Security A Priority At Tuesday's Texas Inauguration
By: Ryan Loyd, permianbasin360.com
Updated: January 18, 2011
AUSTIN -- The longest serving Texas governor will once again take the oath of office Tuesday at a swearing in with an expected crowd of 10,000 people.
Rick Perry's inauguration ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday, but not before the finishing touches are put on the south side of the State Capitol.
"You've got a lot of equipment, a lot of product you've got to bring, get it all together, make sure you have everything," said Vince Higgins with Eddie Dean Catering. "You just got to be on top of your game."
The barbecue lunch that will feature 500 pounds of brisket is already sold out, but the inauguration is free for the public. Security measures are being stepped up, and a Department of Public Safety spokesperson said troopers are working hard behind the scenes to make the event safe.
"There will be security measures that people can see and some that they can't see," said Lisa Block. "We want it to be a good day."
A shooting last year on the Capitol grounds, and the tragic shooting rampage in Arizona, are on the minds of some people. But many here, including those with the 2011 Texas Inaugural Committee, believe Tuesday will be a day of celebration.
"Of course we're certainly aware of that shooting, but our security measures haven't really changed," said Block. "There's a certain level of security that we know we need to provide and that's what we'll be doing tomorrow."
Alejandro Garcia with the 2011 Texas Inaugural Committee says crews will be ready for anything. "There are going to be thousands of people here," he said. "You need security, not so much for anything bad going on, but for crowd control."
Rick Perry's inauguration ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Tuesday, but not before the finishing touches are put on the south side of the State Capitol.
"You've got a lot of equipment, a lot of product you've got to bring, get it all together, make sure you have everything," said Vince Higgins with Eddie Dean Catering. "You just got to be on top of your game."
The barbecue lunch that will feature 500 pounds of brisket is already sold out, but the inauguration is free for the public. Security measures are being stepped up, and a Department of Public Safety spokesperson said troopers are working hard behind the scenes to make the event safe.
"There will be security measures that people can see and some that they can't see," said Lisa Block. "We want it to be a good day."
A shooting last year on the Capitol grounds, and the tragic shooting rampage in Arizona, are on the minds of some people. But many here, including those with the 2011 Texas Inaugural Committee, believe Tuesday will be a day of celebration.
"Of course we're certainly aware of that shooting, but our security measures haven't really changed," said Block. "There's a certain level of security that we know we need to provide and that's what we'll be doing tomorrow."
Alejandro Garcia with the 2011 Texas Inaugural Committee says crews will be ready for anything. "There are going to be thousands of people here," he said. "You need security, not so much for anything bad going on, but for crowd control."
