"Massport security spending jumps with high alert"

Friday, March 21, 2003

Massport security spending jumps with high alert
by Doug Hanchett
The Boston (MA) Herald


The federal government's decision this week to raise the national threat
level has Massport spending an additional $125,000 a week on security,
agency CEO Craig Coy told the Massport board of directors yesterday.

As part of Operation Liberty Shield, Massport has bolstered the number of
both uniformed and plainclothes state police troopers at Logan International
Airport, increased the number of rolling roadblocks and conducted more
frequent vehicle inspections at terminal curbsides.

While Massport officials say they're equal to the task of protecting the
airport and other properties, they concede the increased threat level could
prove a budget buster if it lasts more than a few weeks.

``What it means is that this is a level of alertness that cannot be
sustained indefinitely,'' said Massport spokesman Jose Juves. ``We would be
looking to the federal government (for funds), potentially. We may also need
to get more creative in terms of finding funding within our own budgets.''

The alert level jumped to orange Monday in preparation for the United States
strike into Iraq.

Prior to the increased alert level, Massport was spending about $270,000 on
state police staffing for all its properties, which include Logan, Worcester
Regional Airport, Hanscom Field, the Tobin Bridge, the Conley Container
Terminal and the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.