Letter to get the hotel industry to DONATE rooms for air marshals

[DagmarK]

I wrote a letter to Jimmy Carter to ask him to make some calls to see if the hotel industry would donate rooms to the air marshals so they can stay on all flights. Or, in the altnerative, to give the US govt CREDIT and we will pay them later. (I mean, surely the govt can get credit, can't it?)

But, there was no way I could find to get the letter to Carter other than snail mail across the country! No time. So I drafted a little letter to the AH&LA exec chairman telling him to consider what I would have presented to Carter.

We will see how if it flies, er, or rather, if the marshals fly.

Heck, HSD doesn't need to make budget cuts! And if they did, wouldn't a recall of field agents hanging out in libraries be a less dangerous proposition? Okay, I am preaching to the choir!

Here are my letters.......in the following two posts.

[DagmarK]

1. Letter to AH&LA

July 30, 2003

Via E-Mail


Mr. Michael Handlery, CHA
Executive Chairman
American Hotel & Lodging Association
XXXXXXX
Washington, DC 20005-3931

Re: Air marshals discontinued on U.S. flights

Dear Mr. Handlery:

This is a very unorthodox communication. I apologize in advance for my forward manner in contacting you.

I am an ordinary citizen without any connections to any industry heads whatsoever. I am just a person in Portland, Oregon who is hoping that maybe you can pull off a rather extraordinary feat in the name of national security and patriotism. I am so very disturbed about the news that came out last evening that the Department of Homeland Security is discontinuing armed air marshals on many U.S. flights. The justification given is that the US government needs to cut costs and cannot afford overnight stays for the marshals.

I cannot adequately express the fear that I and many friends and relatives have about this development. So, I went as far as writing a plea to former president Jimmy Carter asking him to make a call to you in the hopes that you can encourage the hotel industry CEOs to consider temporarily donating rooms to air marshals or at least extending credit to the government until other non-essential cuts can be made. Unfortunately, I cannot find a way to get my letter to Mr. Carter. (He could be off negotiating peace in North Korea as we speak! Knowing him, he could be anywhere doing most anything!)

Given the time issue (we have 24 hours to reverse this problem), I have chosen to send you the draft of my letter to our former president in the hopes that you will take this plea to heart – even without a phone call from him. I cannot say whether he would even make such a call were he to receive my letter! But I hope that you view this matter as seriously as I and countless other Americans and will make some calls that I know you can make to hotel and lodging decision-makers.

All I know is that I couldn’t live with myself if I were silent on this issue. News reports indicate that there is an active al Queda threat in this country right now. The air marshals need hotel rooms. Your 'constituents' have hotel rooms. Maybe we can match this need with the appropriate suppliers?

Thank you for entertaining this unorthodox and perhaps impossible request. I know it is outside the box," but isn't that what distinguishes America from the rest of the world? We are an innovative bunch!

Indeed we are.

Cordially,

Me

[DagmarK]

2. DRAFT letter to Jimmy Carter (that he will never see......)

**yes, I put an actual happy face in a letter to our former president! Goofy, I know)

President James E. Carter
The Carter Center
One Copenhill
453 Freedom Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30307

Re: Potential Solution to Homeland Security cut resulting in air
marshals being pulled from many U.S. flights beginning
August 1, 2003

Dear President Carter:

I am a concerned citizen writing to seek expedited help in a matter I consider a grave national emergency. You may be aware that the Department of Homeland Security has decided to pull armed air marshals from many U.S. flights beginning August 1st.

The explanation for this cut to our anti-terror air security program is due to the cost for the overnight hotel stays; apparently, the HSD does not have the funds available to pay for the hotel rooms. If a flight requires an air marshal to stay overnight, the marshal will be removed. This development is quite disturbing, particularly in light of the current news alerts that al Queda has threatened a 9/11-like terrorist attack.

