Gov. Orders Guard From Golden Gate

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has ordered the California National Guard to withdraw by Friday from protecting the Golden Gate Bridge, putting additional pressure on local police agencies that handle security for the landmark span.

Golden Gate Bridge officials said Tuesday that they were upset about the decision because they believe the guard has been an integral part of security for the bridge. Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the bridge has been considered to be a prime target.

“We’re not happy with the office of the governor’s decision,” said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge, noting that the district has a $130-million budget shortfall and few resources to expand security.

Schwarzenegger has repeatedly complained that the Bush administration is not contributing enough money toward the state’s homeland security costs. To post National Guard troops at the Golden Gate, California has been spending about $5.4 million a year on top of what other state-run agencies have been spending.

Currie and other officials stressed that security on the bridge would not be compromised because of the governor’s decision.

Several other agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, the Coast Guard, National Park Service and a local sheriff, will continue to handle security for the 67-year-old span between Marin and San Francisco counties.

State homeland security officials said the guard’s protection of the bridge always has been thought to be temporary.

Officials added that the decision frees up personnel to return to civilian life or take on other guard duties, after two and a half years of helping protect the bridge.

“We are absolutely confident the bridge is protected,” said Gary Winuck, spokesman for the state Office of Homeland Security, which reports to Schwarzenegger. “If anyone thought the bridge wasn’t secure, the guard would be there.”

Immediately after the Sept. 11 attacks, then-Gov. Gray Davis ordered the state to handle security on major bridges, including the Golden Gate, the Bay Bridge to Oakland, the Vincent Thomas in Long Beach and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego.

Only the Golden Gate Bridge has remained under National Guard protection, with a rotating pool of about 50 troops used to patrol the area. Bridge officials have been fighting for months to keep the guard protection, but failed in their appeals last month.

The federal government supplies about $500 million a year for the California National Guard, and the state chips in another $38 million.

The federal government stopped reimbursing the state for security on the Golden Gate last year, so the annual $5.4-million cost for keeping guard troops on the bridge has been picked up by the state.

Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) said he was concerned that local governments and the bridge district would be put under additional financial pressure.

“This should not fall any further on their shoulders. If anything, we need more federal dollars,” Leno said. “The president keeps talking about homeland security, but he doesn’t put his money where his mouth is.”

The state Office of Homeland Security recently shifted $2.1 million in federal money to enhance security on the bridge. Schwarzenegger has complained that the federal government reimburses California just 77 cents for every dollar it spends on federal issues such as homeland security and immigration.

The bridge district, which is supported by a $5-per-car toll, has spent $1 million on security technology and another $2 million on increased patrols out of its budget since Sept. 11, 2001.

Currie said the federal dollars directed to them through Schwarzenegger’s office would help, but because the money comes with certain constraints, it cannot be used to hire officers, only to purchase equipment.

“It’s important that we maintain two parts of the security program,” Currie said. “One is the human side -- the number of bodies out patrolling -- and the other is the technological security enhancements. There is no grant money to pay for people.”

Bob Doyle, the sheriff of Marin County, said his agency regularly patrols its side of the bridge but if more officers are needed to fill in the gap left by the National Guard, he will insist that the bridge district pay for it.

“We’re not staffed for that kind of thing,” Doyle said. “We work cooperatively with the bridge, but there is no way I could assign people without being compensated.”

With 22,000 members, the California National Guard is the largest unit in the nation. About 3,000 members are serving in foreign countries, including Iraq.

The CHP, one of the main agencies protecting the bridge, said withdrawal won’t endanger security for those crossing.

“This really doesn’t change much for us,” said Tom Marshall, a CHP spokesman.

“We feel the bridge is very safe and is still under surveillance,” he said. “Yes, the guard had its function there, but we’re doing much of the same things.”