Daily News from New York, New York • 90

-6 QAtlV, news. Monday, April 30, 1990 'But you wouldn't want us to shoot ourselves in the foot, would 111 -I I I .11 I I. IJ 1 I Apple CI Sauce Long as they're to last drop of Manhattan attorney Raoul says former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos' lawyers are doing what no one has managed to do on two continents: Redistribute her wealth. Felder observes that Imelda country attorney Gerry Spence, are charging her an "effec tive rate" of $900 an hour "If they discussed the case $4,000," the ever-candid Felder told us. "Finally, her wealth is being redistributed.

She is paying for several lawyers' mortgages and the kids' college educations." Felder didn't name names, though the suspicion is he's talking about Spence, the Wyoming lawyer onced profiled on "60 Minutes" for his legal victories, notably a $10.5 million verdict for the estate of Karen Silkwood. "Ridiculous," says Spence. "I don't discuss fees. I don't even know him." Four law firms, including Spence's, represent Imelda, who's accused of bleeding her nation's treasury. Is Felder jealous? "I'm jealous over the money they are making, not over the person they're representing.

I couldn't sleep at night if I were representing her. She's not my favorite person, unless I were a shoe salesman." XwiP, djyh Spike Lee is really soaring. The hot director, who's busy with his "Variations on the Mo' Better Blues" movie, is talking with Levi Strauss Co. about directing the back-to-school campaign for its 501 jeans, says Ad Age Magazine. Lee directed and appears in the Nike Air Jordan commercials, as the character Mars Blackmon from his earlier movie "She's Gotta Have He's not expected to appear In the Levi's ads, however, cheaper than a helicopter ride." DERIS THAT DO The site selection committee for the 1992 Democratic National Convention completed its inspec- tion tour of New Orleans on -s Friday.

The Democrats returned home just in time to open the maiP and get a videotaped love mes- sage from New York City. The tapes were sent by the Big' Apple's host committee to remind the Democrats of the great i. time they had here during their -April inspection trip. Some 1,000 copies of the tape, produced by -Richard Fife, are also being sent to ranking Democrats around the country. National Democratic Chairman Ron Brown will make a decision on the convention site in early June, with the Big Apple and the Big Easy competing for the honor with Cleveland and Houston.

7 willing to fight client's blood Felder, an expert on legal fees, 's team of lawyers, led by high- well above the going rate. over lunch, it would cost her was assassinated. Our Joan Shep-ard says the Sugar Hill Historical Society has retained Emery to decide whether to sue the Landmarks Preservation Commission for failing to landmark the site. The commission cited the ballroom as a potential landmark in its Harlem survey, but never followed through. Many Harlem residents and African-Americans nationwide are said to feel Columbia University is ignoring history with Its plans to demolish the building.

Columbia, city and state want to develop a $22 million medical research facility on the site. At City Hall the idea of "why can't we have both" has been raised by Deputy Mayor Bill Lynch. And late Friday, Mayor Dinkins reaffirmed his support for the research facility along with a "fitting memorial and tribute 'i l. PROJECT Richard Emery, whose lawsuit overturned the Board of Estimate, Is being retained by Harlem interests to took into the Audubon Ballroom controversy. Audubon is where Malcolm Richard Emry 4 I to Malcolm X.

BAD TIMING Hebrew Union College has with drawn its offer to give Nelson Mandela an honorary doc toral degree because of recent comments about Israel. College spokeswoman Jean Ro- sensaft told our Barbara Ross the offer was suspended "immedi ately after" President Alfred uott-schalk announced it April 3 be cause American and Soutn African Jews, who have fought apartheid, felt it would "not be appropriate at this time." In late February, Mandela em braced PLO leader Yasser Arafat and "wished him success in his struggle" against a "unique form of colonialism." He later said "that's too bad" if South African Jews were irritated by his statementbecause 1 theifc are "many similarities be- tween our struggle" against apartheid and the PLO. Gottschalk's offer was a "spontaneous statement in response to" a speech that day by Dinkins on black-Jewish relations, Ro-sensaft noted. RIGHT OF FANCY? Roosevelt Island officials want the city to promote the tramway as a tourist attraction. They argue that increased rider-ship may be the only way to save the cable ride that links the island with Manhattan's 59th St.

The tram, which charges $1.25 one way, lost $350,000 last year, largely the result of the island's new INO subway station. The year before, the tram was in the black. "The tram is a great experience," says Rosina Abramson, president of the Roosevelt island Operating on the case for a tourist promotion. "It is.