Governor Kaine Hosts Governor Ehrlich, Mayor Williams at Regional Meeting

Governor Kaine Hosts Governor Ehrlich, Mayor Williams at Regional Meeting

- Homeland security, anti-gang efforts, tourism on agenda -

RICHMOND - Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., and District of Columbia Mayor Anthony A. Williams (contact Vince Morris, 202.727-5011) .met in Richmond today to discuss ways in which the three jurisdictions can continue to work together to pursue common goals. The meetings among the three chief executives, which began in 2003, have resulted in improved regional cooperation in areas including homeland security, crime prevention, anti-gang initiatives, transportation, and tourism.

"I am pleased to host this first regional meeting of our administration with my colleagues from the National Capital Region," Governor Kaine said. "This is the sixth such meeting in the past three years between the elected leadership from Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia, and I believe we have demonstrated that these discussions can dramatically improve our efforts for greater regional cooperation."

Governor Kaine led a discussion on homeland security in the National Capital Region and gang prevention efforts. "Working together on Homeland Security, we have created and fine tuned the National Capitol Region (NCR) approach to preparedness, which now is viewed as a national model," Governor Kaine said. "To varying degrees, each of our jurisdictions faces a challenge with gangs and gang-related crime. We continue to share ideas - and, more importantly, information - in our combined resolve to combat the spread of gang violence, and offer other alternatives for our young people."

Governor Ehrlich led the discussion on Chesapeake Bay remediation and the effort to track convicted sex offenders in the region. "Governor Kaine, Mayor Williams and I share a deep commitment to revitalizing the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries and protecting our children from sexual predators," said Governor Ehrlich. "In Maryland, we have enacted the historic Bay Restoration Act to restore the Bay and passed 'Jessica's Law' to punish those who prey on our children. We will continue working with our regional partners to share best practices on Bay restoration efforts and sex offender enforcement. Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia have made considerable progress on both issues to date, and I look forward to partnering with Governor Kaine and Mayor Williams on even greater accomplishments in the months and years ahead."

Mayor Williams led a discussion on regional tourism and economic development and how these areas might be affected by an increase in certain crimes in the Washington area. He also led a discussion on the Chesapeake Nanotechnology Initiative. "The safety of our region's residents and visitors is of the utmost importance to leaders like myself and Governors Ehrlich and Kaine," said Mayor Williams. "We in the District welcome federal and regional resources that support our efforts to reduce crime. Our international tourism numbers have rebounded to pre-9/11 levels, but we certainly don't want these gains to be damaged by publicity about an increase in crime in certain categories in our city. In addition to the increased police patrols that the city's crime emergency declaration will bring about, I am asking all city agencies to focus their efforts on tasks that they can carry out to help combat crimes, and I am encouraging residents to get more involved in anti-crime efforts by attending neighborhood meetings, joining Neighborhood Watch and by providing information to the police. We are sending the message that crime prevention is everyone's business - not simply the police."

Recent successful cooperative efforts among the District, Maryland, and Virginia include the dedication and opening of the first span of the improved Woodrow Wilson Bridge, steps to improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the region's air quality, emergency response in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terror attack on the Pentagon, and the 2002 sniper attacks.

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