Santa Monica involves itself in anti-terror plan
By JOHN F. MULLER Special to The Daily Press
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Santa Monica will be more prepared in the event of a terrorist attack if a multi-million dollar budget proposal submitted Thursday is approved by the federal government.
Mayor Richard Bloom met with public safety officials and mayors from the Los Angeles area on Thursday to announce that they expect to receive more than $28 million in security grants from the Department of Homeland Security. The grants will provide funds for equipment, training and planning in the area, LA Mayor Jim Hahn said.
Santa Monica will receive just less than $1 million under the proposed budget, according to Bloom. The city will use those funds to contribute to a greater cooperative system that includes 16 cities in the LA area.
“If (there) was a major event, then many jurisdictions would respond at the same time,” Bloom said. “So, the idea here is to equip an appropriate number of fire departments with the appropriate equipment. This is going to help us reach the level of preparedness that we need to have.”
The Department of Homeland Security offers financial assistance to address the equipment, training, planning, exercise and operational needs of large, high threat urban areas. Hahn said the grant should enhance Los Angeles’ capacity to prevent, respond to and recover from threats or acts of terrorism. The funds will be used to establish regional response teams, enhance emergency operation centers and reimburse cities for costs related to orange alerts.
“Keeping Los Angeles safe is my top priority, and this would not be possible without the coordinated efforts and participation of our local and federal partners,” Hahn said. “Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) funds will help further prepare our city and our neighboring cities, and help us move forward so that we can remain vigilant and ensure that Los Angeles is prepared in the event of an emergency.”
Santa Monica public safety forces will primarily be used as a decontamination unit in the event of a terrorist attack, Bloom said. The UASI funds allocated for the city will be used to buy more hazardous material vehicles and decontamination equipment, he said.
The LA area was designated for funds based on a combination of factors including population density, critical infrastructure and its vulnerability, LA city officials said. Only the New York and Chicago areas will receive more funds from UASI. In total, the Los Angeles area has received more than $60 million through UASI.
Bloom stressed that Santa Monica’s participation was by choice.
“We don’t know where terrorism will happen or if it will happen,” he said. “The object is to have the right number of properly equipped people so that we can respond if it does.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 25, 2004. Read the original PDF.