Mayors urge feds to manage airport security
The U.S. Conference of Mayors is calling for federalization of airport security — particularly passenger screening — in the wake of last week’s terrorist events. Yesterday, New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, president of USCM, issued a statement urging the federal government “to step forward with a plan to federalize [security] functions and to work with the nation’s mayors and others to make this happen.”
Airport security is one of several issues USCM plans to discuss with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta in a conference call scheduled today. “The nation’s mayors view heightened airport security as just one of many security actions that [is] needed … to ensure the continued performance and safety of our nation’s major transportation networks,” Morial said in his statement.
USCM plans to convene a National Security Summit — which will include mayors, police chiefs, fire chiefs and other officials — to discuss the type of additional security that should be undertaken to improve measures for all transportation systems. Look for details at www.mayors.org.