AN ODD COUPLE

"It was not the usual sight at the Four Seasons," the Rev. AL SHARPTON
said, sounding as if he relished the understatement.

But there he was, having lunch (chicken salad) with former Mayor
EDWARD I. KOCH, who had the chef's salad and who once had him
arrested. That was 20 years ago. Yesterday, they talked about an idea
Koch calls the "second chance proposal" to help nonviolent felons
clear their criminal records. Koch said that he and CHARLES J.
OGLETREE JR., a professor at Harvard Law School, had been discussing
ways to remove the stigma that mandatory sentences for drug
convictions create.

The idea would be to pardon felons who had served their jail time if
they joined some kind of national service corps and passed drug tests
over several years.

"My proposal was you serve for a year or two, during which time you
are tested regularly for drugs and you have to get your G.E.D. and you
learn a skill," Koch said. "And then you'll be tested again for
another one or two years, and if you don't show drug use and don't
have another altercation with the law, you'd get a Presidential
pardon. So, if you are asked, 'Have you ever been convicted of a
crime?' you could answer no. So you can get a job, vote, raise a family."

Koch and Sharpton said they had agreed to arrange a conference on the
proposal next year.

"The unlikely combination of Koch and I coming together might spur
people to push for legislation," Sharpton said. "It's not a sexy
issue, and I think we've got to make it that."

As if that were not enough for one midday encounter, the lunch proved
that Sharpton is something of a celebrity in Koch's circles. For there
was a third person at the table: JAMES GILL, a managing partner at the
law firm where Koch works when he is not deciding cases on the
syndicated television show "The People's Court."

"Lunch was for 12:15," Koch said. "About 10 of 12, he said: 'I just
saw your schedule. Can I come to lunch with you? I want to meet Al
Sharpton."

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady