Cities safer, but where’s the money?
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‘We are still waiting for desperately needed financial assistance from Washington to help fund further security improvements and support first responders’ — Akron (Ohio) Mayor Don Plusquellic
The nation’s cities are significantly safer than they were one year ago, but mayors are still waiting for financial assistance from Washington to help cover the massive costs they have incurred, according to a progress report on homeland security in America’s cities issued by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington.
“Mayors have made tremendous progress ensuring the preparedness and safety of America’s cities, which are at the frontlines of our national homeland security effort,” said Akron (Ohio) Mayor Don Plusquellic, chairman of the mayors’ organization’s advisory board. The USCM includes mayors of cities with populations of 30,000 or more.
“However, one year after 9/11, we are still waiting for desperately needed financial assistance from Washington to help fund further security improvements and support first responders,” said Plusquellic.
To secure U.S. cities, mayors said they have:
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significantly tightened security and access to public buildings and utilities.
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conducted vulnerability assessments of potential key targets.
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expanded bio- and chemical surveillance efforts.
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conducted numerous readiness exercises to help prepare for possible emergencies and improve response capabilities.
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acquired more and better equipment for first responders (police, fire, EMS, and public health workers).
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improved emergency communications systems.
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helped improve security at airports.
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worked closely with the private sector to make cities more secure.
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vastly expanded anti-terrorism public information and education efforts.
Two surveys conducted by USCM indicated that cities were confronting huge, unexpected security costs.
The mayors said that the supported President Bush’s proposed $3.5 billion in new homeland security funding for first responders, although they said it should be distributed directly to cities, where it can be most quickly and efficiently invested in local security efforts. The mayors also urged immediate funding to pay for airport infrastructure security improvements.
While progress has been made in improving federal-local information sharing, mayors still seek a further streamlining of intelligence sharing, new protocols regarding law enforcement cooperation, and a system for direct communication between federal and local law enforcement.
There was also some praise for Congress and the Administration from mayors citing:
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federalization of airport security screening, a step recommended by the nation’s mayors immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001, attack.
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efforts to create a new Department of Homeland Security, endorsed by mayors last year, even before it was proposed by the president.
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improved communications and coordination between federal and local law enforcement, including more detailed information in conjunction with security alerts.
In October, 2001, USCM held a security summit for the nation’s mayors, at which they endorsed a detailed “National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America’s Cities.” The organization subsequently conducted surveys on cities’ security costs and mayors’ security concerns.