By Ed Somers
April 12, 2004

Just days prior to the new terrorist warning issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, DHS Secretary Tom Ridge's special task force on first responder funding met March 29 in Washington (DC) to continue discussions of "unsticking" billions of dollars log-jammed in the states.

The Task Force on State and Local Homeland Security Funding created by Secretary Ridge has representation from the Big 7 state and local organizations.

Conference President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner, Vice President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic, and Advisory Board Chair Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill all participated in the meeting. Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage is also a member but was unable to participate. Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney serves as Chair and Plusquellic as Vice Chair of the Task Force.

During the meeting, it was agreed that better data was needed from the federal government and the states as to where the funding has been allocated within the states and what is delaying its draw-down. DHS is collecting in'state allocation reports, and a detailed sampling survey is being crafted by task force members and staff. Questions also continue to be raised regarding the role of counties or regional governments as funding intermediaries, deadlines, the role of state legislatures, state and local procurement rules, and federal reimbursement requirements that make it difficult for local governments to access the funding.

As established by DHS, the Task Force is conducting its work under the framework of the Homeland Security Advisory Council and its State and Local Officials and Emergency Response Senior Advisory Committees. Both of these groups met following the task force meeting, with Romney and Plusquellic providing progress reports.

New Terrorist Warning

On April 1, the FBI and DHS sent a bulletin to state and local law enforcement saying that they had received uncorroborated reports on an alleged plot against "major U.S. cities" in the summer of 2004 that targets commercial transportation systems including buses and railways. According to news reports, the plot calls for the use of improvised explosive devices possibly constructed of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer) and diesel fuel concealed in luggage and carry-on bags to include duffel bags and back packs. Also, according to news reports no specific city was mentioned in the bulletin.

The new bulletin lists a number of suggestions for city transportation systems to enhance security and recommends passenger screening steps and overall security suggestions.

In that the bulletin was sent to law enforcement, mayors are encouraged to discuss the specifics with their police chiefs.