FC: Washington DC prepares for Y2K -- yikes!

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

*********

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

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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.

[...]



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