LA Needs to Prepare for Terrorist Threats
Fears of Someone Interfering With Election in California

by Don Farkas

The City of Los Angeles needs to prepare for the strong possibility of terrorist threats in the next few months.

The bipartisan Congressional 9/11 Commission and high ranking members of the Bush Administration have warned that the upcomming presidential election in November, 2004, is a likely target for terrorists.

The State of California with its 54 electoral votes and large population would probably be high on a list of potential targets. The large total number of votes cast in just the City and County of L.A. alone during the 2000 presidential election exceeded the vote totals in 41 states!

For these reasons, it goes without saying that the City and County of L.A. would likely be included among the potential primary targets in potential scenarios which sought to disrupt California's election process in 2004. Of course, elections in the other large California cities and counties might also be targeted as well.

With regard to the possibility that terrorists would be able to successfully keep significantly large numbers of LA City and County voters away from the polls in 2004 simply by contriving a way to massively disrupt traffic within the LA County area, possible mitigation measures should be considered including the following:

	Increase security and backups at the centralized computerized DOT traffic signal control center;
	Pre-activation of City and County Emergency Operations Centers, if that is not already planned;
	Official communications abilities and backup alternates secured;
	Pre-deploy Dept. of Trans. personnel at strategic critical traffic corridor locations;
	Have alternate routes or detours posted at major traffic corridors;
	Arrange with news radio stations to broadcast immediate and detailed official radio reports to motorists re. all identified problems and alternate routes;
	Fire dept. and aerial tankers to be on standby alert and ready to deploy for potential large numbers of arson fires;
	Volunteer community LAPD Neighborhood Watch and LAFD arson watch teams to be notified and activated;
	LAFD CERT teams to be trained for various tasks;
	Civilian volunteer watch teams to be assigned to watch critical sites such as vital bridges, overpasses, telephone exchanges, electrical distribution sites, etc.;
	Quick response investigation and road hazard removal teams available with necessary machinery to immediately clear car wrecks & blockages;
	Businesses encouraged to permit early voting of employees and excuse them for being late to work if they have a ballot stub;
	Schools to have emergency plans arranged with parents in advance to reduce potential panic reactions in the event of a Homeland Security "Red Alert";
	Rumor control procedures developed to immediately correct false information;
	Local commercial radio and TV stations briefed and official news conference broadcasting facilities set up;
	Pre-announced plans by the State of California to extend permitted voting hours (and dates) in the event of any disruption, etc.;
	HAZMAT teams deployed to deal with other possible ways someone might try to disrupt the election, such as by making voters too afraid to go to the polls by making terrorist threats, hoaxes, or even actual attacks of biological, chemical, etc. weapons.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Anyone who has any questions, comments or concerns should feel free to contact:

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Don Farkas

Chair of the ad hoc Bel Air Public Safety Advisory Committee (BAPSAC)
Former BABC NC Public Safety Committee Chairperson

Email: donfarkas@belairmail.com

Phone - (310) 472-4822

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