next few days, more pedestrian barriers are being erected in midtown. Originally, the barriers went up in midtown to prevent jaywalking and ease traffic congestion during the holiday season. Now, NYConfidential has learned that the city is so pleased with the barriers they plan to put up new ones at 51st Street and 3rd Avenue, 6th and 5th Avenues and 49th, and 8th Avenue and 45th Street. The City Parks Dept. began posting the barriers a few days ago.

At least one legislator isn’t happy. Senator Tom Duane fired off a letter to Mayor Giuliani saying the barrier at 8th Avenue and 45th Street is "ill-suited" and will pose a safety hazard.

More complaints to follow.

E-MAIL your items to: NYConf@NewsCommunications.com

NYConfidential by Michael Schenkler with: Tom Allon, Steve Azzara, Peter Catapano, Ira Cohen, Richard Fasanella, Tamara Hartman, Barbara Jarvie, Evan Kapitansky, Josh Kaufman, Mike Nussbaum, Mary Reinholtz, and Dee Richard.