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City officials brief council on emergency response and airport impacts after terrorist attacks; council adopts federal-request resolution
Summary
Los Angeles department heads briefed the City Council on emergency response, airport reopening and security steps after the national aviation attacks; Los Angeles World Airports reported major revenue losses and new security costs, and the council adopted a resolution urging federal action to support airports and related infrastructure.
Los Angeles department heads told the City Council on Wednesday that city emergency plans largely worked after the national aviation attacks and outlined continuing security and financial challenges for airports and other critical infrastructure.
The briefing: Lydia Kennard, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), described the department's immediate response after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a nationwide air shutdown. Kennard said terminals were evacuated and swept by canine teams, reopened under strict new federal checkpoints and travel restrictions, and that LAX and Ontario were among the earliest major airports certified to reopen. Kennard said LAWA lost roughly $1.8 million per day in the immediate aftermath because of increased security costs and sharp losses in parking, landing fees and concessions.
Emergency response: Ellis Stanley, manager of the Emergency Preparedness Department, and representatives of the Los Angeles Police Department and Fire Department described their coordinated response. Commander Mark Leap (representing LAPD Chief Parks) said LAPD put a special operations group on tactical alert and deployed more than 100 officers to airport security. Fire Department officials described activating Urban Search and Rescue teams and deploying chaplains, and noted some personnel were nationalized by FEMA to assist in New York.
Federal and local measures: Kennard said LAWA is working with the mayor's office on federal legislation proposals, including consideration of federalized passenger and baggage screening and assistance to help airports comply with new security obligations and cover increased costs. Council members asked about the operational challenges at LAX, including curbside access, parking restrictions and screening delays; Kennard said the central terminal area had to be restricted to commercial vehicles because of a new FAA rule that effectively barred parking within 300 feet of terminals.
Council action: The council voted to adopt Special 3, a resolution requesting that the city, with the mayor's concurrence, include federal legislation urging the administration and Congress to address aviation infrastructure and financial support after the crisis. The finding vote to place Special 3 on the agenda carried (10 ayes) and the council approved the resolution as amended (10 ayes).
Why it matters: City aviation officials said the airport revenue shortfalls could reduce related general-fund revenue (parking taxes, business taxes) and that LAWA will need to evaluate potential capital and operational changes to comply with new security measures. Emergency officials urged continued preparedness, both among city departments and the public, and highlighted grants and federal funding avenues that could help cities improve preparedness and recover economic losses.
Next steps: Councilmembers urged the administration to pursue federal support for airports and airlines and to seek grant funding for local readiness. LAWA and the city's emergency departments will continue to evaluate the financial impact and facility modifications needed to meet security requirements and report back to council committees.
