Senators rap state security readiness

Nearly two years after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, security in Massachusetts remains “woefully inadequate,” and in some cases worse than before, according to state Senator Marc R. Pacheco, who next week will hold hearings about the Commonwealth’s readiness to respond to another terrorist strike. The Taunton Democrat, who chairs the Senate’s Post Audit and Oversight Committee, said the hearings next Monday will bring together the state’s top security, health, and transportation officials, as well as a host of other government officials and security specialists, to examine issues such as police and firefighters’ communication systems and the ability of hospitals to handle a catastrophe. From the evidence Pacheco has seen so far, the state has not done enough to prepare, he said. “It’s outrageous,” he said. “The current homeland security effort is woefully inadequate to meet the increasing challenges we’re facing, woefully inadequate in public safety, in training for the new threats, and in the federal response to the states.” Full Story