City Fighting TSA Plan To Shift Security Responsibility For Exit Lanes
City To Fight TSA Plan To Shift Security At Exits
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago's top Aviation official says she is fighting against a federal mandate that could cost the City millions for security.
WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports Aviation Commissioner Rosemarie Andolino told aldermen at a budget hearing that the Transportation Security Administration plans to stop paying for the security officers who staff exits from secured areas at O'Hare and Midway airports next year.
"We now – airports across the country – have to man our exit lanes. Previously TSA had been manning those lanes," she said. "Actually, as you can imagine, on your ticket tax, there's a tax for security, and 9/11 security. So we argue that the fact that with TSA, they're already being paid to do this effort."
Andolino said it would cost the city $6 million to hire security for passenger exit lanes at the airports.
She said airports across the country are fighting the TSA plan, but without much hope so far.
TSA would continue to provide security at the entrance areas to airport terminals and other secured airport entry points.
