Posted on: Wednesday, September 26, 2001
The September 11th attack
Security tightened at city government buildings
By Robbie Dingeman
Advertiser City Hall Writer
Security has been tightened and patriotic displays increased at city government buildings this week in response to the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks.
Since the attacks, security has been stepped up at Honolulu Hale. This week, private security guards began asking people for photo identification cards as they sign in to visit the building.
The city also indefinitely banned parking directly in front of City Hall, where officials and visitors frequently park along the sidewalk.
Yesterday, two uniformed police officers also patrolled Honolulu Hale. Similar security measures have been put in place at the Honolulu Municipal Building, which houses the city's Emergency Operations Center, a command post in case of emergency or disaster.
Some city employees questioned why security got stricter this week at the same time it has eased up at state and federal buildings.
City managing director Ben Lee said officials have been reviewing procedures and decided to beef up to be more secure, not because of any incident since Sept. 11.
"We will not compromise the safety of our employees and the general public coming to City Hall to do business," Lee said.
City customer services director Carol Costa said the city's first move was to add private security guards during the day and to ask visitors to sign in. She said that if a person shows up for an appointment without an ID, city workers are escorting them or walking to the checkpoint to meet with them.
"I think they have made allowances to make sure the public is able to get through," Costa said.
City staff also have been adding flags, including a huge one draped on the municipal building and a series of smaller ones planted in front of City Hall.
Two plainclothes police officers have been assigned to City Hall daily since weeks before the May Asian Development Bank meeting.
Costa said entering the building takes a little longer but most people are patient with the delay.
