USCM: National Action Plan proposed
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, mayors across the country have mobilized local resources to protect the residents of their cities in the event of further terrorist activity. Mayors, police officers, firefighters, health professionals and other municipal workers are the domestic troops in the nation’s war against terrorism. We are on the front lines in the defense of our homeland.
Cities are working closely with the federal government, and they are seeking to build an effective partnership. To that end, in October, the U.S. Conference of Mayors brought together more than 200 mayors, police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers and public health officials from around the country to discuss how each group could help in the homeland security effort.
Participants at the summit endorsed a comprehensive National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America’s Cities, which calls for strategic investments in local public security and health, and better communication from the federal government. Mayors met with Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge twice, and it was clear that he understood the importance of intergovernmental partnership and the need for coordination between the various agencies involved.
Investing in homeland defense
Since Sept. 11, local governments have redoubled efforts to strengthen comprehensive emergency management plans and have deployed police and other local public safety resources to heighten security. All of that is occurring at significant additional cost to local treasuries and at a time when tax revenues generated by local economies are dropping — in large part because of problems and anxiety created by the attacks.
A recent USCM study estimated that the cost of additional security in U.S. cities will be $1.5 billion over the next year. That figure likely is low, because it was based on responses from small and medium-sized cities and was calculated before the anthrax cases.
However, despite the tremendous need, the Office of Management and Budget has allocated just 4.9 percent of the $10 billion federal terrorism budget to state and local first-response activities. And most of that is provided to the states.
To ensure that heightened security can be maintained, mayors have called for a new flexible Homeland Security Block Grant to be used for overtime and public safety deployment expenses; additional training, communications and rescue equipment; and security measures to protect airports, waterways, utilities, public transit and other public infrastructure. Legislation recently introduced by Sen. Clinton, along with Democratic Senators Dianne Feinstein of California, Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, Richard Durbin of Illinois and Charles Schumer of New York, would authorize $3 billion in the coming year for targeted block grant assistance.
Additional investment also is needed in the local public health infrastructure. Specifically, cities must conduct active surveillance for disease; develop and test local bio-terrorism preparedness plans; allow for inter-agency communications; and maintain around-the-clock vigilance and readiness. There also must be adequate regional stockpiles of vaccines and therapeutics, and a network for rapid-response testing must be deployed. Additionally, national investment in securing our borders and upgrading protection of our water and wastewater systems must be increased.
Transportation security
Because travel and tourism are essential to the economic well-being of America’s cities, transportation security is a high priority for local governments. That is why mayors were among the first to call for federalization of airport security screening services, a step we believe will increase safety and help restore consumer confidence in air travel. The USCM still is actively monitoring implementation of new aviation security measures and trying to ensure that the federal government meets the timetables established in the legislation, especially as they relate to baggage screening.
With more than nine billion trips logged on the nation’s public transit systems each year, securing those systems and protecting riders commands a high priority. To increase security while preserving the ability to meet the growing demand for public transit, the USCM has called for new resources for security personnel; the deployment of new technologies; and infrastructure improvements, including secure transit control facilities, fencing and barriers.
Mayors also believe that Amtrak’s security must be ensured. Although some Americans are calling for the liquidation of Amtrak, USCM believes that now, more than ever, the nation’s passenger rail system should be strengthened, not destroyed.
As regards freight rail security, federal law should be examined and revised. Freight railroads must develop new notification procedures to inform local jurisdictions about chemicals or other hazardous materials they may be transporting. In addition, local jurisdictions should be made aware of storage issues and other practices that could increase risks to neighborhoods and major local assets and venues. Mayors also are concerned that, while much of the cargo delivered to U.S. cities each day by truck, train and air enters the country aboard container ships, a very small percentage of that cargo (some say as little as 2 percent) is inspected at its port of entry. Protecting international seaport borders should be the responsibility of a partnership of federal, state and local governments, seaports and private industry.
Local/federal law enforcement partnership
With more than 650,000 local officers, the nation’s local police forces must be integrated into national homeland defense planning. Public safety personnel already are being used to respond to terrorism. But to be truly effective, mayors and local law enforcement must have access to the best intelligence available.
City leaders believe that federal and local public safety officials must create a new communications system with a “24/7” threat assessment capability and the ability to share information. In addition, any institutional barriers to greater intelligence sharing between federal and local law enforcement agencies should be addressed. The USCM strongly supports the Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act offered by Senators Schumer, Clinton, Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), which would allow the federal government to increase intelligence sharing with local and state governments.
The comprehensive homeland security agenda mayors have laid out is not just a response to the current crisis; it is essential preparation for the next one.
Marc Morial is the mayor of New Orleans and the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. To obtain a complete text of the Mayors’ National Action Plan for Safety and Security in America’s Cities, visitwww.usmayors.org.
