President Barack Obama offered deep sympathy, praise for emergency workers and prayers for the city of San Bernardino and the victims of the Dec. 2 mass shooting in a phone conversation with Mayor Carey Davis the day after the attack.
Davis described the five-minute conversation in an interview Sunday, Dec. 13.
The White House called in advance before Obama called Davis about 7:10 a.m. on Davis’ city cellphone.
“I was very appreciative of his call,” Davis said. “He was expressing his deep sorrow and concern for the victims of the terrorist attack – although at the time of course he didn’t describe it as a terrorist attack because it had not been confirmed as a terrorist attack.
“He expressed concern for our city and that he and his family would be keeping the victims and the city in his prayers. He extended a helping hand from the White House in whatever capacity we might need,” Davis said.
No specific assistance was offered or requested, Davis added.
“He also praised the courageous efforts of our police department and the fire department and how all the first responders came together in such remarkable fashion,” the mayor said.
Davis said he expressed his appreciation to the president for calling.
“I had some communication to him about how proud I was of our police department and the fire department and all the city departments that came together and didn’t have to be asked to do anything (first). They came together with great precision,” Davis said.
There was no discussion of Obama visiting San Bernardino. Obama had visited Newtown, Connecticut, almost exactly three years earlier after the massacre of 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School
Davis declined to discuss how he felt about the president passing up San Bernardino.
Obama is scheduled to leave Washington for his annual vacation in Hawaii this coming Friday.
Davis described the past 12 days as “extremely intense” for him, “with the subsequent city business that has to be continued to be conducted, but at the same time putting forth our efforts to provide for the rebuilding and recovery for the victims.”
Davis was elected mayor in February 2014 and has had to deal with the city’s emergence from bankruptcy, and now the aftermath of the shooting.
“I think that anyone going into the office of mayor or governor does need to prepare for natural disasters or man-made disasters, but certainly we don’t have that crystal ball to be able to foretell the future events that you may be placed in,” he said. “This was a team effort. I was very blessed and our city was blessed to have such an effective team serve and respond with such effectiveness. I felt the city was extremely valiant. The county also.”
http://www.pe.com/articles/davis-789222-conversation-bernardino.html
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