U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he had no plans to pursue broadening the national capital region to include Baltimore and Richmond, an initiative championed by the new Maryland governor.
Chertoff met with D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine Tuesday to discuss ways to better coordinate in the event of a massive emergency.
It was the first meeting between Chertoff and all three chief executives.
O’Malley said Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the effects that a massive disaster has on the neighboring communities, but neither Baltimore nor Richmond are sufficiently funded to adequately aid the region.
Chertoff said the national capital region should better coordinate with Baltimore and cities and states beyond, but D.C. has a unique challenge that needs day-to-day coordination between the most immediate homeland security officials.
The national capital region, as defined by Congress, includes the District, Prince George’s and Montgomery counties in Maryland, Alexandria, and Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William counties in Virginia. Thehigh-risk region last year received the fourth-highest amount of homeland security funds.
Fenty said the District and the national capital region were requesting much more money than they received last year, and said Chertoff appeared to be sensitive to the needs of the nation’s political power center. Fenty said he would release the request amounts April 5.
Chertoff was criticized last summer after cutting the money awarded to D.C. and New York, the targets of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, while increasing funding for places like Omaha, Neb., Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis.
