BostonHerald.com
Monday, October 8, 2001

Security shakeup may lead to showdown
by Cosmo Macero Jr.

Forty-five days is an eternity in this dangerous new world.

So while it may come as an affront to acting Gov. Jane Swift, Mark Robinson
says he's not waiting around.

The Massport board of directors chairman is launching a global search for
counterterrorism experts to lead a new security brigade at Logan
International Airport. And he's talking about a massive retooling of
Massport that could put the very job he holds, and every other top post, on
the line.

``We're not going to go on with the state police model,'' Robinson said the
other day, in a preview of several proposals slated for unveiling this week.
``We're going to recruit entirely on a new model.''

You might be thinking El Al, the Israeli airline with the impeccable
security record. I'm thinking retired CIA operatives.

Either way, the deadly hijackings of Sept. 11 that launched America into a
war on terrorists - and subsequent security breaches - appear to have
drained Robinson's faith in the state police mindset that has controlled
airport safety.

And that could put Robinson, whose own future at Massport is suddenly in
question, on a political collision course with the acting governor.

``If the question is: Is there a better way to run this railroad, where the
security has the dimension it has now, yes, there are a lot of different
ways you can structure it,'' he said.

One option: A paid, professional board of directors with members drawn from
various disciplines specific to Massport operations.

Robinson said such a proposal has ``got to be considered,'' even though it
would almost certainly mean an end to his own Massport stint - not to
mention the elimination of a patronage grand prize for Swift loyalists.

While Swift transferred former state trooper Joseph Lawless from his Logan
security chief post last week, Robinson sees his temporary replacement,
retired state police Col. John DiFava, as little more than a stopgap
measure.

``F Troop has its advantages and disadvantages,'' Robinson said, referring
to the lightly regarded state police outpost at Logan. ``I want to have the
ability to recruit someone that everybody will salute (for practicing)
anti-terrorism on a world model.''

To be sure, Robinson, like Swift and embattled Massport Executive Director
Virginia Buckingham, wants a federal takeover of airport security. But he
appears in some ways to be sidestepping a six-member task force that Swift
has charged with overhauling the port authority.

The governor gave former State Street chief Marshall Carter and five other
panelists 45 days to come up with recommendations aimed at improving Logan
security and the agency's overall power structure.

``We're not waiting until the commission starts that process. We're going to
start now,'' Robinson said. ``We need somebody who can hold things together
while the feds figure out what they can do. I think there is still a gap.
We've called for federalization, but in the meantime you still have these
jurisdictional and territorial issues.''

Look for a possible blurring of those traditional - and very flawed -
boundaries of responsibility between the airlines, the Federal Aviation
Administration and Massport when Robinson unveils his security proposals
later this week.

And keep an eye on F Troop, or Troop F, to be more accurate.

Maybe the state police workout room at Logan and the troop's special kitchen
will survive. But the troopers' role seems destined for change - and
possibly elimination - if Robinson gets a chance to put his vision into
play.

If Mark Robinson looks like a man trying to retain a coveted post loaded
with perks and influence, that's because he probably is.

Strong ties at Massport can be good for business. That's in part why fellow
board members James Coull and George Cashman had former Gov. Paul Cellucci -
king of the Massport patronage party - reshuffle appointments to keep them
on the panel for years to come.

Did I mention the junkets?

Still, Robinson, the former assistant U.S. attorney and chief counsel to
former Gov. William F. Weld, insists he is prepared to be swept out of
Massport if the task force so desires. Of course, it's a lot easier to be a
stand-up guy when there's no paycheck at stake.

Board members don't get a salary. Though compensation takes many forms.

``I've talked to Marshall Carter a number of times. Everything is on the
table, and change is inevitable, because the world has changed so much,''
Robinson said. ``I believe that the governance of Massport is a central
issue that the commission has got to look at. How they come out on that, I
don't know. But we're going to cooperate and abide by the outcome. I don't
have any defensiveness about that at all. The chips will fall where they
may.''

© Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems,
Inc.
==========
**NOTICE: In accordance with 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in
receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.**
==========