Mayors meet Homeland Security secretary over funding concerns

WASHINGTON — Mayors Carolyn Goodman of Las Vegas and Andy Hafen of Henderson met with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Thursday in a major push by Nevada officials to address what they see as data "deficiencies" that could cost the Las Vegas area crucial security funding.

Goodman expressed optimism about the city's chances for new funding, even though she conceded Johnson did not commit to any specific changes.

"He is very interested," she said. "He knows and he wants to know. He is not just passing it on."

Goodman believes she scored points when she mentioned the significant role Hoover Dam plays in the gross national product.

"I saw his eyes change," she said, adding the agency should be impressed with such statistics.

Other issues raised included the millions of tourists who visit Las Vegas each year, visits by presidents and other dignitaries and the military's presence.

Without requesting a specific dollar amount, she said more information will be submitted by the end of February.

In a Jan. 14 letter to Johnson, Goodman and Hafen were joined by North Las Vegas Mayor John Lee, Mesquite Mayor Allan Litman, Boulder City Mayor Rod Woodbury and Clark County Commission Chairman Steve Sisolak in expressing concerns that data used in the Urban Area Security Initiative are either missing or misrepresented.

"It is unfathomable to us that the internationally known and iconic destination of Las Vegas, NV would rank a mere 29 out of the top 100 most populous Metropolitan Statistical Areas in the nation," they stated in the letter.

They pointed to what they see as flawed data on critical infrastructure and special events such as the final debate in the 2016 presidential campaign.

While conceding that certain information was "justifiably classified," they questioned the lack of transparency on the threshold a threat must meet to be counted in the agency's process.

The Las Vegas area "should have the opportunity to verify, validate and question classified threat data used in the risk calculation," they said.

The underestimation of risk the Las Vegas area faces is historic and systemic, they said.

Goodman and Hafen were in Washington for the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors. Their meeting at Homeland Security came as several members of the congressional delegation put on a full-court press on the same issue.

Sens. Harry Reid and Dean Heller, Rep. Dina Titus and Gov. Brian Sandoval have written Johnson, expressing concern about Las Vegas' ranking.

Funding through the program for the Las Vegas area has fluctuated, and in 2013, it did not make the cut, something Nevada officials are hoping to prevent this year.

Last year, Las Vegas was among 28 cities that split $587 million under the program.

Contact Jim Myers at jmyers@reviewjournal.com or 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @myers_dc