L.A. Paying High Price for Added Security

Alarmed by new threats of terrorism against the United States, the Los Angeles City Council agreed Wednesday to spend $3.39 million to significantly boost security at the Civic Center downtown, including the hiring of dozens more security officers.

The city’s tab for the heightened state of alert is mounting as officials beef up security and preparedness at other vital facilities, including the airport, harbor, and water and power plants. The L.A. Police and Fire departments have spent $2.3 million on overtime and other costs responding to the terrorist threat.

City officials say the costly measures are justified.

“If there is anything we are hearing, it is that there is a 100% chance of another terrorist attack based on America’s latest wave of attacks” in Afghanistan, said Harbor-area Councilwoman Janice Hahn.

The council action Wednesday included an order for the immediate installation of metal detectors at City Hall and approval of a package of other security measures including video surveillance systems and motion detectors in city buildings to be monitored at a new control center.

Despite the placement of large concrete barricades blocking vehicles from streets around City Hall and other government offices, some council members said Wednesday that they were shocked by the lax security for people who walk in off the street.

“I just think security here is a joke,” said Councilwoman Hahn, who complained that people are entering city buildings without having briefcases and purses searched.

Hahn and other council members said it was unacceptable that the General Services Department planned to take up to 45 days to install the metal detectors.

As a result of the concern, the council ordered detectors formerly used at City Hall East to be moved to City Hall today while officials wait for new equipment, designed to be compatible with the historic features of City Hall, to be built and delivered.

“The historic fabric means nothing if this place suffers some damage because of terrorist activity,” Councilman Dennis Zine said.

The council also approved the hiring of 38 additional security officers and support staff to reinforce the current 84 officers guarding city buildings. Officials have acknowledged that the current staff is insufficient to properly protect the city facilities.

The street barricades were erected Sunday night around five buildings in the Civic Center. Police Lt. Horace Frank said they will stay up at least through this week, and possibly indefinitely. On Wednesday, the council agreed to prohibit parking on streets surrounding the Civic Center.

Additional security officers are also being hired and put on patrol at the Harbor Department--so far at a cost of $200,000 in overtime. The agency has installed metal detectors at its buildings and is coordinating with shipping firms responsible for security on the wharves, as well as with the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs Agency and LAPD, according to Sheila Gonzales, a port spokeswoman.

Mayor James K. Hahn last week appointed a task force to develop new security for the port. The Fire Department, meanwhile, is creating a new hazardous-materials crew that will be assigned to the harbor.

The Airports Department has spent about $13 million on upgraded security, mostly in salaries for extra officers.

However, the large deployment of extra LAPD officers to the airports after Sept. 11 has begun to taper off as National Guard soldiers have been stationed at the terminals, according to Paul Haney, an Airports Department spokesman.

“We are down a significant number of police officers from our peak,” Haney said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Hahn toured the water quality testing lab at the city’s Department of Water and Power facility in Sun Valley on Wednesday morning, emphasizing the extra precautions being taken to ensure the safety of the water supply.

“We’ve got a system that on an everyday basis does a tremendous job, but I know that they’ve heightened awareness ever since Sept. 11, and I’m pleased with the extra attention,” said Hahn, as he watched a technician examine a test tube filled with water. “We’ve got a safe city. We’ve got a safe water supply. And I’m very confident of our ability to make sure we can detect any problems if they should occur.”

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, the department has conducted about 600 tests a day of the water supply, about 50% more than normal. Lab technicians examine water samples taken from about 100 sites throughout the city and test them for various chemical and biological contaminants.

Officials said no problems have been detected.

In addition, Department of Water and Power officials said they have added guards and aerial patrols to the city’s reservoirs and aqueducts, and said the department’s 24-hour control center constantly monitors the water supply.

Because of the number of precautions being taken, Los Angeles residents should not be afraid to drink the water, the mayor said.

“The city is safe,” Hahn added. “We’ve done everything we can to make sure our airport is safe, city buildings are safe, our Port of Los Angeles is safe.”

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Security Measures

Measures implemented or planned by Los Angeles city government to improve security:

* Streets: Barricades were erected Sunday night around five buildings in the Civic Center. Street parking in the area also will be banned.

* City Hall: City Council on Wednesday ordered the immediate installation of metal detectors.

* City buildings: Council also approved installing video surveillance systems and motion detectors in city buildings to be monitored at a new control center.

* Airport: Mayor James K. Hahn last week appointed a task force to develop new security. The Airports Department so far has spent $13 million on upgraded security.

* Fire Department: A new hazardous-materials crew will be created that will be assigned to the harbor.

* Water: The water department is conducting about 600 tests a day of the water supply, about 50% more than normal.