New York State Senator Michael Balboni recently sat down with a group of editors at Anton Community Newspapers, bringing them up-to-date on issues he's been paying close attention to since Sept. 11, 2001.

Balboni said work in Albany has always been serious, but since a year ago, it has taken a more sober direction. "I serve on two task forces as a direct result of 9/11; one a national task force and the other a state task force," he said. "Both focus on two emerging problems; what can state government do to protect against terrorism? and how can government respond?"

Admitting people often turn to Washington and the federal government for answers on terrorism, Balboni said the bottom line is that local governments will have to be equally equipped since there are 70,000 law enforcement officers in New York that will have to deal with any problems that may arise.

One question Balboni feels should be addressed is whether or not local authorities have the power to retain anyone in violation of a visa. He supports a bill to have universities report when they have foreign students who enroll and then disappear. That school must now get that information to Washington so that there is a central data bank.

"I was able to work with the state Senate Task Force on Emergency Preparedness and proposed 26 bills. We have passed six or seven of them. One of them is to do a water facility assessment," he said.

As chairman of the Water Resources Committee, Balboni said he would be in Buffalo to announce a Water Facility Security Act that will address protecting area water facilities. There is word from Washington that schematics have been found outlining some of the state's water facilities. "When you think about it, besides the air we breathe, our water is our most important resource," he said.

Balboni said he has never personally been more involved with the amount of information that both task forces have generated, from chemical weapons to first response. For instance, should every fire truck be required to have a Geiger counter on it? Or, should every firefighter have the availability to get into a Haz-Mat suit so that they can withstand a biological attack?

He addressed communications between law enforcement officers and firefighters and has worked with Governor George Pataki's administration to address this problem. As a result, an Awax System has been developed that will drive a telecommunication van into an area so that there will be one centralized area for communications in an affected area. "For example, after the World Trade Center disaster, no cell phones in the area worked ... That problem will be solved by an Awax System," he said.

Evacuation issues have also been discussed and certain facilities are in place, ready for a biological attack. "I am learning so much about biological warfare. We toured the Wadsworth Laboratory and met with Tommy Thompson, chief deputy of biochemical warfare in Washington. What I have learned is that we need to continue to upgrade our medical health facilities," he said.

Balboni specifically mentioned North Shore/LIJ Hospital in Manhasset, saying, "They're way above the curve. I would have to say they are the best prepared in the nation. They have developed a wing they can isolate. Plus, they have a wonderful triage system and a portable decontamination unit that can be used during the winter.

"The biggest problem, obviously, is contamination and if that part of the facility breaks down there will be massive panic. What they will do at North Shore is remove all the clothes of the person exposed, hose them down, isolate them and then start treatment," he said.

Balboni went on to say that terrorism in Israel has been a threat for years and has just recently become so real here in the United States. "To this end I've been able to get some money into the hospitals to help equip them properly."

He went on, saying, " One of the most difficult things, but one of the most rewarding, was to set up a satellite office in Manhasset for the 26 families who lost loved ones as a result of 9/11. The satellite office just made it easier for the survivors to know where to go to get help." He thanked Manhasset editor Eileen Brennan for her help in facilitating that office.

"I feel very strongly that we must be part of the federal chain of command and the chain of response," he said. "I have worked very closely with the Office of Public Security. Everyday we learn of new threats. The most profound questions we are faced with is how do we protect people without taking away their rights?"

Balboni continued, "When we talk about protecting the critical infrastructure of our society that means the transportation hubs, the healthcare network, the food supplies and distribution centers included are schools, social services, etcetera.

"We need to refocus the government's attention towards emergency preparedness. But at the same time, we can't let the institutions we have spent so much time building fail. That is why this year it was so important to increase school aid. Many said we couldn't do it but thank God, we have put aside billions and billions in reserves which we had to fight hard to get.

"Remember, we are talking about $20 billion of economic devastation in the state. We have an $80 billion budget and $20 billion of that is economic devastation. If it wasn't for Washington and if it wasn't for the reserves we would not have been able to continue the services we have provided at the schools," he said.

For residents who'd like to discuss an issue with the senator, he can be reached by contacting his press secretary, Jennifer O'Hanlon, at the Mineola office at 873-0736.