Atlanta, GA: Mayor Shirley Franklin today announced that the City of Atlanta will be seeking $329,132,260 in federal assistance to address the city's homeland security needs. With the aid of Senator Zell Miller, the city will seek a "direct appropriation" for homeland security. The bulk of the request, $276 million, is for federally mandated security improvements at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport. The airport funding request includes "hold bag screening" equipment and improvements, a central security checkpoint, Concourse E security improvements and a centralized command and control center in the main terminal. Congress mandated many of these improvements in the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Further, the city is seeking $28.5 million for the Department of Watershed Management for security improvements and upgrades to protect the city's regional water system; $8.9 million for the Fire Department for training, staffing needs, hazardous material equipment and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) equipment, as well as special biological and chemical protection suits for WMD response; $7.9 million for the Police Department for overtime, video uplink software for city helicopters, computer equipment upgrades and improvements to the 911 call center; and $745,000 for the Department of Public Works to develop a "first response unit" for debris and obstruction removal for emergency situations.
In the aftermath of the World Trade Center catastrophe, the City of Atlanta has struggled with the financial burdens of providing heightened security at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, providing security to protect Atlanta's regional water system and funding for training and equipment purchases for "first responder" units within both the police and fire departments without any federal assistance. The increased cost for homeland security has fallen primarily on the backs of Atlanta taxpayers. Mayor Franklin commented, "On a daily basis, there is an influx of commuters and visitors which swells the city's population to over 1.5 million people. Though it is the City's responsibility to 'serve and protect' the residents, visitors and commuting workforce, we need assistance from the federal government to help offset our increased costs in the post 9/11 climate. We are extremely pleased that Senator Zell Miller has offered to assist both the City of Atlanta and the State of Georgia on our homeland security needs."
In the most recent round of federal funding, only $1 million was allocated for the entire state of Georgia, specifically designated for addressing security concerns with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the city's mass transit system. The lack of federal funding for Atlanta and the state prompted Senator Zell Miller to seek a direct appropriation to address the City's concerns. Senator Miller noted, "It is vitally important that Georgia's capital and the Southeast's largest city receive the federal assistance needed to protect its citizens. We have no greater purpose than to ensure the security of our citizens and homeland, and we will continue to work with the appropriate officials to ensure the people of Atlanta remain safe in this post 9/11 environment."
In addition to the $329 million funding request, the City is working in cooperation with Senator Saxby Chambliss and Governor Sonny Perdue to seek reimbursement to cover the city’s extraordinary expenditures since September 11, 2001. The City submitted a request to Governor Perdue for $12,690,350, that was forwarded to Senator Chambliss for consideration to cover the post-September 11th period and for the escalation of costs both times the nation has gone on "Code Orange" alert. The reimbursement request covers expenses for 2001 - 2003, including costs for Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the Atlanta Police Department, the Atlanta Fire Department and the Department of Watershed Management. Specifically, the reimbursement costs include police and firefighter overtime, purchase of emergency equipment, a payment already made to reimburse the Clayton County Police Department for its overtime at the airport, and increased security patrols at the water installations. Mayor Franklin noted, "Like the State of Georgia, we were very disappointed that the City of Atlanta and the state did not receive the assistance we so desperately need. We truly appreciate the efforts of the Governor and our two Senators to make sure that our homeland security needs are made a part of the upcoming federal budget. Security knows no partisan line and we are pleased that Governor Perdue has reached out to the City of Atlanta to offer assistance with our reimbursement requests."
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