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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 185-03
July 9, 2003

MAYOR MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY TOM RIDGE AND GOVERNOR GEORGE E. PATAKI ANNOUNCE SPECIAL SECURITY DESIGNATION FOR NEW YORK CITY'S 2004 CONVENTION

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, Governor George E. Pataki and former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced that the Department of Homeland Security is designating the 2004 Republican National Convention in New York City as a National Special Security Event.  When an event is designated as a National Special Security Event, the Secret Service becomes the lead Federal agency and forms partnerships with state and local law enforcement and other security and public safety officials with the goal of coordinating between those agencies to provide a safe and secure environment for event participants and the general public.  As the lead Federal agency, the Secret Service coordinates with state and local agencies on the design and implementation of the operational security plan and deployment of Federal resources to maintain the level of security needed for the event and the area.  The announcement comes as a result of an earlier request by Governor Pataki for special designation of the convention scheduled for August 30 - September 2, 2004 in Madison Square Garden.

“We estimate that 48,000 people will attend the Convention including delegates, media representatives and other visitors,” said Mayor Bloomberg.  “It will create thousands of jobs in the months and weeks leading up to and during the event, and generate as much as $260 million in economic activity including up to $10 million in City tax revenue.  The convention will also give us a tremendous opportunity to show the world how far we’ve come since 9/11 - a tribute to the spirit of a great City in a free nation.  I’d like to thank Governor Pataki for requesting the National Special Security Event designation and Secretary Ridge for accepting so that our efforts to put on a great convention goes off without a hitch.”

“I am pleased to be able to provide the State of New York and the City with the Federal resources necessary to coordinate a safe and symbolic special event with the United States Secret Service, FEMA, the FBI and state and local law enforcement,” said Secretary Ridge. 

“The application for the National Special Security Event designation was the result of enormous collaboration between the State and the City, and is another example of the partnered efforts to ensure the security of New York City,” said Governor Pataki. “I want to thank President Bush and Secretary Ridge for granting this designation and for the Federal resources that will be devoted to securing the Convention.”

The critical components of the Secret Service’s coordinated security plan for a National Special Security Event includes, for example, the coordination of airspace security, wherein the Secret Service is responsible for enforcing airspace security within restricted flight zones and is supported by a number of agencies including Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Department of Defense.  The Secret Service is also responsible for the deployment of resources for upcoming designated National Special Security Events. Resources used as part of past operational security plans that could be deployed for an upcoming events include physical infrastructure security fencing and barricades, special access accreditation badges, K-9 Teams, and other security technologies.

The 2004 Republican National Convention is the first time the City’s history that New York City will serve as convention host. The Convention will take place August 30 - September 2, 2004 in Madison Square Garden and 48,000 people are expected to attend including over 15,000 members of the media.  New York City secured the convention through a number of innovative measures including submitting the only bid to the RNC that was entirely privately financed and with no publicly appropriated funds.





CONTACT:

Edward Skyler / Jennifer Falk   (212) 788-2958

Lisa Stoll/Lynn Rasic (Governor)   (212) 681-4640


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