Security

The first duty of government is to the security of its citizens. When it comes to safety, New York has a lot to be proud of.

New York City is the safest large city in America by nearly every measure. This distinction is due in no small part to the valor and skill of our police force and other emergency personnel. Thanks to aggressive prosecution, the influence of organized crime has been drastically reduced.

Still, as illustrated so viscerally on September 11, New York is far from immune from danger. While many lessons have been learned and capably implemented over the last 5 years, many aspects of our security infrastructure remain unacceptably deficient.

In recent years, we have witnessed a number of lesser events and false alarms that have offered us reminders of what remains undone. The blackout in the summer of 2003, the subway bombing hoax, and the illegal transit strike last December all laid bare how critically we rely on and take for granted our public infrastructure. These incidents have also shown us how relatively minor disruptions (a power surge in the midwest, a prankster, or a contract negotiation) can wreak havoc on millions.

Whether via accidental disruptions or intentional attacks, our critical infrastructure and our physical safety is always a concern in New York. The recent cutbacks in federal funding have further highlighted our dire need to allocate the spending power we have at our own discretion in the best way possible. Rampant fraud, waste, and secret spending throughout the state budget must finally be dealt with so we can allocate sufficient resources to these most vital programs.

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