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Those seeking information should call the following emergency hotlines.
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Swift calls for restructuring at Massport
She won't point finger at agency's execs
By Leslie Miller, Associated Press, 09/19/01
BOSTON -- Acting Gov. Jane Swift on Wednesday announced the formation of a commission to recommend changes at the Massachusetts Port Authority in the wake of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 that originated at Logan.
Swift refused to defend or attack top executives at the Massachusetts Port Authority, but said changes must be made at the agency that operates Logan International Airport.
"We need to look at what the structure is and what type of a structure ... can best ensure the security of the traveling public," she said. "This isn't about defending individuals, this isn't about not defending individuals."
Massport executive director Virginia Buckingham and Logan director of safety Joseph Lawless have come under fire since the attacks. Both came to their jobs through political routes and had little airport experience.
Swift has consistently refused to criticize anyone at Massport, but acknowledged that security lapses at Logan had tragic consequences.
Massport is responsible for securing the perimeter of the airport, while airlines must take care of all passenger and baggage screening.
A multibillion dollar plan is being written in the U.S. Senate, in part by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., to make the federal government responsible for most functions of airport security.
"Airport operations will never be the same," Swift said. "We have a moral responsibility at Logan to take that very seriously."
"Currently we're focused on continuing to enhance safety and security at Logan Airport, but we'll be working with the commission as it proceeds," said Jose Juves, Massport spokesman.
Swift said the new commission will include five people from safety, management and transportation, and will report its findings within 45 days.
One of the specific study areas is the structure of the Massport board, personnel policies, safety of passengers and employees, airport operations and whether ports and bridges should be under the agency's jurisdiction.
"They need help and they haven't been willing to take it," said Charles Arena, former director of security at Massport from 1979-88. "I introduced Israeli security to Logan, they looked at it and said, 'Yeah, yeah.' They've never taken it as seriously as they should have."
Juves said Logan is now reaching out to federal, state and city law enforcement officials and announced on Wednesday it will bring on an anti-terrorist expert.
"The airport community at Logan is coming together with other agencies to deal with this tragedy," he said. "This is a time when the aviation community is coming together nationally."
Arena, who worked at the airport since 1955, said the agency became politicized in 1959, and has since lowered its hiring standards.
"The bar has been lowered considerably," he said.
Terrorists may have targeted Logan because they believed security was lax there, he said.
"Terrorists are smart. They're not stupid. They're going to go where there's a soft target," he said. "If it was a hard target, they wouldn't go near it."
Swift said Logan has taken interim steps with added federal and state uniformed officers. She has assigned an undersecretary of safety to monitor activity at Logan.
Long-term security measures will take more time to develop, she said.
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