"New Jersey Governor accuses feds of ignoring screener shortage at airport"

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

McGreevey accuses feds of ignoring screener shortage at airport
The Associated Press


NEWARK, N.J. -- Gov. James E. McGreevey wrote a letter to Homeland
Security Secretary Tom Ridge on Tuesday, accusing federal transportation
officials of ignoring security problems at Newark Liberty International
Airport. 

McGreevey's letter cited a recent report in The Sunday Star-Ledger of
Newark that outlined security worries at the airport. The newspaper
reported that thousands of bags are loaded daily onto planes without
being scanned for explosives, and several current and former screeners
said the airport had inadequate staff. 

The screeners told the newspaper they were pressured to keep lines
moving, which affected security. 

The screeners are employees of the federal Transportation Security
Administration. 

"The chronic understaffing and work conditions security screeners are
subjected to put everyone at risk," McGreevey, a Democrat, wrote to the
Republican security secretary. "The TSA can no longer ignore the fact
that Newark Liberty International needs more baggage and passenger
screeners immediately." 

New Jersey's two U.S. senators, Jon Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, have
expressed similar concerns. 

Anne Davis, a TSA spokeswoman, referred the matter to Ridge's office.
Genevieve Woodard, a spokeswoman for Ridge, said she could not
immediately comment on the letter. 

Tony Ciavolella, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey, which runs the airport, said, "We support the governor's call
for increased resources for security from the TSA and the federal
government." 


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