Federal, state intelligence officials meet in Albany

BY TOM BRUNE | tom.brune@newsday.com

June 25, 2008

WASHINGTON - Security for the presidential debate at Hofstra University this fall was among the topics discussed at the first federal-state intelligence summit convened by New York state in Albany yesterday, a top state official said.

The nearly 40 intelligence officials at the closed-door summit noted the planned Oct. 15 presidential debate on Long Island will be held in a terrorist-targeted state near a top terrorist-targeted city, said Michael Balboni, deputy director of New York State's Office of Homeland Security.

"New York City remains one of the top targets in al-Qaida's sights," Balboni said, citing threat assessments.

Balboni declined to talk about specifics of the discussion, though he said there was no specific threat to the scheduled debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.

The four-hour summit was convened to assess where federal and state security efforts stand now, and what threat assessments lie ahead in the next six months to a year, he said.

The meeting covered the transition for homeland security that will come with a new presidential administration, as well as what intelligence is useful and relevant for state and federal officials, Balboni said.

The meeting for the first time brought together intelligence officials from New York agencies and officials from the FBI, CIA and U.S. Department of Homeland Security, he said.

It included Gov. David A. Paterson and the federal Homeland Security department's chief intelligence officer, Charles Allen. Previously, intelligence briefings by state and federal officials had been done separately, Balboni said.

CIA analysts presented a briefing on foreign threats, FBI officials spoke about domestic threats, and immigration and customs enforcement officials discussed border security.

Yesterday's summit was held the day before the national biannual meeting of the national Homeland Security Advisory Council in Washington, a meeting that will be addressed by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

Balboni is an adviser to the council.