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October 10, 2003
Release # 10 03

  

COST RECOVERY REMAINS A MAJOR HOMELAND SECURITY ISSUE FOR CITIES

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – The recovery of increased costs to cities for homeland security remains a significant issue, says Sunnyvale Mayor Julia Miller.

“We have significant problems when it comes to homeland security,” Mayor Miller said. “Security costs can be significant. Unfortunately, federal requirements frequently restrict how cities spend the limited federal monies that are available, and the federal regulations do not always support locally-identified needs.

“There are also issues regarding recovery of costs incurred by cities in the name of homeland security. That is one of the key issues I face both as a mayor and as a member of the Homeland Security Task Force.” Mayor Miller’s remarks came following a National Conference of Mayors Homeland Security Task Force hosted by Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn.

The conference included many mayors, law enforcement, fire and emergency preparedness officials. The group studied diverse problems, including the major blackout that recently struck the northeast and the difficulties encountered by the Detroit Police Department when they lost power and most of their communications.

The task force also reviewed inter-agency communications problems experienced during the Department of Homeland Security’s “Top Off” terrorism response exercise staged in Seattle.

“Workshops like this are an important step in finding workable solutions for our national security issues and methods to fund them. I look forward to Sunnyvale’s continued involvement in the task force,” said Mayor Miller.