I believe a positive, easy solution to this dilemma is at our disposal – with your help. The airport hotel chains could surely donate room and board for air marshals for a short period of time (a month?) while our government secures the funds to resume full security coverage. At the very least, I believe the hotel chains would happily extend credit to the United States government and accept payment at a later date.

The problem is I need someone with some clout to get the ball rolling. Perhaps that is you?

By donating or crediting the price for hotel rooms, the hotel industry would directly benefit from such a kind, patriotic gesture in terms of great public relations, but also because the added perception of security will prompt many persons to continue to travel and stay in their hotels. I know that if I learned that Holiday Inn or Hilton, for example, donated rooms to air marshals for the good of our country during these dangerous times that I would stay at their hotels exclusively for the rest of my life; a lifetime customer is nothing to balk at.

On a more practical level, the hotel industry must have a vested interest in keeping our skies safe. The cost to them in the long run were something terrible to happen would be immeasurable. In the short-term, the airline industry, on which the airport hotel chains rely for patrons, will undeniably suffer economically as Americans cancel travel plans; I know several persons reconsidering their travel plans after hearing this news. Many Americans will travel, of course. And my first thought goes to the families that historically travel in August at the height of vacation season. That are a lot of children unnecessarily put at risk. (I am certainly not planning to travel anytime soon! Why risk it?)

I am hopeful that should you contact Michael Handlery, executive chairman of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, that perhaps important phone calls will ensue among the airport chain hotel board members. As the Capitol Hill trade association for hotels and lodging, the AH&LA has been working very closely with homeland security to thwart terrorist threats, and it seems that a charitable corporate gesture such as this would support their mission to ensure security.

Mr. Handlery’s phone number in D.C. is xxx-xxx-xxxx. (I think he will take your call! :-) )

I hope this letter has made its way to you and that you will give this matter due attention and care. I am surprised that the Department of Homeland Security could find no other place to cut costs. Armed air marshals is the single-most effective security measure implemented since 9/11 to evade a replay of that national tragedy. I am surprised that a pilot and crew would even consider flying a plane without this security measure! Much to my chagrin, the issue is being played as a simple budget issue. This is hard to believe considering the billions-strong DHS budget, but be it as it may, I am compelled to turn to the charitable goodwill of American corporations – with your help.

I hope you will take this to heart and make a phone call or two that could very well ensure continued security across our great country.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Me

[Ilsa]

3. All flights?

You're kidding right?
I don't think they are even on a majority of cross-country flights, much less international. You don't want to know the low number I heard.

[Stephanie]

4. They reversed it already

Think they were reading DU?

http://www.msnbc.com/news/945774.asp?0cv=CA01

[DagmarK]

5. Yeah, I heard........

And I am having a MELTDOWN. What a waste of my time and energy for some obvious propogandic ploy just to SCARE people and get their attention on fear, fear, fear.

Well, I am awfully glad I didn't get that to Jimmy Carter!

But, you know, after this exercise in futility, I think I am ready to give up. And I feel a lot better - freer. Damn the torpedoes, Georgie! Whatever......you can't trust ONE THING coming from this administration. The only thing to do is get him thrown out. Trying to affect policy is futile. There isn't a policy to affect! I finally understand that.

Thanks for your help last night.

[goddess40]

6. Why should they donate rooms

if the repubs can give millions to the rich for doing nothing they can pay the hotels for providing a service. If the hotels 'donate' the rooms who do you think will pick up the tab. I can see the new surcharge already - $20 for patriot act surcharge.

[DagmarK]

7. Simply, to call Bush on his hoax.

Of course the feds can pay for the rooms. They have ALL our money and spend it however they want.

They scimp on water for our war weary troops in 110 degree weather..... that's a "choice"

But can you imagine if this hadn't have been reversed and this plan worked? The headline: "Private industry bails out Uncle Sam: Govt hs no money for security" See????

The bonus would have been that there would be no excuse NOT to have the marshals on the planes......and that is very important.