Press Releases
GOOD NEWS: FEDS RELENT ON WEINER DEMAND TO FUND TERRORISM COPS
THE BAD: OVER HALF OF THE COUNTRY STILL ELIGIBLE FOR “URBAN” HOMELAND SECURITY DOLLARS
NEW ANALYSIS: NYC COULD STILL GET SHORTCHANGED IN 2007
New York City – Today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that anti-terror dollars could be used to fund terrorism cops in 2007, heeding a long-standing demand from Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens). However, the majority of the country will still be eligible for “urban” homeland security grants, forcing New York City to continue to compete with cities like Kansas City, MO for funding. In response to the news, Rep. Weiner and Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-Brooklyn), a member of the Homeland Security committee, today released a new analysis showing that, without other formula changes, NYC could still fair poorly when 2007 funding is announced.
Last summer, Rep. Weiner introduced legislation to remove spending restrictions on anti-terror funds, allowing cities like the Big Apple to invest in their real homeland security needs – boots on the street. Heeding Weiner’s call, the Department of Homeland Security will allow six “Tier 1” cities, including New York City, to pay for terrorism cops in 2007. In addition, the NYPD can continue to use up to 25% for overtime.
While DHS has taken steps to address some criticisms of its funding formula, the number of cities eligible for high threat grants has hardly changed. Last year, DHS expanded the list of eligible cities to 46 areas that included over 600 different cities and towns, covering 54% of the country’s population. The result: New York City got severely shortchanged.
For 2007, forty-five cities still covering 54% of the country will be eligible for urban homeland security grants, including 14 cities smaller than Staten Island. What will these cities do with anti-terror funds? Hard to tell, but here’s a possible list:
Location: Terror Target?: vs. New York City:
Twin Cities, MN Knots Camp Snoopy Amusement Park Empire State Building
Anaheim/Santa Ana, CA Filming for the Fox drama, “the OC” The United Nations
Milwaukee, WI Miller Brewery The Brooklyn Bridge
San Antonio, TX Japanese Tea Garden Federal Reserve
Portland, OR Glazed Terra Cotta National Historic District Times Square
Pittsburgh, PA Andy Warhol Museum Lincoln Center
Kansas City, KS Jesse James Farm and Museum Broadway
Charlotte, NC Carolina Raptor Center Carnegie Hall
And, while DHS will divide cities into “Tier 1” and “Tier 2” categories for the first time in 2007, creating these categories may have little, if any, impact on funding. This year, “Tier 1” cities, which includes the Big Apple, will compete for $411 million, or 55% of the total funding pot. In 2006, without the tiers, the same six cities ending up getting 54% of the total pot.
According to an analysis by Reps. Weiner and Clarke, without any other changes to the 2006 formula, NYC would get roughly the same funding as last year – $133.4 million in 2007 vs. $124.4 million in 2006 – even under the new tier system.
“The Big Apple’s real security needs – boots on the ground – are finally being met,” said Rep. Weiner. “The real test is yet to come when funding levels are announced. The high threat grant program must not be treated as another pork barrel program.”
“The President has a responsibility protect Americans from terror threats,” said Rep. Clarke, “New Yorkers are amongst the Americans at most risk, and funding must reflect that reality.”
Weiner pledged to reintroduce the THREAT Act (Targeting Homeland Security Resources Effectively Against Terrorism Act), a bill he authored in 2004 to ensure that more high threat funding comes to New York City. Weiner’s bill will first cap the number of high threat, high density areas at 15.
Rep. Weiner’s legislation to remove spending restrictions on anti-terror funds, known as the First Responder Funding Modernization Act of 2006, was introduced in June 2006 and includes three crucial components. First, it prevents DHS from ranking personnel requests below capital requests. Second, it removes DHS’s caps on how much money the NYPD can spend for counterterrorism salaries and overtime. Finally, it allows the City to use federal dollars for all anti-terror related activities, including ongoing City efforts. To read Rep. Weiner's report on this subject, click here.
