Answer:
To do their part effectively, state and local governments can certainly use further cooperation from Washington. Intergovernmental channels of communication are in need of improvement. Local police could make a larger contribution to counter-terrorism if federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies enhance, coordinate and then share their relevant data bases expeditiously. Suppose that before September 11th a less gullible federal government had fathomed certain interesting information about the infamous Mohamed Atta. And suppose that back in April 2001, when Mr. Atta was caught motoring north of Miami without a drivers’ license and then failed to show up for his court date, the Florida police had learned a bit more about him. A local bench warrant that had been issued for his arrest might not have collected quite so much dust. Instead, Mr. Atta was free to tool around the country over the next several months.
Local governments also need some additional financial support. The budgets of more than just a couple of front-line cities took a hit in the weeks and months following the terrorist assaults on New York and Washington. Boston found itself spending $100,000 a week on police overtime pay alone. Baltimore disbursed an unexpected $2.6 million for security costs in just over a month, and feared the bill would run to almost $16 million by the end of the fiscal year. Year-end predictions for Dallas were $6 million, and for New Orleans $10 million. These and other unplanned expenses arrived as local economies, and revenues, were already deteriorating.