<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 36pt;"><em><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;">Metropolitan</span></em></span></div><br/><hr/><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://31.media.tumblr.com/1c2a64d3436631094f8111a8ef830cf0/tumblr_inline_nko131rbFQ1sm6qbq.jpg)</div><div align="center"><span class="bbc_u"><strong><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 24pt;">Lex Luthor: On Metropolis</span></strong></span></div><br/><div align="center"><em>"I fully intend to give my full financial support to the many innocent civilians who lost family and friends in Thursday's terror attack. <br/>Lexcorp will be re-housing damaged property, repairing ruined businesses. <br/>No matter what happens I am dedicated to the promise that Metropolis will go on and grow stronger, together, in the face of any adversity."</em></div><div align="center"><strong>-Lex Luthor, CEO of Lexcorp</strong></div><br/><div align="center">In a break from our regular 'A week with' column this week we'll be doing something different. Following the disaster of Thursday many people have been asking the question 'What do we do next'. We're here to interview a man who firmly believes he has the answer to that question. Whether you're from Metropolis or not, you know him well, it's billionaire philanthropist Lex Luthor. Always happy to be transparent with the public Lex was quick to agree to give us the inside scoop on what he intends to do about the terror attack and resulting damage. <br/></div><br/><strong>The terror attack struck close to home for us all, Lex, and before business we'd like to ask how this disaster personally effected you. As the head of big business people can often forget or gloss over the fact this hits you as a person just like the rest of us. Did you lose any family, friends or employees?</strong><br/><br/>"That's an excellent question and one I'm rarely asked. While I agree it's sometimes saddening to be looked to more as a business than a human I understand that I've made it my responsibility to provide money and assets to Metropolis before personality. I have fairly little family to speak of, and the only friends I have time for these days are my colleagues and co-workers. Of which, unfortunately, I lost two valuable, good people. Lex Tower was thankfully unharmed but two employees of mine were hit while out in Metropolis. Sally Edwards, 37 and Benjamin Jeffreys, 22 were both killed in the terror attack. I fully intend to fund and attend their funerals, and will be looking to help their families financially in this time of suffering."<br/><br/><strong>You mention financial support for the families of your two employees, did you have plans for a wider-reaching support effort?</strong><br/><br/>"Absolutely. Losing family is a travesty and being financially insecure as a result is a suffering nobody deserves to have added on to their pain. I can now publicly announce that a charity line has been set up at 686-123-9417. I urge anyone who has lost family and may be struggling affording a funeral, or just to get by with lost wages, to contact that number. Funding is available for funerals, rent payment, basic living costs, grief counselling and home repairs. There's absolutely no pay-back or debt, simply call and Lexcorp will look after you whether you're rich or poor and regardless of connection to my businesses."<br/><br/><strong>We've talked about your immediate plans to give aid to the victims of this disaster. Now we'd like to ask about your plans for the future of Metropolis, looking more towards prevention of any kind of repeat incidents.<br/> What do you think is the answer to these kinds of attacks?</strong><br/><br/>"I believe prevention is the only solution, far above retaliation. Of course the perpetrators of these vicious crimes must be caught, arrested and properly charged for what they have done. But what's more important is that we not only prevent them from repeating what they did on Thursday but that we also ensure nobody else can ever do it. To that end I have personally redirected millions of dollars of my overall budget from energy to arms and security. A clean world with free power for all is a dream of mine. But a safe world where travesties like this can never be repeated must be constructed first. I intend to test a multitude of solutions and options, but I'm not ready to disclose what I feel might be our best bet for now."<br/><br/><strong>This time the attack was put to a stop by a mixed group of superheroes, including Metropolis's own Superman. What are your thoughts on the newly formed 'Justice League' and their role in keeping civilians safe</strong><br/><br/>"As everyone who knows me knows I am an avid supporter of Superman and his heroic allies. I believe they are able to put a stop to crime in ways completely impossible for ordinary humans. From what I know so far the League acted responsibly, quickly and dealt with the situation admirably. I would always be open to assisting them in any way I can from funding to discussing our assessment of America's needs. I am a close personal friend of Teth-Adam and felt safer myself when he took to the streets. And of course our Government's heroes, Captain Atom and Major Force, were instrumental in bringing down the robot that was standing up to several League members as well as aiding Superman and Teth-Adam in clearing the streets. I fully support them and their operation, however I'm personally looking into alternative defensive methods that could mean we do not have to rely on a small handful of people to protect us all."<br/><br/><strong>You mentioned that you believe all perpetrators should be arrested and fully charged for what they've done. Many are calling out for the arrest of Bruce Wayne due to what appears to be Wayne Enterprises involvement in the disaster. Do you think he should be arrested, and do you think he could be guilty?</strong><br/><br/>"Mr. Wayne is a fellow businessman and philanthropist. As someone who runs a multi-billion dollar corporation myself I can guarantee that nothing like this could ever happen within Lexcorp without my knowledge. I know where every cent goes. But in recent years, since the current Mr. Wayne's return to Gotham, the business has been run in a more hands-off manner. It's a different approach to business and I can't say whether he would be able to give the same guarantee that it's simply impossible for the incident to be related to his business. However I do not believe Mr. Wayne or Wayne Enterprises to be guilty or deserving of arrest. This would appear to be nothing more than an effort to smear the name of a good man and a good business."<br/><br/><strong>And finally do you have any words for the people of Metropolis in this hard time?</strong><br/><br/>"Stand together and stand strong. The mark of the brave and good is how they respond to adversity and challenge. I urge the citizens of Metropolis to show bravery and stoicism despite what we have suffered. We have lost lives but the terrorists who attacked us have not won. Every day that this city holds its head high and does not bow to fear is another day that Metropolis and her people have won."