By By Ed Somers and Andrew M. McGee
August 4, 2003

From left, Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran, Long Beach Mayor Beverly O-Neill, Hempstead Mayor James A. Garner, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic.

In a highly productive discussion, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge met with mayors from across the nation at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York on July 25 as the culminating event of the Conference of Mayors Special Policy Leadership Meeting. Secretary Ridge outlined his views on current homeland security funding and the role of local-federal partnerships in securing America's cities, answering questions from assembled mayors before joining them at a press conference.

Conference President Mayor James A. Garner of Hempstead opened the event by welcoming Secretary Ridge and the assembled audience of mayors, dignitaries, academics, and local first responders to his hometown of Hempstead. The mayors were also welcomed by Hofstra University President Stuart Rabinowitz and Executive Dean of Hofstra's Business Development Center Richard V. Guardino, Jr.

In introducing Secretary Ridge, Mayor Garner said, "We have been working closely with Secretary Ridge and his top officials to make sure that our nation's first responders – police, fire and EMS -are ready to prevent and respond to any possible attacks on our nation, and get the resources they need quickly and efficiently."

Dispensing with prepared remarks, Secretary Ridge briefly outlined his vision of the future role of the Department of Homeland Security, with a focus on topics of interest to mayors.

Among the missions Ridge hopes to enhance is to "build and sustain partnerships with our friends, the mayors." Addressing concerns that funds allocated to states for homeland security may not be reaching cities and first responders in a timely fashion, Ridge unequivocally affirmed his support for assisting mayors in obtaining appropriate funding. "If there is a problem with that process, we need to change it. If money's not reaching the cities, that's not the way it's supposed to work," Ridge said, adding that delays in getting money locally could result in states losing their 20 percent share of the funding.

Secretary Ridge also urged mayors to support a funding distribution formula which allows him to account for risk factors and presence of critical infrastructure, in addition to population. He added that more money may be needed for high threat communities.

Ridge took questions from assembled mayors, addressing their concerns on risk assessment methods, direct funding, the role of emergency management professionals in risk assessment and threat prevention, federal-local information sharing, and the nature of increased local security responsibilities and funding for ports with the reassignment of the Coast Guard to the Department of Homeland Security.

In response to a query on overtime costs often borne by cities during times of elevated alert, Ridge reassured the assembled city leaders by saying, "Access to overtime dollars will continue to be an eligible cost..." of homeland security funding.

He also expressed concern when told that some states have decided to purchase what they feel cities need, and to then send that equipment to the cities without any local input.

At a press conference following the discussion, Secretary Ridge praised Mayor Garner and the other mayors for their work on protecting America's cities, saying, "I-m proud to stand next to you, the mayors. . . . The U.S. Conference has been supportive of the Department of Homeland Security since the President created it."

Mayor Garner thanked Secretary Ridge for his willingness to work closely with mayors in securing America's cities. "Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals alike, the Conference represents all mayors on this important issue," said Mayor Garner. Conference Vice President Akron Mayor Donald L. Plusquellic also praised Ridge for his leadership.

Numerous questions centered on the July 23 shooting in New York City Hall, and whether Ridge supported the installation of federally-mandated magnetometers in municipal buildings across the country. Ridge cited the mayors- willingness to support his Urban Security Initiative as proof that flexibility is the best policy for cities to employ when determining their own security needs. "I-ll let the mayors and city managers decide," Ridge said.

In response to a reporter's inquiry into the Department of Homeland Security's views on the current role of local officials in securing the nation's cities, Ridge stated, "In the post-9/11 world, mayors, county managers, police and fire chiefs have not waited for the federal government to act on Homeland Security. They have done it with their own initiative and their own money."