Title
ENSURING HOMETOWN SECURITY
Version
dj
Body
WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have changed life throughout the Nation, and robbed Americans of their sense of security; and
WHEREAS, the attacks have far reaching implications for all cities and towns and their first responders now on the front lines of hometown defense; and
WHEREAS, cities have shouldered the full financial burden for hometown security at a cost of approximately $3 billion since September 2001; and
WHEREAS, at significant cost to local taxpayers across America, cities have met their many new hometown security challenges by updating their emergency plans to meet multiple new threats such as dirty bombs, biological and chemical weapons, taking on security duties at commercial airports, identifying and assessing their vulnerabilities, and improving collaboration, communication and information sharing within their regions and with state and federal government; and
WHEREAS, cities cannot carry this new financial burden alone much longer and continue to maintain other essential local services without raising local taxes or cutting services; and
WHEREAS, a recent National League of Cities survey shows that, for the first time since 1992, a majority of cities are less able to meet their financial needs because of a fall off in revenue due to the economic downturn and the surge in spending for hometown security; and
WHEREAS, Congress and the President need to focus on bipartisan unity on federal homeland security coordination and funding;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GAHANNA, STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. The City of Gahanna endorses the National League of Cities' Hometown Security Day to draw attention to the essential role of America's cities and towns as the front line of homeland defense and the urgent need for a true federal-local partnership to carry out this responsibility.
Section 2. That the City of Gahanna joins the National League of Cities in urging Congress and the President to pass a homeland security bill to provide a federal framework for a unified and coordinated response to terrorism.
Section 3. That the City of Gahanna urges Congress, with the full support of the President, to finalize immediately 2003 funding for homeland security, particularly the $3.5 billion promised for first responders and the $22 million per month reimbursement promised to cities and towns for providing local law enforcement at the nation's commercial airports.
Section 4. That this resolution shall be in full force and effect immediately upon passage by this Council.