February 17, 2003

New York Times Editorial, February 12, 2003

"There is certainly nothing wrong with dispensing tips on how to put together a household disaster supply kit. But the timing seemed ironic, given the fact that states and local governments have yet to get the federal aid they were promised to buy needed antiterrorism equipment. Washington is urging people to prepare for chemical attack by purchasing duct tape, while it fails to provide fire departments with funds for protective suits or bioterror detectors...given a choice between a well-equipped basement and a well-equipped fire department, we know which way we-d go."

Boston Herald Editorial, February 11, 2003

"Last week's decision to elevate the national terrorist threat-risk level to orange or -high- underscores the urgency for Congress to approve federal financial assistance for local homeland security costsÉWhat the past several days have shown is the necessity to pull the ``first responders'- funds out of this political morass. That money must be put into the hands of states and communities as soon as possible.

"Preparing for - and paying for - these crucial measures is beyond the means of cash'strapped states and localities to handle alone. Mayor Thomas Menino, as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, has been at the forefront of the fight for federal funds. An elevated threat-risk level inevitably means local public safety costs will go up. With budgets already severely strained, Menino and other communities need help paying that bill, sooner rather than later."

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 10, 2003

"Like hundreds of state and local officials, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels is ready and willing to fight the war on terrorism by beefing up security in Seattle. But first, he must win the war for dollars. And that effort is not going well. Despite $7 billion in federal spending promised over two fiscal years, the federal government has yet to spend a penny reimbursing hard-pressed state and local governments for costs they-ve absorbed since Sept. 11, 2001.

"Paying for homeland security was a hot topic when the U.S. Conference of Mayors met in Washington, D.C., last month. While the battle rages on Capitol Hill, mayors, governors, local officials and others, including public health officers and law enforcement, are growing restless and increasingly angry at the federal government's failure to cough up money for one of the nation's most important domestic priorities.

"Regardless of how the fight over money is resolved, Nickels and other mayors understand that in the event of another attack, they will be on the front lines. -When something happens,- he said, -people will call 911, not the White House. So we have to be ready and we will.-"