Politech mailing list archives
FC: Washington DC prepares for Y2K -- yikes!
From: Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 19:54:44 -0500
********* As anyone who has lived in Washington knows, this city is notoriously corrupt and inefficient. I've lived in DC for about five years, and I still consider it a major accomplishment when my trash gets picked up on time. DC cops can take hours to respond to urgent 911 calls (they're not stupid; they don't want to get shot). Plus, the city's Y2K readiness is laughable (http://www.wired.com/news/news/politics/story/18029.html). The feds, on the other hand, are pretty efficient -- I once was staying with a friend with diplomatic credentials when her apartment was broken into. The Secret Service showed up pretty darn quick. If the feds participate in these Y2K police plans, then maybe the Maurading Looting Hordes will stay away (or at least away from my NW neighborhood). -Declan ********* Capital Security,530 District officials boost manpower, reserves for millennium WASHINGTON (AP) Manned street intersections, electronic surveillance of well-known tourist sites and even reserves of water are among the preparations underway in the nation's capital for the New Year's weekend. Local and federal law enforcement agencies have begun boosting security in the District of Columbia, which is expected to draw an estimated 500,000 revelers to planned millennium festivities. Electronic monitoring and security sweeps will intensify for sites that could draw huge crowds during the year-end rollover, including the National Mall and the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center. [...] ``You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand that there are potential terrorist targets here,'' Ramsey said. As part of the preparations, city officials have designated more than 145 street intersections that will be manned by law enforcement officers. And the district has been divided into patrol regions so that public safety personnel are within walking distance of any residence or building. It's not just manpower that the city has been accumulating. In the past few months, district officials have purchased 10,000 blankets, 7,000 cots, 25,000 military-style ready to eat meals, and a supply of bottled water that Laporte said could last three to five days. [...] For that reason, federal and local officials are working hand-in-hand to protect the city. For example, State Department personnel will be at the district's emergency management agency during the rollover so they can address issues impacting foreign embassies and consulates in the city. [...] -------------------------------------------------------------------------- POLITECH -- the moderated mailing list of politics and technology To subscribe: send a message to majordomo () vorlon mit edu with this text: subscribe politech More information is at http://www.well.com/~declan/politech/ --------------------------------------------------------------------------
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- FC: Washington DC prepares for Y2K -- yikes! Declan McCullagh (Dec 20)