Bridges Security

Gov. Gray Davis said his first reaction was that he had no choice: Bulletins issued by the FBI and two other federal agencies warned of possible terrorist attacks on the West Coast, and, more specifically, against bridges. "My first impression was, 'My God, this is going to happen [Friday]--at rush hour,' " Davis said, recounting the briefing he received from top aides Thursday morning. With that, he opted to issue an extraordinary public warning about the potential attacks.

National guardsmen patrolled below and federal officials watched the skies above the Golden Gate Bridge during Monday morning's commute, wrapping up a weekend of intensified monitoring. The bridge was placed on a "super-heightened" state of alert Friday through Sunday after information was provided through an interagency coalition Friday, said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Traffic for Monday morning's commute appeared normal.

Given their first chance to react to a specific terrorist threat after weeks of vague warnings, many California motorists on Friday shrugged off the prospect of attacks on some of the state's most high-profile bridges. Some drivers admitted they were anxious, a day after Gov. Gray Davis disclosed a "credible" terrorist threat against several major spans, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego.

Gov. Gray Davis said his first reaction was that he had no choice: Bulletins issued by the FBI and two other federal agencies warned of possible terrorist attacks on the West Coast, and, more specifically, against bridges. "My first impression was, 'My God, this is going to happen [Friday]--at rush hour,' " Davis said, recounting the briefing he received from top aides Thursday morning. With that, he opted to issue an extraordinary public warning about the potential attacks.

National guardsmen patrolled below and federal officials watched the skies above the Golden Gate Bridge during Monday morning's commute, wrapping up a weekend of intensified monitoring. The bridge was placed on a "super-heightened" state of alert Friday through Sunday after information was provided through an interagency coalition Friday, said Mary Currie, spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District. Traffic for Monday morning's commute appeared normal.

Gov. Gray Davis warned Thursday of a "credible" terrorist threat against major bridges in California, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, but federal officials called the threats "uncorroborated" and expressed annoyance with the governor. "He certainly didn't get in contact with us," said one senior Bush administration official, who added that the White House also was unhappy with Davis' actions.

Seeking peace talks with Syria and dialogue with political adversaries at home, Shimon Peres was sworn in as prime minister of Israel on Wednesday for the 11 months remaining of his slain predecessor's term. The normally unruly Israeli Knesset, or Parliament, managed a display of unity in approving Peres' new government by a vote of 62 to 8. Thirty-eight members abstained rather than oppose a government brought to power by an assassin's bullet.

Drivers vying for hard-to-find parking spaces in Old Pasadena and the Civic Center will be greeted by more than 1,000 parking meters by early summer, the Pasadena City Council decided Tuesday. The parking meters, the first in the city's history, will generate about $1.5 million each year. Parking will cost 25 cents for each 15 minutes.

Given their first chance to react to a specific terrorist threat after weeks of vague warnings, many California motorists on Friday shrugged off the prospect of attacks on some of the state's most high-profile bridges. Some drivers admitted they were anxious, a day after Gov. Gray Davis disclosed a "credible" terrorist threat against several major spans, including the Golden Gate Bridge, the Bay Bridge, the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro and the Coronado Bridge in San Diego.

Gov. Gray Davis warned Thursday of a "credible" terrorist threat against major bridges in California, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, but federal officials called the threats "uncorroborated" and expressed annoyance with the governor. "He certainly didn't get in contact with us," said one senior Bush administration official, who added that the White House also was unhappy with Davis' actions.